Herbal Actions

Abortifacient – induces abortion, miscarriage, or premature removal of a fetus

Adaptogen – works through the endocrine system to modulate the physical, mental, and emotional effects of stress and increase resistance to physiological imbalances and disease by strengthening the immune system

Adjuvant – aids the action of a medicinal agent

Alterative – strengthens and nourishes the body, often through the removal of metabolic wastes

Amphoteric – normalizes function of an organ or body system

Analeptic – restorative or stimulating effect on central nervous system

Analgesic – relieves pain

Anaphrodisiac – reduces capacity for sexual arousal

Anesthetic – induces loss of sensation or consciousness due to the depression of nerve function

Antianemic – prevents or helps with anemia

Antibacterial – destroys or stops the growth of bacteria

Antibilious – eases stomach stress

Anticatarrh – reduces inflamed mucous membranes of head and throat

Antidepressant – acts to prevent, cure, or alleviate mental depression

Antidiabetic – prevents or relieves diabetes

Antidiarrhetic – prevents or treats diarrhea

Antiemetic – stops vomiting

Antifungal – destroys or inhibits the growth of fungus

Antihemorrhagic – controls hemorrhaging or bleeding

Anti-infectious – counteracts infection

Anti-inflammatory – controls inflammation, a reaction to injury or infection

Antimalarial – prevents or relieves malaria

Antimicrobial – destroys microbes

Antioxidant – prevents or inhibits oxidation

Antipruritic – prevents or relieves itching

Antipyretic – reduces fever (febrifuge)

Antirheumatic – eases pain of rheumatism, inflammation of joints and muscles

Antiscorbutic – counteracting scurvy

Antiseptic – produces asepsis, removes pus, blood, etc.

Antispasmodic – calms nervous and muscular spasms or convulsions

Antitussive – controls or prevents cough

Antiviral – opposes the action of a virus

Anxiolytic – reduces anxiety

Aperient – relieves constipation; mild laxative

Aperitive – stimulates the appetite for food

Aphrodisiac – increases the capacity for sexual arousal

Aromatic – a herb containing volatile oils, fragrant odor and slightly stimulating properties

Asepsis – sterile; free of germs, infection, and any form of life

Astringent – constricts and binds by coagulation of proteins

Aquaretic – increases blood flow to the kidneys without increasing sodium and chloride resorption, thereby retaining electrolytes while increasing urine output; increases intravascular fluid volume which increases vascular resistance and blood pressure

Bitter – stimulates appetite or digestive function

Bronchial – relaxes spasms or constriction of the bronchi or upper part of the lungs, thereby improving respiration

Carcinostatic – halts or inhibits the development or continued growth of cancer, carcinomas, or malignant tumors

Cardioprotective – serving to protect the heart or coronary arteries from injury, disease, or malfunction

Cardiotonic – increases strength and tone (normal tension or response to stimuli) of the heart

Carminative – causes the release of stomach or intestinal gas

Catarrhal – pertains to the inflammation of mucous membranes of the head and throat

Cathartic – produces bowel movements

Caustic – contains acidic compounds that have an escharotic or corrosive action that is capable of burning or eating away living tissues

Cholagogue – increases flow of bile from gallbladder

Cicatrizant – aids formation of scar tissue and wound healing

Dounterirritant – produces an inflammatory response for affecting an adjacent area

Demulcent – soothes and protects inflamed and irritated mucous membranes both topically and internally

Deobstruent – removes obstructions to clear or open natural ducts of the fluids and secretions of the body

Depurative – considered to have purifying and detoxifying effects

Dermatitis – inflammation of the skin evidenced my itchiness, redness, and various lesions

Detergent – cleanses wounds and sores of infected or damaged tissue

Diaphoretic – increases perspiration (synonym: sudorific)

Digestive – promotes or aids the digestion process

Disinfectant – destroys pathogenic microbes, germs, and noxious properties of fermentation

Diuretic – increases urine flow

Ecbolic – tends to increase contractions of uterus, facilitating childbirth

Emetic – produces vomiting and evacuation of stomach contents

Emmenagogue – regulates and induces normal menstruation

Emollient – softens and soothes the skin

Errhine – stimulates sneezing, increasing flow of mucus in nasal passages

Escharotic – a caustic substance that destroys tissue and causes sloughing

Estrogenic – causes the production of estrogen

Euphoriant – produces a sense of bodily comfort; temporary effect and can be addictive

Expectorant – facilitates removal of mucus and other materials

Febrifuge – reduces or relieves fever

Galactagogue – promotes the flow of milk

Hemagogue – promotes the flow of blood

Hemostatic – controls or stops the flow of blood

Hepatic – having to do with the liver

Herpetic – treats skin eruptions relating to the herpes virus

Hypertensive – raises blood pressure

Hypnotic – strong-acting nervous system relaxant (nervines) that supports healthy sleep

Hypoglycemant – lowers blood sugar

Hypotensive – lowers blood pressure

Lactifuge – reduces the flow of milk

Laxative – loosens bowel contents

Lithotriptic – a substance that causes kidney or bladder stones to dissolve

Masticatory – increases flow of saliva upon chewing

Mucilaginous – polysaccharide-rich compounds that coat and soothe inflamed mucous membranes

Narcotic – induces drowsiness, sleep, or stupor, and lessons pain

Nephritic – has a beneficial influence on the kidneys

Nervine – a nerve tonic

Nootropic – enhances memory, improves cognitive function and mood, reduces oxidative and eschemic damage to the brain

Nutritive – a herb containing nutrients required to nourish and build the body

Orexigenic – stimulates or increases the appetite

Parturfaciant – induces contractions of labor at childbirth

Purgative – causes the evacuation of intestinal contents; laxative

Refrigerant – relieves thirst with its cooling properties

Relaxant – tends to relax and relieve tension, especially muscular tension

Renal – strengthens, cleanses or treats imbalance or disease states affecting the kidneys

Resorbent – aids reabsorption of blood from bruises

Rubefacient – reddens skin, dilates the blood vessels, and increases blood supply locally

Sedative – exerts a soothing, tranquilizing effect on the body

Sialagogue – increases the production and flow of saliva

Soporific – induces sleep

Stimulant – increases body or organ function temporarily

Stomachic – aids the stomach and digestive action

Sudorific – increase perspiration

Tonic – stimulates energy and increases strength and tone

Trophorestorative – nourishes and restores balance to the body. Trophorestorative herbs typically have a strong affinity for an organ or organ system and correct deficiency and weakness not only through temporary stimulation but by deeply nourishing that organ or organ system.

Vermifuge – expels worms from the intestines

Vulnerary – aids in healing wounds

 

American Botanical Council