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Adaptogen
Herbs that normalize and restore body functions and increase the body’s nonspecific resistance to stress: ginseng, licorice, nettle and astragulus.
Alterative
Also known as blood purifiers. Herbs that gradually restore health and vitality to the body: burdock, red clover, nettle, oregon grape, alfalfa, gota kola, marshmallow, dong quai, and ginseng.
Analgesic/Anodyne
Substance that relieves pain: scullcap, valerian, passion flower, catnip and chamomile.
Antacid
Substances that neutralize excess acid in the stomach and intestinal tract: dandelion, fennel, slippery elm, catnip, mullein and meadowsweet.
Anthelmintic
Herbs that expels or kills worms: garlic, onion, wormwood, rue and thyme.
Antibiotic
Substance that inhibit the growth of or destroy bacteria, viruses or amoebas: echinacea, goldenseal, myrrh, chaparral, juniper berries, thyme and garlic.
Anticatarrhal
Substances that eliminate or counteract the formation of mucus: cayenne, ginger, sage, cinnamon, anise, gota kola, mullein, comfrey and wild cherry bark.
Anti-inflammatory
Herbs that reduce inflammation: St. John’s wort, calendula, arnica, licorice, chamomile and wild yam.
Antilithic
Herbs that prevent or dissolve and discharge urinary and biliary stones and gravel: dandelion, cleavers, corn silk, uva ursi. For gallbladder: Oregon grape and chaparral.
Antiphlogistic
Reduces localized inflammations, itching and swelling.
Antipyretic
Cooling herbs used to reduce fevers: alfalfa, basil, gota kola, skullcap, chickweed, yarrow.
Antiseptic
Substances that can be applied to the skin to prevent the growth of bacteria: goldenseal, calendula, chaparral, myrrh and the oils of thyme, garlic, pine, juniper berries and sage.
Antispasmodic
Herbs that prevent or relax muscle spasms: lobelia, dong quai, black and blue cohosh, scullcap, valerian, kava kava, raspberry leaves and rue.
Aphrodisiac
Substances used to improve sexual potency and power: damiana, saw palmetto, ginseng, sarsaparilla, kava kava and burdock.
Aromatic
A pleasant smelling and tasting herb that stimulates the gastro-intestinal system, and improves the taste of medicines and foods: lavender, peppermint, angelica, cinnamon, dill, citrus peel.
Astringent
Herb causing constriction of tissues: witch hazel, white oak bark, yellow dock, uva ursi, calendula, myrrh, horsetail, blackberry root.
Bitter
Stimulates gastric function: hops, mugwort, dandelion.
Carminative
Promotes digestion, expels gas, and relieves gripping: anise, fennel, chamomile, peppermint, caraway, ginger.
Cholagogue
Herbs taken to promote the flow and discharge of bile into the small intestine: goldenseal, oregon grape, dandelion, wild yam.
Demulcent
Soothing substances taken internally that protect and sooth the digestive tract. They trigger reflex mechanisms that travel through the spinal nerves effectively reducing inflammation and irritation in the respiratory and urinary systems: comfrey, marshmallow, slippery elm, corn silk.
Diaphoretic
Substances that promote perspiration: elder, yarrow, osha, ginger.
Diuretic
Substances that increases the flow of urine: dandelion, couch grass, uva ursi, plantain, horsetail.
Emetic
Substances that induce vomiting and causing the stomach to empty: lobelia, ipecac, elecampane, blessed thistle.
Emmenagogue
Herbs that promote menstruation: pennyroyal, juniper berries myrrh, black cohosh, rue, wild ginger.
Emollients
Substances that sooth and soften the skin: marshmallow, comfrey root, slippery elm, chickweed, plantain.
Expectorant
Herbs that help expel mucus from the lungs and throat.
- Stimulating expectorant: Herbs that stimulate the nerves and muscles of the respiratory system to manifest a cough, example is elecampane.
- Relaxing expectorant: Herbs that reduce tension in lung tissue, often easing tightness, allowing natural coughing and flow of mucus to occur, example is coltsfoot, licorice, hyssop.
- Amphoteric expectorant: Herbs that stimulate or relax the respiratory systems, using the body’s choice which is necessary: lobelia, mullein, horehound, elder, garlic.
Febrifuge
Herbs that assist the body in reducing fevers: catnip, elder, peppermint.
Galactogogue
Substance that increase the secretion of milk: anise, blessed thistle, fennel and vervain.
Hemostatic
Herbs that are internal astringents that arrest internal hemorrhaging: blackberry, cayenne, cranesbill, mullein, goldenseal, horsetail, uva ursi, yellow dock, witch hazel, shepherd’s purse.
Hepatic
Herbs that strengthen and tone the liver: Oregon grape, agrimony, dandelion, goldenseal, wild yam.
Hypnotic
Herbs that have a powerful relaxant and sedative action, and help induce sleep: hops, valerian, wild lettuce.
Hypotensive
Herbs that reduce elevated blood pressure: crampbark, garlic, onion, yarrow, hawthorn berries.
Laxative
Substances that stimulate bowel movement: cascara sagrada, yellow dock, rhubarb root.
Lymphatic
Herbs that support the health and activity of the lymphatic system: cleaver, calendula, echinacea.
Nervine
Herbs that calm nervous tension and nourish the nerves: chamomile, hops, oats, scullcap, St. John’s wort.
Oxytocic
Substances that stimulate uterine contractions to assist and induce labor: black and blue cohosh, rue, squawvine, uva ursi.
Pectoral
Herbs that generally strengthen and heal the respiratory system: elecampane, coltsfoot, comfrey, mullein.
Rubefacient
Substances that increase the flow of blood to the surface of the skin and produce redness. They draw inflammation and congestions from deeper areas: nettle, mustard seed, cayenne, horseradish, black pepper, pine and thyme oil.
Sedative
Herbs that quiet the nervous system: valerian, scullcap, passion flower, wood betony, chamomile, catnip.
Sialogogue
Herbs that promote the secretion and flow of saliva: echinacea, black pepper, cayenne, ginger, licorice.
Stimulants
Herbs that increase the energy of the body, quicken circulation, break up obstructions and congestion: cayenne, ginger, horseradish, mustard, wormwood.
Styptic
Herbs that arrest or reduce external bleeding due to astringent action on blood vessels: yarrow, horsetail, cayenne, plantain.
Tonic
Herbs that stimulate nutrition by improving the assimilation of essential nutrients by the organs, they improve systemic tone giving increased vigor, energy and strength to the tissues of either specific organs or to the whole body. Most tonics have an affinity for a particular system.
- Nerve tonics: skullcap, lobelia, valerian, oats. Heart tonics: hawthorn, ginseng, motherwort.
- Stomach tonics: agrimony, elecampane, gentain. Liver tonics: dandelion, sassafras, cascara.
- Biliary tonics: Oregon grape, goldenseal, rhubarb, parsley, wild yam.
- Sexual tonics: damiana, ginseng, dong quai, burdock, licorice.
Vasodilator
Herbs that expand blood vessels and allow increased circulation: ginkgo, feverfew, Siberian ginseng, ginger, cayenne.
Vulnerary
Herbs that help the body to heal wounds by promoting cell growth and repair: comfrey, calendula, chickweed, St. John’s wort, marshmallow, aloe vera, rosemary, thyme and slippery elm.