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