A
AMOEBIASIS: an infection caused by a certain amoeba called Endameba histolytic a; often caused by contaminated water or food
ANEMIA: a condition in which there is low red blood cell count in the body
ANALGESIC: Any of a number of remedies that reduces or relieves pain
ANONDYNE: A compound less potent than an anesthetic that is capable of relieving pain
ANTHELMINTHIC: of or relating to a substance capable of destroying or eliminating parasitic worms
ANTI-NOCICEPTIVE: Compounds capable of diminishing pain without negative effects on consciousness or without producing anesthesia
ANTI-PLASMODIAL: substance that counters parasites of the genus Plasmodium
ANTIBIOTIC: a substance, such as penicillin or erythromycin, produced by or derived from certain microorganisms, including fungi and bacteria, that can destroy or inhibit the growth of other microorganisms, especially bacteria
ANTIBLENNORRHAGIC: agent to prevent or resolve mucous discharge
ANTICHOLESTEREMIC: promoting a reduction of cholesterol levels in the blood
ANTIEMETIC: an agent that relieves vomiting
ANTIFEEDANT: a chemical agent that causes a pest, as an insect, to stop eating
ANTIGONADOTROPIC: tending to inhibit the physiological activity of gonadotropic hormones
ANTIHEPATOTOXIC: substance that acts against injury to the liver or impairment of the liver function caused by exposure to xenobiotic such as drugs, food additives, alcohol, chlorinated solvents, peroxided fatty acids, fungal toxins, radioactive isotopes, environmental toxicants, and even some medicinal plants
ANTILITHIC: preventing an abnormal concretion, usually composed of mineral salts, occurring within the body, chiefly in hollow organs or their passages (also called stones) or promoting their dissol
ANTIMICROBIAL: an agent that attenuates kills or inhibits the growth or reproduction of microbes, to prevent their multiplication or growth, or to prevent their pathogenic action
ANTIMUTAGENIC: having the ability to block or prevent mutations
ANTIOXIDANT: an agent that inhibits oxidation; any of numerous chemical substances including certain natural body products and nutrients that can neutralize the oxidant effect of free radicals and other substances
ANTIPROLIFERATIVE: used or tending to inhibit cell growth, particularly tumor cells
ANTIPROTOZOAL: tending to destroy or inhibit the growth of protozoan
ANTIPRURITIC: tending to relieve or prevent itching
ANTIPYRETIC: an agent that reduces fever
ANTISCORBUTIC: substance counteracting scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C and characterized by spongy gums, loosening of the teeth, and a bleeding into the skin and mucous membranes
ANTISEPTIC: preventing or inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms (such as bacteria) in or on living tissue (such as the skin or mucous membranes)
ANTISPASMODIC: capable of preventing or relieving spasms or convulsions
ANTITUSSIVE: a cough suppressant
ANXIOLYTIC: substance that relieves anxiety
APHRODISIAC: an agent that arouses or is held to arouse sexual desire
ASTRINGENT: causing contraction or arresting discharges
B
BLENNORRHEA: any free discharge of mucus, especially a gonorrheal discharge from the urethra or vagina
BRONCHITIS: inflammation of the air passages between the nose and the lungs, including the windpipe or trachea and the larger air tubes of the lung that bring air in from the trachea
BRONCHODILATOR: a substance that widens the air passages of the lungs and eases breathing by relaxing bronchial smooth muscle
C
CALYX: a flower-shaped or funnel-shaped structure
CATARRH: inflammation of a mucous membrane (particularly of the head and throat), with free discharge of mucus
CHOLAGOGUE: an agent that stimulates gallbladder contraction to promote bile flow
CLAUDICATION: a halt or lameness in a person’s walk; a limp
COLIC: persistent, unexplained crying in a healthy baby between two weeks and five months of age
CONCOCTION: a mixture of two medicinal substances, usually done with the aid of heat
CONJUNCTIVITIS: an inflammation or redness of the lining of the white part of the eye and the underside of the eyelid (conjunctiva) that can be caused by infection, allergic reaction, or physical agents like infrared or ultraviolet light
D
DECOCTION: A decoction is an herbal preparation created by boiling herbs in liquid, usually water
DEPURATIVE: purifying agent
DETOXICANT: any agent that removes toxins from the body
DIAPHORETIC: an agent that increases perspiration
DIURETIC: an agent that increases urine excretion
DRACONTIASIS: an infection with the Guinea worm
DYSENTERY: a general term for a group of gastrointestinal disorders characterized by inflammation of the intestines, particularly the colon; characteristic features include abdominal pain and cramps, straining at stool (tenesmus), and frequent passage of watery diarrhea or stools containing blood and mucus
DYSMENORRHEA: the occurrence of painful cramps during menstruation
DYSTOCIA: abnormal difficulty during labor or childbirth
E
ECZEMA: any superficial inflammatory process involving primarily the epidermis, marked early by redness, itching, minute papules and vesicles, weeping, oozing, and crusting, and later by scaling, lichenification, and often pigmentation; Eczema is a common allergic reaction in children but it also occurs in adults, usually in a more severe form
EDEMA: a condition of abnormally large fluid volume in the circulatory system or in tissues between the body’s cells
EMETIC: an agent that causes vomiting
EMMENAGOGUE: an agent that induces or hastens menstrual flow
ENTERALGIA: severe abdominal pain accompanying spasm of the bowel
ENTERITIS: inflammation of the intestine, especially the small intestine
ENURESIS: a type of urinary incontinence, usually referring to involuntary discharge of urine during sleep at night (bed wetting)
ETHNOMEDICINAL: referring to any of a number of traditional, often aboriginal, medical systems that use native plants and herbs for medicinal purposes
F
FEBRIFUGE: effective against fever
FIBROSITIS: inflammation of fibrous tissue; used to denote generalized muscle aching, soreness, or stiffness, with multiple tender trigger points
G
GALACTAGOGUE: a substance that stimulates milk production
GASTROINTESTINAL: of or relating to the stomach and intestines
GASTRITIS: commonly refers to inflammation of the lining of the stomach, but the term is often used to cover a variety of symptoms resulting from stomach lining inflammation and symptoms of burning or discomfort
GENITO-UNRINARY: related to the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases
GONORRHEA: a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease that is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhea; he mucous membranes of the genital region may become inflamed without the development of any other
H
HELMINTHIASIS: the condition of having intestinal parasite worms
HEPAPROTECTIVE: the ability of a chemical substance to prevent damage to the liver
HEPATITIS: inflammation of the liver, due usually to viral infection but sometimes to toxic agents
HEPATOBILIARY: pertaining blood in the bile or bile ducts
HEPATOSIS: any functional disorder of the liver
HOMEOSTATIC: relating to the state of dynamic equilibrium of the internal environment of the body
HYPOCHOLESTEROLEMIA: the presence of abnormally small amounts of cholesterol in the circulating blood
HYPERTENSION: high blood pressure
HYPOGLYCEMIC: pertaining to or characterized by low blood sugar
HYPOTENSIVE: characterized by low blood pressure or causing reduction in blood pressure
I
IMMUNODEFICIENCY: referring to a state in which part of the immune system is missing or defective; therefore, the body’s ability to fight infections is impaired
IMMUNOMODULATORY: Capable of modifying or regulating one or more immune functions
INFUSION: the process of steeping (soaking) herbs in water until the water absorbs the oils and flavors, then drinking the liquid for the taste or for the medicinal value
INSOMNIA: the inability to obtain an adequate amount or quality of sleep; the difficulty can be in falling asleep, remaining asleep, or both
J
JAUNDICE: a condition in which a person’s skin and the whites of the eyes are discolored yellow due to an increased level of bile pigments in the blood resulting from liver dise
L
LACTAGOGUE: promoting the flow of milk
LARVICIDAL: destructive to larvae
LUMBAGO: pain in the lumbar region of the back, an old popular term for lower back pain
M
MALARIA: a serious infectious disease spread by certain mosquitoes; characterized by recurrent symptoms of chills, fever, and an enlarged spleen
N
NEUROPROTECTIVE: any agent that protects the brain from secondary injury caused by stroke
O
OPTHALMIC: of or relating to or resembling the eye
ORCHITIS: inflammation of one or both of the testes
OTALGIA: pain in the ear; earache
P
PAROTITIS: inflammation of the parotid glands, as in mumps
PHARYNGITIS: inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx; sore throat
PROPHYLACTIC: an agent that acts to defend against or prevent something, especially disease; protective
PROPHYLAXIS: prevention of or protective treatment for disease
PROTEINURIA: excessive protein in the urine, as frR
RHEUMATISM: any of several disorders characterized by pain and stiffness in the joints or muscles
PRURITIS: itching condition
PURGATIVE: an agent for purging the bowels MBAGO: pain in the lumbar region of the back, an old popular term for lower back
S
SCABIES: a contagious skin infection caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, characterized by intense itching, inflammation, and the formation of vesicles and pustules
SCHISTOSOMIASIS: a chronic anemia and organ infection caused by parasitic flukes of the genus Schistosoma, transmitted through feces-contaminated river snails
SCLERODERMIA: a disease in which connective tissue becomes hardened and rigid
SIALOGOGUE: agent that can stimulate and increase the flow of saliva
SINUSITIS: inflammation of the sinuses or a sinus, especially in the nasal region
STOMACHIC: an agent that is beneficial to the stomach; stimulating gastric digestion; sharpening the appetite
T
TAENICIDE: an agent that destroys tapeworms
TINCTURE: a traditional herbal tincture is made by steeping herbs in high-proof ethyl alcohol (sometimes vinegar) to extract and concentrate their medicinal constituent
TRYPANOSOMIASIS: infection of a parasitic flagellate protozoan of the genus Trypanosomosis, which lives in the blood of vertebrates, is transmitted by certain insects, and causes sleeping sickness and certain other diseases
TUBERCULOSIS: an infectious disease of humans and animals caused by the tubercle bacillus and characterized by the formation of tubercles on the lungs and other tissues of the body, often developing long after the initial infection; tuberculosis of the lungs is characterized by the coughing up of mucus and sputum, fever, weight loss, and chest pain
TRYPANOCIDAL: a substance effective in killing any of various parasitic flagellate protozoans of the genus Trypanosoma, transmitted to the vertebrate bloodstream, lymph, and spinal fluid by certain insects and often causing diseases such as sleeping sickness and nagana om kidney disease
URICOSURIC: increasing or promoting the excretion of uric acid in urine
V
VASORELAXANT: an agent that promotes the decrease of vascular pressure by lowering tension in the walls of blood cells
VERMIFUGE: a substance that expels intestinal worms
VULNERARY: a remedy used in healing or treating wounds