Herb Properties

[Guest guest]

I thought other herbal newbies might be interested in this list.

Dena

 

Absorbents: Herbs used to produce absorption of exudates or diseased tissues.

 

Alteratives: Herbs used to alter the existing nutritive and excretory

processes and gradually restore normal body functions.

 

Analgesics: Herbs used to allay pain when administered orally. See also

" Anodynes " .

 

Anaphrodisiacs: Herbs used to lessen sexual functions and desires.

 

Anodynes: Herbs used to relieve pain when applied eternally.

 

Antacids: Herbs used to neutralize acid in the stomach and intestinal tract.

 

Anthelmintics: Herbs used to expel or destroy intestinal worms.

 

Antiabortives: Herbs used to counteract abortive tendencies.

 

Antiarthritic: Herbs used to relieve and heal arthritic conditions.

 

Antiasthmatics: Herbs used to relieve asthma.

 

Antibilious: Herbs used to eliminate a biliary or jaundice condition in the

body.

 

Anticatarrhal: Herbs which heat catarrhal conditions in the body.

 

Antiemetics: Herbs used to relieve malarial-type fevers and chills.

 

Antiphlogistics: Herbs used to reduce inflammation or swelling.

 

Antipyretics: Herbs used to reduce temperature in fevers.

 

Antirheumatics: Herbs used to prevent, relieve and cure rheumatism.

 

Antiscorbutics: Herbs used to prevent and cure scurvy.

 

Antiscrofulous: Herbs used to heal scrofula (tubercular condition of the

lymph nodes).

 

Antiseptics: Herbs used to prevent, resist and counteract putrefaction (decay

of cells and formation of pus).

 

Antispasmodics: Herbs used to relieve nervous irritability and reduce or

prevent excessive involuntary muscular contractions (spasms).

 

Antisyphilitics: Herbs used to relieve and cure syphilis and other venereal

disease.

 

Antivenomous: Herbs used as antidotes to animals, vegetables and mineral

poisons.

 

Antizymotics: Herbs used to destroy or arrest the action of bacterial

organisms.

 

Aperients: Herbs used as mild evacuants or laxatives to bowels.

 

Aromatics: Herbs that are odoriferous, having a fragrant, pungent and spicy

taste, and which stimulate the gastrointestinal mucous membranes.

 

Astringents: Herbs that influence the vital contractility of cell walls,

condense the tissues, make them denser and firmer, and arrest discharges.

 

Aphrodisiacs: Herbs to correct conditions of impotence and strengthen sexual

power.

 

Balsamic: Herbs that mitigate, soothe and heal inflamed parts.

 

Bitters: Herbs having a bitter taste and serving as stimulant tonic to the

gastro-intestinal mucous membranes.

 

Blisters: Herbs that cause inflammatory exudation (blistering) of serum from

the skin when applied locally.

 

Calefacients: Herbal agents used as diffusive stimulants and which cause

increased capillary circulation, giving an external sense of warmth.

 

Cardiac Depressant: Herbs that lessen and are sedative to the heart's action.

 

Cardiac Stimulant: Herbs used to increase and give greater power to the

heart's action.

 

Carminatives: Herbs containing a volatile oil that excites intestinal

peristalsis, and relieves and promotes the expulsion of flatus or gas from

the gastro intestinal tract.

 

Cathartics: Herbs that are active purgatives to the intestinal tract,

exciting peristalsis and stimulating glandular secretions, producing

semi-fluid bowel movements with some irritation and griping.

 

Caustics: Herbs that burn or destroy living tissue.

 

Cell Proliferants: Herbs that promote rapid healing and restoration.

 

Cephalics: Herbs that are particularly healing to cerebral conditions and

diseases.

 

Cholagogues: Herbs used to promote a flow and discharge of bile into the

duodenum by contracting the bile ducts and to produce purgation of the bowels.

 

Condiments: Herbs used to flavor or season foods.

 

Coloring Agents: Herbs used for coloring or dying purposes.

 

Cordials: Herbs that combine the properties of a warm stomach and a cardiac

stimulant.

 

Correctives: Herbs used to alter and lessen the severity of action of other

herbs, especially cathartics or purgatives.

 

Cosmetics: Herbs which are skin tonics and are used to improve the complexion

and beauty of the skin. See also " emollients " .

 

Counter-irritants: Herbs that cause irritation by local application in one

part and therapeutically relieve pain in another more deep-seated part.

 

Demulcents: Herbs having mucilaginous properties that are soothing and

protective internally to irritated and inflamed surfaces and tissues,

 

Dental Anodynes: Herbs used locally to relieve pain from an exposed nerve

filament in the tooth (toothache).

 

Deobstruents: Herbs that remove alimentary and other body obstructions.

 

Deodorants: Herbs that eliminate foul odors.

 

Depresso-Motors: Herbs that diminish muscular movements by action on spinal

centers.

 

Depurants: Herbs that clean and purify the blood by promoting eliminative

functions.

 

Desiccants: Herbs which are able to dry surfaces by absorbing moisture.

 

Detergents: Herbs that are cleansing to wounds, ulcers, etc., or the skin

itself.

 

Diaphoretics: Herbs that produce insensible perspiration and increased

elimination through the skin.

 

Digestants: Herbs that contain ferments and acids, that aid in the solution

and digestion of food.

 

Diluents: Herbs that dilute secretions and excretions.

 

Discutients: Herbs that dispel or resolve (dissolve) tumors and abnormal

growths.

 

Disinfectants: Herbs that eliminate or destroy the noxious properties of

decaying organic matter and thereby prevent spreading or transfer of toxic

matter or infections.

 

Diuretics: Herbs that increase the secretion and flow of urine.

 

Drastics: Herbs that are hyperactive cathartics, producing violent

peristalsis, watery stools and much gripping pain.

 

Emetics: Herbs that induce vomiting and cause an evacuation of stomach

contents.

 

Emmenagogues: Herbs that are female correctives to the reproductive organs,

which stimulate and promote a normal menstrual function, flow and discharge.

 

Emollients: Herbs that are softening, soothing and protective to external

surfaces.

 

Errhines: Herbs that increase nasal secretions from the sinuses.

 

Exanthematous: Herbs that are healing to skin eruptions or to skin diseases

of an eruptive nature.

 

Excito-Motors: Herbs that increase motor reflex and spinal activity.

 

Expectorants: Herbs that promote and facilitate discharge of mucus secretions

from broncho pulmonary passages.

 

Febrifuges: Herbs that reduce fever.

 

Galactagogues: Herbs that increase the secretion of milk.

 

Galactophyga: Herbs that diminish or arrest the secretion of milk.

 

Hemostatics: Herbs that are generally internally astringents and arrest

hemorrhaging or internal bleeding.

 

Hematics: Herbs rich in iron and manganese and which augment and enrich the

red corpuscles of the blood (blood-builder).

 

Hepatics: Herbs used to strengthen, tone and stimulate the secretive

functions of the liver, causing an increased flow of the bile.

 

Herpetics: Herbs that are healing to skin eruption and scaling diseases (such

as ringworm, etc.).

 

Hypnotics: Herbs that are powerful nervine relaxants and sedatives that

induce sleep.

 

Insecticides: Herbs that are used to destroy insects.

 

Irritants: Herbs that produce a greater or lesser degree of vascular

excitement when applied to the epidermis or skin surface.

 

Lithotriptics: Herbs that dissolve or discharge urinary and biliary

concretions (gravel or stones) when formed in excretory passages.

 

Local Anaesthetics: Herbs that produce anesthesia (loss of sensation) where

applied locally to a surface.

 

Maturating: Herbs that promote the maturation or ripening of tumors, boils,

ulcers, etc.

 

Mucilages: Herbs having mucilaginous properties,

 

Mydriatics: Herbs that cause dilation of the pupil (eye).

 

Myolics: Herbs that cause contraction of the ciliary muscles of the pupil

(eye).

 

Narcotics: Herbs that are powerful anodyne-hypnotics.

 

Nauseants: Herbs that produce nausea or an inclination to vomit.

 

Nephritics: Herbs that influence the kidneys and are healing in the kidney

complaints.

 

Nervines: Herbs that are tonic and healing to the nerves.

 

Nutritives: Herbs that are nourishing and building to body tissues.

 

Ophthalmics: Herbs that are healing to disorders and diseases of the eyes.

 

Parasiticides: Herbs that kill or destroy animal and vegetable parasites

within the body.

 

Parturients: Herbs that stimulate uterine contractions, which induce and

assist labor, and promote and hasten childbirth.

 

Pectorals: Herbs that are healing to complaints of affections of the

broncho-pulmonary area.

 

Peristaltics: Herbs that stimulate and increase peristalsis, or muscular

contractions (as in the bowels).

 

Protectives: Herbs that serve as protective covering to abraded, inflamed, or

injured parts when applied locally to a surface.

 

Pungents: Herbs that cause a pricking, acrid, and penetrating sensation to a

sense organ.

 

Refrigerants: Herbs having cooling properties, lower the body temperature and

relieve thirst.

 

Resolvents: Herbs that promote the dispersion of inflammatory deposits, and

their absorption into excretory channels.

 

Rubefacients: Herbs that, upon local application, stimulate capillary

dilation and action, and cause the skin redness (drawing blood from deeper

tissues and organs and thereby relieving congestion and inflammation).

 

Sedatives: Herbs that lower the functional activity of an organ or part of

the body, thereby tending to calm, moderate or tranquilize.

 

Sialagogues: Herbs that promote the secretion and flow of saliva and buccal

mucus.

 

Soporifics: Herbs that induce a relaxing sleep.

 

Sturnutatories: Herbs that are irritating to the mucous membranes in the

nasal passages which causes sneezing.

 

Stimulants: Herbs that increase functional activity and energy in the body.

 

Stomachics: Herbs that are stimulating tonics to the stomach.

 

Styptics: Herbs that astringe the blood vessels when applied to an external

surface, and thereby arrest local bleeding or hemorrhaging.

 

Sudorifics: Herbs that stimulate the sudoriferous glands and produce visible

and profuse perspiration when taken hot and act as tonics when taken cold,

 

Taeniafuges and Taeniacides: Herbs that expel (Taeniafuges) or kill

(Taeniacides) tapeworms in the intestinal tract.

 

Tonics: Herbs that stimulate nutrition and permanently increase tone.

 

Vulneraries: Herbs that promote healing of fresh cuts, wounds, etc.

[Guest guest]

Excellent Dena. Where did you find these definitions?

Love,

Doc

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington

Absorbents: Herbs used to produce absorption of exudates or diseased tissues.Alteratives: Herbs used to alter the existing nutritive and excretory processes and gradually restore normal body functions.Analgesics: Herbs used to allay pain when administered orally. See also "Anodynes".Anaphrodisiacs: Herbs used to lessen sexual functions and desires.Anodynes: Herbs used to relieve pain when applied eternally.Antacids: Herbs used to neutralize acid in the stomach and intestinal tract.Anthelmintics: Herbs used to expel or destroy intestinal worms.Antiabortives: Herbs used to counteract abortive tendencies.Antiarthritic: Herbs used to relieve and heal arthritic conditions.Antiasthmatics: Herbs used to relieve asthma. Antibilious: Herbs used to eliminate a biliary or jaundice condition in the body.Anticatarrhal: Herbs which heat catarrhal conditions in the body.Antiemetics: Herbs used to relieve malarial-type fevers and chills.Antiphlogistics: Herbs used to reduce inflammation or swelling.Antipyretics: Herbs used to reduce temperature in fevers.Antirheumatics: Herbs used to prevent, relieve and cure rheumatism.Antiscorbutics: Herbs used to prevent and cure scurvy.Antiscrofulous: Herbs used to heal scrofula (tubercular condition of the lymph nodes).Antiseptics: Herbs used to prevent, resist and counteract putrefaction (decay of cells and formation of pus).Antispasmodics: Herbs used to relieve nervous irritability and reduce or prevent excessive involuntary muscular contractions (spasms).Antisyphilitics: Herbs used to relieve and cure syphilis and other venereal disease.Antivenomous: Herbs used as antidotes to animals, vegetables and mineral poisons.Antizymotics: Herbs used to destroy or arrest the action of bacterial organisms.Aperients: Herbs used as mild evacuants or laxatives to bowels.Aromatics: Herbs that are odoriferous, having a fragrant, pungent and spicy taste, and which stimulate the gastrointestinal mucous membranes.Astringents: Herbs that influence the vital contractility of cell walls, condense the tissues, make them denser and firmer, and arrest discharges.Aphrodisiacs: Herbs to correct conditions of impotence and strengthen sexual power.Balsamic: Herbs that mitigate, soothe and heal inflamed parts.Bitters: Herbs having a bitter taste and serving as stimulant tonic to the gastro-intestinal mucous membranes.Blisters: Herbs that cause inflammatory exudation (blistering) of serum from the skin when applied locally. Calefacients: Herbal agents used as diffusive stimulants and which cause increased capillary circulation, giving an external sense of warmth.Cardiac Depressant: Herbs that lessen and are sedative to the heart's action.Cardiac Stimulant: Herbs used to increase and give greater power to the heart's action.Carminatives: Herbs containing a volatile oil that excites intestinal peristalsis, and relieves and promotes the expulsion of flatus or gas from the gastro intestinal tract.Cathartics: Herbs that are active purgatives to the intestinal tract, exciting peristalsis and stimulating glandular secretions, producing semi-fluid bowel movements with some irritation and griping.Caustics: Herbs that burn or destroy living tissue.Cell Proliferants: Herbs that promote rapid healing and restoration.Cephalics: Herbs that are particularly healing to cerebral conditions and diseases.Cholagogues: Herbs used to promote a flow and discharge of bile into the duodenum by contracting the bile ducts and to produce purgation of the bowels.Condiments: Herbs used to flavor or season foods. Coloring Agents: Herbs used for coloring or dying purposes.Cordials: Herbs that combine the properties of a warm stomach and a cardiac stimulant.Correctives: Herbs used to alter and lessen the severity of action of other herbs, especially cathartics or purgatives.Cosmetics: Herbs which are skin tonics and are used to improve the complexion and beauty of the skin. See also "emollients".Counter-irritants: Herbs that cause irritation by local application in one part and therapeutically relieve pain in another more deep-seated part.Demulcents: Herbs having mucilaginous properties that are soothing and protective internally to irritated and inflamed surfaces and tissues,Dental Anodynes: Herbs used locally to relieve pain from an exposed nerve filament in the tooth (toothache).Deobstruents: Herbs that remove alimentary and other body obstructions.Deodorants: Herbs that eliminate foul odors.Depresso-Motors: Herbs that diminish muscular movements by action on spinal centers.Depurants: Herbs that clean and purify the blood by promoting eliminative functions.Desiccants: Herbs which are able to dry surfaces by absorbing moisture.Detergents: Herbs that are cleansing to wounds, ulcers, etc., or the skin itself.Diaphoretics: Herbs that produce insensible perspiration and increased elimination through the skin. Digestants: Herbs that contain ferments and acids, that aid in the solution and digestion of food.Diluents: Herbs that dilute secretions and excretions.Discutients: Herbs that dispel or resolve (dissolve) tumors and abnormal growths.Disinfectants: Herbs that eliminate or destroy the noxious properties of decaying organic matter and thereby prevent spreading or transfer of toxic matter or infections. Diuretics: Herbs that increase the secretion and flow of urine.Drastics: Herbs that are hyperactive cathartics, producing violent peristalsis, watery stools and much gripping pain.Emetics: Herbs that induce vomiting and cause an evacuation of stomach contents.Emmenagogues: Herbs that are female correctives to the reproductive organs, which stimulate and promote a normal menstrual function, flow and discharge.Emollients: Herbs that are softening, soothing and protective to external surfaces.Errhines: Herbs that increase nasal secretions from the sinuses.Exanthematous: Herbs that are healing to skin eruptions or to skin diseases of an eruptive nature.Excito-Motors: Herbs that increase motor reflex and spinal activity.Expectorants: Herbs that promote and facilitate discharge of mucus secretions from broncho pulmonary passages.Febrifuges: Herbs that reduce fever.Galactagogues: Herbs that increase the secretion of milk.Galactophyga: Herbs that diminish or arrest the secretion of milk.Hemostatics: Herbs that are generally internally astringents and arrest hemorrhaging or internal bleeding. Hematics: Herbs rich in iron and manganese and which augment and enrich the red corpuscles of the blood (blood-builder).Hepatics: Herbs used to strengthen, tone and stimulate the secretive functions of the liver, causing an increased flow of the bile.Herpetics: Herbs that are healing to skin eruption and scaling diseases (such as ringworm, etc.).Hypnotics: Herbs that are powerful nervine relaxants and sedatives that induce sleep.Insecticides: Herbs that are used to destroy insects.Irritants: Herbs that produce a greater or lesser degree of vascular excitement when applied to the epidermis or skin surface.Lithotriptics: Herbs that dissolve or discharge urinary and biliary concretions (gravel or stones) when formed in excretory passages.Local Anaesthetics: Herbs that produce anesthesia (loss of sensation) where applied locally to a surface.Maturating: Herbs that promote the maturation or ripening of tumors, boils, ulcers, etc.Mucilages: Herbs having mucilaginous properties, Mydriatics: Herbs that cause dilation of the pupil (eye).Myolics: Herbs that cause contraction of the ciliary muscles of the pupil (eye).Narcotics: Herbs that are powerful anodyne-hypnotics.Nauseants: Herbs that produce nausea or an inclination to vomit.Nephritics: Herbs that influence the kidneys and are healing in the kidney complaints.Nervines: Herbs that are tonic and healing to the nerves.Nutritives: Herbs that are nourishing and building to body tissues.Ophthalmics: Herbs that are healing to disorders and diseases of the eyes.Parasiticides: Herbs that kill or destroy animal and vegetable parasites within the body.Parturients: Herbs that stimulate uterine contractions, which induce and assist labor, and promote and hasten childbirth.Pectorals: Herbs that are healing to complaints of affections of the broncho-pulmonary area.Peristaltics: Herbs that stimulate and increase peristalsis, or muscular contractions (as in the bowels). Protectives: Herbs that serve as protective covering to abraded, inflamed, or injured parts when applied locally to a surface.Pungents: Herbs that cause a pricking, acrid, and penetrating sensation to a sense organ.Refrigerants: Herbs having cooling properties, lower the body temperature and relieve thirst.Resolvents: Herbs that promote the dispersion of inflammatory deposits, and their absorption into excretory channels.Rubefacients: Herbs that, upon local application, stimulate capillary dilation and action, and cause the skin redness (drawing blood from deeper tissues and organs and thereby relieving congestion and inflammation).Sedatives: Herbs that lower the functional activity of an organ or part of the body, thereby tending to calm, moderate or tranquilize.Sialagogues: Herbs that promote the secretion and flow of saliva and buccal mucus.Soporifics: Herbs that induce a relaxing sleep. Sturnutatories: Herbs that are irritating to the mucous membranes in the nasal passages which causes sneezing.Stimulants: Herbs that increase functional activity and energy in the body.Stomachics: Herbs that are stimulating tonics to the stomach.Styptics: Herbs that astringe the blood vessels when applied to an external surface, and thereby arrest local bleeding or hemorrhaging.Sudorifics: Herbs that stimulate the sudoriferous glands and produce visible and profuse perspiration when taken hot and act as tonics when taken cold,Taeniafuges and Taeniacides: Herbs that expel (Taeniafuges) or kill (Taeniacides) tapeworms in the intestinal tract.Tonics: Herbs that stimulate nutrition and permanently increase tone.Vulneraries: Herbs that promote healing of fresh cuts, wounds, etc.

[Guest guest]

Dr.IanShillington writes:

> Where did you find these definitions?

 

From a webpage. I didn't save it, but could probably find it again if needed.

The page was about a few herbs with specific properties (not much) and they

included the definitions.

Dena

[Guest guest]

Awesome. Thanks for posting it. It is now in file archives.

 

Love,

 

Doc

 

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington

 

-

cpdena

herbal remedies

Sunday, April 08, 2001 5:09 PM

Re: [herbal remedies] Herb Properties

Dr.IanShillington writes:> Where did you find these definitions?From a webpage. I didn't save it, but could probably find it again if needed. The page was about a few herbs with specific properties (not much) and they included the definitions.DenaFederal Law requires that we warn you of the following: 1. Natural methods can sometimes backfire. 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any natural remedy. 3. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and toprescribe for your own health. We are not medical doctors although MDs are welcome to post here as long as they behave themselves. Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any person following the advice of anyone posting here does so at their own risk. It is up to you to educate yourself. By accepting advice or products from list members, you are agreeing to be fully responsible for your own health, and hold the List Owner and members free of any liability. Dr. Ian ShillingtonDoctor of NaturopathyDr.IanShillington

[Guest guest]

These " Herb Properties " are word for word out of Dr. John

Christopher's book " School of Natural Healing " , Chapter 17,

pages 638-672, such chapter being entitled " Herb Alternatives " . Each

term and its definition are followed by an exhaustive list of herbs

having the defined property.

 

Diana

 

herbal remedies, cpdena@a... wrote:

> Dr.IanShillington@G... writes:

> > Where did you find these definitions?

>

> From a webpage. I didn't save it, but could probably find it again

if needed.

> The page was about a few herbs with specific properties (not much)

and they

> included the definitions.

> Dena

[Guest guest]

I forgot to mention that my copy of this book is the " 20th Anniversary

Edition, a revised and enlarged edition published in 1996. I don't

know if earlier editions of the book had this chapter.

 

Diana

 

herbal remedies, dlapp@b... wrote:

> These " Herb Properties " are word for word out of Dr. John

> Christopher's book " School of Natural Healing " , Chapter 17,

> pages 638-672, such chapter being entitled " Herb Alternatives " .

Each

> term and its definition are followed by an exhaustive list of herbs

> having the defined property.

>

> Diana

>

> herbal remedies, cpdena@a... wrote:

> > Dr.IanShillington@G... writes:

> > > Where did you find these definitions?

> >

> > From a webpage. I didn't save it, but could probably find it again

> if needed.

> > The page was about a few herbs with specific properties (not much)

> and they

> > included the definitions.

> > Dena

[Guest guest]

Thanks Diana. They did look familiar.

 

I'll up-date the file and give credit where credit is due.

 

Love,

 

Doc

 

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington

 

These "Herb Properties" are word for word out of Dr. John Christopher's book "School of Natural Healing", Chapter 17, pages 638-672, such chapter being entitled "Herb Alternatives". Each term and its definition are followed by an exhaustive list of herbs having the defined property.Diana

[Guest guest]

Yup! Same as mine.

 

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington

 

-

dlapp

herbal remedies

Sunday, April 08, 2001 7:06 PM

[herbal remedies] Re: Herb Properties

I forgot to mention that my copy of this book is the "20th Anniversary Edition, a revised and enlarged edition published in 1996. I don't know if earlier editions of the book had this chapter.

[Guest guest]

ISBN for " School of Natural Healing " , by Dr. John R. Christopher, is

1879436019. It's available from http://www.herbsfirst.com/

 

Diana

 

Gogi <crusso@w...> wrote:

> What is the ISBN number please?

>

> Gogi

>

> dlapp@b... wrote:

>

> > I forgot to mention that my copy of this book is the " 20th

Anniversary

> >

> > Edition, a revised and enlarged edition published in 1996. I

don't

> > know if earlier editions of the book had this chapter.

> >

> > Diana

> >

> > herbal remedies, dlapp@b... wrote:

> > > These " Herb Properties " are word for word out of Dr. John

> > > Christopher's book " School of Natural Healing " ,

[Guest guest]

Dr.IanShillington writes:

> I'll up-date the file and give credit where credit is due.

 

Sorry about that. The website I picked it up at didn't give a reference of

where it was from.

Dena

[Guest guest]

No problem hon. All's well as ends well.

 

Love,

 

Doc

 

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington

Sorry about that. The website I picked it up at didn't give a reference of where it was from.Dena