Better Diagnosis Series: Medical Terminlogy

[Guest guest]

Good Morning!

 

This week I have put together a series of different articles based on

helping all of us to know and understand the components in a

diagnosis and tools that may help in determining a proper and

affective way in determining the facts.

 

 

Better Diagnosis Series: Medical Terminlogy

 

No matter what field of the healing arts we may be in, knowing medical terms and

terminology can be a very helpful tool when communicating to patients and

clients. We live in a time when we are all much more savy in regards to

research and medical disorders and the " speak " of the medical community. I often

see patients who come in to my office and know by medical " speak " , as to what

their diagnosis is, where anatomically it is located as well as research facts

and trivia. Our patients are often much more involved in their disorder than

they may have been just 5 to 10 years ago. Brushing up on some of our medical

terminology can be an effective tool in your diagnosing process as well as

communicating better with your patients. Here is a short list you may be

interested in reviewing:

 

ABORTIFACIENT: Induces childbirth or premature labor.

 

AEROPHAGY. An excess of air in the alimentary canal that is relieved through

burping or flatulence.

 

ALTERATIVE: Gradually improves the nutritional state of the body.

 

ANALGESIC: Relieves or reduces pain.

 

ANAPHRODISIAC: Reduces sexual desire.

 

ANESTHETIC: Numbs the nerves and causes a loss of sensation.

 

ANTHELMINTIC: Expels or kills intestinal worms.

 

ANTIBACTERIAL: Kills bacteria.

 

ANTIDEPRESSANT: Reduces or prevents depression.

 

ANTIDIARRHOEIC: Relieves diarrhea.

 

ANTIDOTE: Counteracts a poison.

 

ANTIEMETIC: Counteracts nausea and stops vomiting.

 

ANTIFUNGAL: Kills fungal infections.

 

ANTIGALACTAGOGUE: Reduces the production of milk secretion of nursing mothers.

 

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY. Reduces inflammation.

 

ANTILITHIC: Prevents formation of stones or calculus.

 

ANTINEURALGIC: Stops nerve pain.

 

ANTIPHLOGISTIC: Counteracts, reduces, or prevents inflammation.

 

ANTIPRURITIC: Relieves or prevents itching.

 

ANTIPUTRID: Stops putrefaction.

 

ANTISCLEROTIC: Removes deposits from circulatory vessels.

 

ANTISCORBUTIC: Preventative for scurvy.

 

ANTISEPTIC: Inhibits the growth of and kills bacteria.

 

ANTISPASMODIC: Relieves or prevents spasms, cramps, and convulsions.

 

ANTISUDORIFIC: Reduces perspiration.

 

ANTITOXIC: Counteracts poisons.

 

ANTITUSSIVE: Relieves coughs.

 

ANTIVIRAL: Weakens or kills viruses.

 

APERIENT: A gentle purgative of the bowels.

 

APERITIF: Appitite stimulant.

 

APHRODISIAC: Arouses sexual desires.

 

BALSAMIC: Softens phlegm.

 

BRONCHODILATOR: Expands the spastic bronchial tube.

 

CALMATIVE: Mild sedative or tranquilizer.

 

CARDIAC: Stimulates or affects the heart.

 

CARDIOTONIC: Tones the heart muscle.

 

CARMINATIVE: Expels gas from the intestines.

 

CEPHALIC: Problems relating to the head.

 

CHOLAGOGUE: Increases the flow of bile.

 

CHOLERETIC: Stimulates the production of bile.

 

CICATRIZANT: Helps the formation of scar tissue; healing.

 

COAGULANT: Clots the blood.

 

CYTOPHYLACTIC: Protects the cells of the organism.

 

DECONGESTANT: Relieves congestion.

 

DEMULCENT: Soothes irritated tissue, particularly mucous membranes.

 

DEPURATIVE: Cleanses and purifies the blood and internal organs.

 

DETERSIVE: Detergent. Cleanses wounds and sores, and promotes the formation of

scar tissue.

 

DIAPHORETIC: Causes perspiration.

 

DISINFECTANT: Kills infections and disease producing microorganisms.

 

DIURETIC: Increases the secretion and elimination of urine.

 

EMETIC: Induces vomiting.

 

EMMENAGOGUE: Promotes and regulates menstruation.

 

EMOLLIENT: Softens the skin, and soothes inflamed and irritated tissues.

 

ESTROGENIC: Similar to estrogen.

 

EUPHORIANT: Brings on an exaggerated sense of physical and emotional well-being.

 

EXPECTORANT: Promotes the discharge of mucous from the lungs and bronchial

tubes.

 

FEBRIFUGE: Reduces or prevents fevers.

 

FIXATIVE: Holds the scent of a fragrance.

 

GALACTAGOGUE: Promotes or increases the secretion of milk in nursing mothers.

 

GERMICIDE: Kills germs.

 

HALLUCINOGEN: Induces hallucinations-an imagined or false sense of perception.

 

HEMOSTATIC: Stops hemorrhaging.

 

HEPATIC: That which acts on the liver.

 

HYPERTENSOR: Raises the blood pressure.

 

HYPNOTIC: Induces sleep.

 

HYPOTENSOR: Lowers the blood pressure.

 

INSECTICIDE: Kills insects.

 

LARVICIDE: Kills the larvae of insects.

 

LAXATIVE: Promotes the elimination from the bowels; a mild purgative.

 

NERVINE: Calming and soothing to the nervous system.

 

PARASITICIDE: Kills parasites.

 

PECTORAL: Affecting the respiratory system.

 

PURGATIVE: Promotes vigorous elimination from the bowels.

 

REGENERATOR: Promotes new growth or repair of structures or tissues.

 

REJUVENATOR: Assists in promoting a youthful appearance.

 

RELAXANT: Lessens or reduces tension, and produces relaxation.

 

RESOLVENT: Reduces swellings.

 

RESTORATIVE: Restores consciousness and/or normal physiological activity.

 

RUBEFACIENT: A local irritant that reddens the skin.

 

SEDATIVE: Calms anxiety and promotes drowsiness.

 

STIMULANT: Excites or quickens an activity in the body.

 

STOMACHIC: Strengthens, stimulates, and tones the stomach.

 

SUDORIFIC: Promotes or increases perspiration.

 

TONIC: Strengthens and revitalizes the body or specific organs.

 

TRANQUILIZER: Calms the nerves.

 

VASOCONSTRICTOR: Constricts the blood vessels.

 

VASODILATOR: Dilates the blood vessels.

 

VERMIFUGE: Expels intestinal worms.

 

VULNERARY: Assists healing of wounds and sores by external application.

 

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

Alternative medicine and therapies

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