Herbal Glossary
The language of herbal medicine, explained simply.
- Adaptogen
- A herb traditionally used to help the body cope with physical and emotional stress and return to balance.
- Alterative
- Gradually improves overall health, often by supporting the body’s natural elimination pathways.
- Anti-inflammatory
- Helps calm the body’s inflammatory response.
- Antimicrobial
- Helps the body resist a range of micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi.
- Antispasmodic
- Eases cramping and tension in muscles, including the smooth muscle of the gut and womb.
- Astringent
- Tightens and tones tissues, reducing excess secretions — think of the dry feeling of strong tea.
- Bitter
- Stimulates digestive secretions through the bitter taste receptors, supporting appetite and digestion.
- Carminative
- Warming, aromatic herbs that ease wind, bloating and digestive discomfort.
- Cholagogue
- Encourages the flow of bile from the gallbladder, aiding fat digestion.
- Demulcent
- Soothing, mucilaginous herbs that coat and protect irritated tissues.
- Diaphoretic
- Promotes gentle sweating, traditionally used to support the body through a fever.
- Diuretic
- Increases the flow of urine.
- Emmenagogue
- Traditionally used to stimulate or regulate menstrual flow.
- Energetics
- A traditional way of describing a herb’s qualities — warming or cooling, drying or moistening — to match it to the person.
- Expectorant
- Helps loosen and clear mucus from the airways.
- Galactagogue
- Traditionally used to support breast milk production.
- Hepatic
- Supports the health and function of the liver.
- Hypotensive
- Traditionally used to support healthy blood pressure levels.
- Immunomodulant
- Helps regulate and balance immune activity.
- Laxative
- Encourages bowel movements.
- Lymphatic
- Supports the movement and cleansing role of the lymphatic system.
- Materia medica
- The body of knowledge describing each medicinal herb — its uses, actions, preparation and safety.
- Monograph
- A detailed profile of a single herb.
- Nervine
- Supports the nervous system — some calm (relaxant nervines), some nourish (trophorestorative nervines).
- Sedative
- Strongly calming; encourages rest and sleep.
- Tincture
- A liquid herbal extract, usually made with water and alcohol.
- Tonic
- Strengthens and nourishes a particular organ or body system over time.
- Trophorestorative
- Restores and nourishes a depleted organ or system.
- Vulnerary
- Supports the healing of wounds and damaged tissue.