HERBAL GLOSSARY
Understanding the definition of words commonly used in the practice of herbalism is going to give you
better insight into how and what plants should be used.
Abortifacient
An herb that may cause an abortion.
Active Constituent
A chemical molecule in a plant that can alter some biochemical process in the body. Most plants or herbs contain many active chemical constituents that work together to alter functioning processes of the body, usually in a subtle way.
Adaptogen
An herb that aids the body through a nonspecific boost in resistance to external stressors, supports the body’s ability to adapt to change, and may stimulate or modulate immunity. Herbalists use adaptogens to improve immune response, increase stamina, and normalize sexual function, among other things.
Aerial Parts
The leaves and flowers of a plant.
Alkaloid
A typically highly active plant constituent containing a nitrogen atom, usually in a ringshaped molecule.
Allopathy
A medical practice that aims to combat disease through “conventional” means like drugs or surgery.
Alterative
An herb that works on a general level to tonify the systems of the body involved in nutrient assimilation and waste removal.
Amino Acid
Any of 20 molecules that are combined to form proteins in living organisms.
Analgesic
An herb that eases pain; also known as an anodyne.
Annual
A plant that goes through a complete life cycle in 1 year, dying after one growing season.
Antibacterial
An herb that destroys or inhibits the growth of bacteria.
Antiemetic
An herb that counteracts or soothes nausea or vomiting.
Antihydrotic
An herb that slows the production of excessive sweat.
Antimicrobial
An herb that aids the body in destroying or resisting pathogens. A general term encompassing antibacterials, antifungals, and antivirals.
Antioxidant
An herb that inhibits oxidation and subsequent free radical damage of important chemicals, enzymes, membranes, cells, and tissues in the body.
Antiparasitic
An herb that destroys or inhibits the growth of parasites.
Antiperiodic
An herb that eases cyclic and intermittent diseases such as malaria.
Antispasmodic
An herb that relaxes muscle spasm and tension.
Antitussive
An herb that reduces the urge to cough.
Aperient
An herb that is mildly laxative.
Aphrodisiac
An herb that increases sexual desire.
Aromatherapy
The use of fragrant plants or plant extracts based on the assumption that specific aromas affect the body in different ways. These aromas (essential oils in most cases) are inhaled or applied to the skin in a carrier oil base, such as olive oil or sweet almond oil.
Aromatic
An herb rich in volatile oils, often with a fragrant aroma. Aromatics are often used as antimicrobials, carminatives, decongestants, nervines, and expectorants.
Assimilation
The process of absorbing and metabolizing substances.
Astringent
An herb that causes tissues to contract, typically due to its high tannin content.
Ayurveda
A 6,000-year-old system of healing originating in India and Nepal.
Biennial
A plant with a two-year life cycle, typically flowering during the second year before dying.
Bile
A bitter secretion of the liver that aids digestion, chiefly by saponifying fats.
Binomial
The two-part scientific name used to identify plants; consists of the genus and species of a plant.
Bioflavonoids
A class of botanical secondary metabolites, many of which are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
Bitter
An herb that has a bitter taste and stimulates the release of digestive secretions through a taste bud reflex. Bitters are used to promote the digestion of food and assimilation of nutrients.
Botany
The study of plants.
Calmative
An herb that reduces nervous system hyperactivity and has a gentle calming effect on the mind, body, and emotions.
Carminative
An herb that aids the body in expelling intestinal flatulence, eases bowel griping, and soothes stomach discomfort. Carminative plants are typically high in aromatic oils and are useful in a variety of digestive disorders.
Carrier
A substance (e.g., oil, water) that helps carry active plant constituents into the bloodstream, where they can act on the body’s tissues and organs.
Chinese Medicine
An ancient system of holistic medicine developed in China.
Cholagogue
An herb that increases the flow of bile.
Choleretic
An herb that stimulates production of bile.
Compress
A cloth soaked in herbal tea and applied topically to wounds, rashes, sore muscles, sprains, etc.
Contraindication
A condition for which a particular herb is not recommended.
Decoction
A tea preparation for sturdier plant material such as roots and bark, involving simmering the herb in water for 20 minutes or longer.
Demulcent
A mucilaginous herb that soothes irritated or inflamed tissues and mucous membranes.
Diaphoretic
An herb that promotes perspiration and is often used to help “break” a fever.
Digestive
An herb that strengthens or supports healthy digestive function.
Dioscorides
A Greek physician of the 1st century CE; his De Materia Medica was the leading text on pharmacology for 16 centuries and details the properties of more than 600 plants and animal products.
Doctrine of Signatures
The concept that the appearance and/or habitat of a plant indicates its inherent properties.
Dosha
An ayurvedic term to describe three energies (vata, pitta, kapha) that circulate in the body and contribute to physical and emotional constitutional tendencies and disease.
Double-Ought (00) Capsule
A gelatin capsule or vegetable fiber capsule that holds approximately ½ g of powdered herb.
Eclectic
Eclectic System of herbalism developed in the United States in the 19th century CE. The Eclectic physicians pulled together herbs and philosophies from various healing traditions.
Electuary
An herbal preparation made by adding powdered herbs to honey to form a thick paste.
Elixir
A liquid herbal extract that contains alcohol and a sweet base to render it more pleasant to drink.
Emmenagogue
An herb that stimulates menstruation.
Emollient
An herb applied externally to soften and soothe skin.
Enzymes
Proteins secreted by the body that act as catalysts in inducing chemical changes in the body.
Essential Oil
An extremely light and volatile concentrated oil extracted from aromatic plants; used in aromatherapy and produced by distillation or chemical extraction.
Extract
A preparation containing active constituents (e.g., tincture, herb-infused vinegar, herbinfused oil, infusion, decoction).
Febrifuge
An herb that eases fever.
Flower Essence
Specially prepared liquid flower extract used to improve psychological wellbeing through energetic and vibrational resonance.
Free Radicals
Unpaired oxygen molecules that cause cellular damage.
Galactogogue
An herb that increases the flow of breast milk.
Glycerite
Liquid extract that uses glycerin as the menstruum.
Glycoside
A compound that is created when a sugar binds to a non-sugar molecule.
Hepatic
An herb that affects the liver.
Herbaceous
A type of plant with little or no woody tissue.
Herbal
A book of herb descriptions and recipes.
Homeopathy
A system that uses highly diluted solutions of herbs, minerals, and animal products to promote wellness.
Homeostasis
The tendency of the internal environment of the body to remain relatively constant in spite of varying external conditions.
Humors
Black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood; historically thought to be four fluids contained within the body in the Four Humors theory of Western herbalism.
Hypotensive
An herb that helps lower blood pressure.
Immune Stimulant
An herb that stimulates the immune system.
Infusion
A preparation of plant parts steeped into a carrier such as water or oil.
Jing
In Chinese medicine, the life force that governs all creativity and reproduction.
Kapha
Ayurvedic dosha associated with dampness and phlegm. Kapha qualities are heavy, cold, oily, slow, dense, soft, static, and sweet.
Liniment
An herbal liquid, typically made with alcohol or vinegar, that is rubbed into the skin to counter various imbalances.
Maceration
The act of steeping herbs in alcohol, oil, water, or other menstruums.
Marc
The waste herb material remaining after an extract is prepared.
Materia Medica
A body of collected knowledge and description of herbs and their uses.
Menstruum
The solvent or solvent blend used to make a liquid extract (e.g., alcohol, vinegar, or water).
Mother Tincture
In homeopathy or flower essences, the mother tincture is the original preparation that is diluted before consumption.
Naturalized
A non-native plant that has spread into the wild and reproduces to form a wild population.
Nervine
An herb that affects the nervous system; may be stimulating, sedating, or relaxing.
Oleo Gum Resin
A natural exudate from trees and plants that consists mainly of essential oil, gum, and resin.
Oxymel
An herb-infused honey and vinegar preparation.
Percolation
The process of extracting constituents from herbal powders by packing them into a funnel and allowing a menstruum (often alcohol or water) to slowly flow through the powdered herb.
Perennial
A plant that lives for more than 2 years. The aboveground parts of perennial plants may die back at the end of the growing season, but the roots often endure for many years, producing new growth each spring.
Physiomedicalism
A system of herbalism developed by Samuel Thomson in the United States during the 19th century CE.
Phytochemical
A biologically active substance in plants.
Phytoestrogen
Natural estrogen-like substances that occur in plants.
Pitta
An ayurvedic dosha associated with fire or bile. Pitta qualities are light, hot, oily, sharp, liquid, sour, and pungent.
Placebo
A pill, compound, or experience that is similar in appearance to an agent being tested in a clinical trial, but has no direct physiological effect.
Placebo Response
The perceived healing, improvement of symptoms, or actual healing from a substance or experience that is a placebo.
Poultice
A mass of freshly macerated herbs applied to an area of the body in order to address an imbalance.
Prana
The ayurvedic concept of vital energy.
Propagation
A gardening term; the process of creating new plants from plant cuttings.
Qi
The concept of vital energy in Chinese medicine.
Refrigerant
A plant or other substance that cools the body and eases fever.
Resin
A semi-solid plant substance typically with antimicrobial properties that is soluble in alcohol, but not in water. Amber and pine pitch are examples.
Restorative
An herb that restores balance and strength to the body and its systems.
Rhizome
An underground stem from which roots and shoots grow. The rhizomes of ginger and turmeric, for example, are used in herbalism.
Rubefacient
An herb that stimulates blood flow to the skin, causing local redness.
Salve
An herbal preparation made from infused oil and beeswax for topical application.
Saponins
Active plant constituents that produce a soap-like lather in water.
Sialogogue
An herb that increases the secretion of saliva.
Single-Ought Capsule
A small gelatin or vegetable-based capsule that holds about 1/3 g (300 mg) of an herb powder.
Solvent
A liquid capable of dissolving and removing chemical constituents from plants and extracting them into a liquid solution.
Spp.
An abbreviation for species, signifying any one of a number of species in a genus; for example, instead of writing out all the species of the genus Valeriana, Valeriana spp. is written.
Standardized Extract
A type of herbal extract in which a constituent is adjusted to a specified and standardized level.
Styptic
An herb that helps to stop bleeding.
Systemic
Affecting the entire body.
Tannin
An active plant constituent that binds proteins through an astringent action; originally derived from plants used for tanning leather.
Taproot
A somewhat straight tapering root that grows vertically downward.
Taxonomy
The science of classifying living organisms by assigning each organism to a category depending on the degree of similarities or relatedness to another.
Terpene
Complex active plant constituents with a carbon ring structure, generally highly aromatic and often a component of essential oils.
Tincture
A concentrated herbal extract made by macerating herbs in alcohol and water.
Tonic
An herb that strengthens the body through a general tonifying effect or through specific affinities for certain organs.
Tuber
A swollen part of an underground plant stem, capable of new growth.
Variety
A level of classification in the plant kingdom below species and subspecies noting minor differences within a species, such as variations in flower color; designated by the abbreviation var.
Vata
An ayurvedic dosha associated with wind or air. Vata qualities are light, cold, dry, rough, subtle, mobile, clear, and astringent.
Vulnerary
An herb that helps promote the wound healing process.
Wildcrafting
Harvesting uncultivated herbs from the wild. Most herbalists feel that wildcrafting also implies harvesting the herbs with reverence and ecological awareness.