| TERM | DEFINITION |
| ABORTIFACIENT | Capable of inducing abortion |
| ABSOLUTE | A highly concentrated viscous, semi-solid or solid perfume material, usually obtained by alcohol extraction from the concrete |
| ADAPTOGENS | Natural balancers, they can relax or stimulate |
| AMENORRHEA | Absence of menstruation |
| ANALGESIC | Something that relieves pain |
| ANESTHETIC | Loss of feeling or sensation; substance that causes such a loss |
| ANTHELMINTIC | A vermifuge, destroying or expelling intestinal worms |
| ANTIBIOTIC | Prevents the growth of, or destroys, bacteria |
| ANTIDEPRESSANT | Helps to ease depression |
| ANTIGEN | Any substance which stimulates the production of an antibody. Microbial germs and any foreign elements in a normal serum may be antigens. |
| ANTIINFLAMMATORY | Alleviates inflammation |
| ANTINEURALGIC | Relieves or reduces nerve pain |
| ANTIPHOLGISTIC | A medication which combats inflammation. Examples: medicinal baths, poultices, fomentations, leeches (Yes, the leeches are back. I found this definition in a book by Dr. Jean Valnet. Sounds like the beginning of a new page for my site!!) |
| ANTISPASMODIC | Prevents and eases spasms or convulsions |
| ANTIRHEUMATIC | Helps to prevent and relieve Rheumatism |
| ANTISEBORRHEIC | Helps control the products of sebum, the oily secretion from sweat glands |
| ANTISEPTIC | Destroys and prevents the spreading of microbes |
| ANTIVIRAL | Inhibits the growth of a virus |
| APERIENT | A mild laxative |
Ye Ole Kitchen Witch
"the way to health is to have an aromatic bath and a scented massage every day"
---hippocratesGLOSSARY OF TERMS
This page was last updated on: August 18, 2011
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MNOPQRSTUVWXYZThe glossary has been compiled from years of note-taking, surfing and reading many, many books. If you don't see what you're looking for, drop me a line. I'm know I will be adding to this page quite often.
Please visit often.
| TERM | DEFINITION |
| BACTERICIDAL | An agent that destroys bacteria (a type of microbe or organism). |
| BALSAM | A resinous semi-solid mass or viscous liquid exuded from a plant, which can be either a pathological or physiological product. A “true” balsam is characterized by its high content of benzoic acid, benzoates, cinnamic acid or cinnamates. |
| BILE | A secretion of the liver stored in the gall-bladder from which it passes into the intestine, where it aids digestion. |
| BILIOUS | A condition caused by an excessive secretion of bile. |
| BITTER | A tonic component which stimulates the appetite and promotes the secretion of saliva and gastric juices by exciting the taste buds. |
| BLEPHARITIS | Inflammation of the eyelids. |
| TERM | DEFINITION |
| CALMATIVE | A sedative. |
| CALYX | The sepal or outer layer of floral leaves. |
| CARDIOTONIC | (1) Having a stimulating effect on the heart; (2) Substance which tones up the heart. |
| CARMINATIVE | Settles the digestive system, relieves flatulence (gas). |
| CATARRH | Inflammation of a mucous membrane accompanied by an excessive discharge of mucus. |
| CATHARTIC | (1) Purgative, capable of causing a violent purging of catharsis of the body. (2) Substance that purges the body, usually the intestine, and cleanses the system. |
| CELLULITE | Accumulation of toxic matter in the form of fat in the tissue. |
| CEPHALIC | Remedy for disorders of the head. |
| CHEMOTYPE | The same botanical species occurring in other forms due to different conditions of growth, such as climate, soil, and altitude. |
| CICATRISANT or CICATRIZANT | An agent that promotes healing by the formation of scar tissue |
| CHLOROSIS | A form of anemia rarely encountered nowadays |
| CYTOPHLACTIC | Referring to cytophylaxis - the process of increasing the activity of leucocytes in defence of the body against infection |
| CYTOTOXIC | Toxic to all cells |
BIBLIOGRAPHY
| TERM | DEFINITION |
| DECOCTION | a herbal preparation, where the plant material is boiled in water and reduced to make a concented extract. |
| DEMULCENT | A substance that protects mucus membranes and prevents irritation |
| DEODERANT | An agent which corrects, masks or removes unpleasant odors. |
| DEPURITIVE | Helps combat impurities in the blood and organs, detoxifying, cleansing. |
