Herbal Terms and Medicinal Preparations

This page is designed to help educate you on the various terms and preparations associated with herbal medicine. Click on any of the links to learn more!

Decoction: A tea made from boiling plant material, usually the bark, rhizomes, roots or other woody parts, in water. General guides are to boil your root or bark for at least 30-45 minutes.

Infusion: A tea made by pouring water over plant material (usually dried flowers, fruit, leaves, and other parts, though fresh plant material may also be used), then allowed to steep. The water is usually boiling, but cold infusions are also an option. For medicinal preparations, 15 minutes of infusing time is the general minimum, usually longer with cold infusions.

Tincture: An extract of a plant made by soaking herbs in a dark place with a desired amount of either glycerine, alcohol, or vinegar for two to six weeks. The liquid is strained from the plant material then bottled. There are several methods for tincturing, including maceration, percolation, and the folk method.

Liniment: Extract of a plant added to either alcohol or vinegar and applied topically to employ the therapeutic benefits.

Poultice: A topical application of a soft moist mass of plant material (such as bruised fresh herbs), usually wrapped in a fine cloth.

Essential Oils: Aromatic volatile oils extracted from the leaves, stems, flowers, and other parts of plants. Therapeutic use generally includes dilution of the highly concentrated oil.

Flower Essences: Flower essences are made by infusing flowers or other plant parts in spring water and then adding alcohol as a preservative. The essences are used internally or topically to balance emotional states. The underlying philosophy focuses on stabilizing emotions in order to dissipate illness and stimulate the internal healing processes.

Herbal Medicinal Terms

Abortifacient – induces abortion.

Adjuvant - aiding the action of a medicinal agent

Adaptogen: This is a term coined by the Russians when they were studying herbs for enhancing performance of athletes and soldiers in the 1940’s. It can mean different things, but how we think of it is an herb which helps you adapt to stress, either by stimulating your body to put out more energy (drains over time), or helping support and tonify tissues (good long term). Holy Basil and Licorice are examples.

Alterative: Increasing the body’s processes of detoxification. Alternatives tend to act on the liver, kidneys, lungs, digestion, and urinary systems. They tend to turn up these processes, either by stimulating their function and/or nourishing the tissue. Also called “blood cleansers”, these herbs do tend to stimulate the cleaning of your blood and other fluids by encouraging your built in detox systems. Burdock, Garlic, and Dandleion are classics.

Analgesic/Anodyne: Helps relieve pain. Often these herbs are also anti-inflammatory in nature, or have an antispasmodic activity. While many herbs can relieve many types of pain, mostly herbalists are referring to musculoskeletal associated pain when calling an herb ‘analgesic’.Cottonwood and Wild Lettuce are examples of pain relieving herbs. 

Anesthetic - induces loss of sensation or consciousness due to the depression of nerve function

Antibacterial - destroying or stopping the growth of bacteria

Anticatarrh - reduces inflamed mucous membranes of head and throat

Anti-diarrhetic- substances use to prevent or treat diarrhea

Anti-emetic - stopping vomiting

Antifungal - destroying or inhibiting the growth of fungus

Antihemorrhagic - controlling hemorrhaging or bleeding

Anti-inflammatory: Helps with reducing or balancing the body's inflammatory response to injury and/or infection. Herbal anti-inflammatories have a different method of action compared to pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories (aspirin, tylenol, etc.). While they might not be quite as fast acting, for working with inflammation over time, they tend to have less in the way of negative side effects (ulcers, slow healing time, digestive insufficiency, etc.). Ginger, Cottonwood, and Skullcap are all anti-inflammatory. 

Antimicrobial: These are herbs that discourage the growth of the bacteria, fungi, and other infectious microorganisms. Antimicrobial herbs often contain volatile oils (most know them as essential oils), so if you have an herb that is aromatic, it usually means it's at least somewhat antimicrobial. Yarrow, Lemon Balm, Oregon Grape, and Pine are all considered antimicrobial.

Antioxidant: These are herbs which help prevent or reverse oxidation. Oxidation is a process which can compromise health cellular function, and over time can lead to things like inflammation, and even cancer (think smoke in the lungs, eating rancid oils, etc.). While present in many plants and plant parts, our brightly colored fruits and flower parts often have this action, such as Rose hips, Hibiscus, and Lemon peel.

antipruritic - preventing or relieving itching

antipyretic - agent that reduces fever (febrifuge)

anti-rheumatic - easing pain of rheumatism, inflammation of joints and muscles

antiseptic - agent used to produce asepsis and to remove pus, blood, etc.

Antispasmodic: These are herbs that promote appropriate contraction in muscle tissue. Some herbs are specific to your major movement muscles (you know, you tris, you bis, you quads), while others affect the involuntary muscles of your organs (your uterus, digestive tract, bladder, etc.). They tend to be relaxing to both you muscle AND your nervous system. Catnip, Skullcap, and Valerian all tend to be antispasmodic.

antitussive - controlling or preventing cough

antiviral - opposing the action of a virus

aperient - a very mild laxative

Aromatic: Herbs with aromatics are often stimulating to the body systems, such as the digestive, the lungs, nervous system, urinary tract, and reproductive systems. They also tend to be warming and drying to tissues. Mint and Pine are common aromatic herbs.

Astringent: This action is experienced more as a sensation than a taste (think about the tannins in wine or coffee). This is an action that dries and tightens tissues, creating better linkages between cells. Astringent herbs are useful in conditions of excess moisture, either topically or internally. Yarrow, Rose, and Mullein are common astringent herbs.

Bitter: Herbs with this taste tend to promote digestive juices, and are often cooling and drying to tissues. Bitter herbs tend to also promote liver enzyme production, making them excellent herbs for promoting the body's natural detoxification processes. They can be stimulating or sedating, depending on their other constituents. Dandelion and Oregon Grape are examples of herbs with bitter properties.

Carminative: These herbs promote digestion and the release of gas by encouraging blood flow to the GI tract, as well as promoting smooth intestinal movement. Take a look in your spice rack - no doubt you've got at least 5-6 carminative herbs in there. Carminative herbs are usually aromatic and warming, if not downright spicy. Catnip, Ginger, and Garlic are all considered herbs with a carminative action.

cathartic - an active purgative, producing bowel movements

cicatrizant - aiding formation of scar-tissue and healing wounds

Circulatory Stimulant: These are herbs that promote circulation, either to the peripheral tissues (the hands, feet, skin), or generally throughout the body by strengthening the vascular system (arteries and veins!). They tend to be warming, aromatic, diaphoretic and often astringent. Ginger, Garlic, and Cinnamon are all examples.

Cooling: Cooling herbs tend to calm and slow body processes, such as soothing the nervous system, bringing down heat and inflammation, or even cooling the skin topically. These herbs can be drying or moistening, and are often useful for people with a warmer constitution. Marshmallow and Lemon are examples of cooling herbs.

counter-irritant - agent producing an inflammatory response to affect an adjacent area

Decongestant: Herbs that aid in the release of respiratory or nasal congestion. These are often aromatic herbs that loosen stuck mucus, astringe stagnant, boggy tissues, while simultaneously helping the passageways of the sinuses, throat, and lungs to broaden. Pine, Ginger, and Garlic are examples.

Demulcent: Herbs that have this action are soothing to internal mucous membranes, such as the GI, urinary, or respiratory tissues. They often contain what's known as mucilage, a substance that has a slightly thick, slimy appearance, and tends to extract better in cold water. Demulcents are usually cooling and moistening, and are useful in conditions where there is heat and/or dryness, such as sunburn and dry cough. Marshmallow and licorice are both considered demulcent.

Diaphoretic: Promotes sweating or normal moisture of skin. These herbs help to warm the body from the inside which help to promote sweating on the outside. When this happens with a fever, the sweat will help to cool the body temperature down, and can make someone more comfortable when in a high feverish state. These herbs can also be beneficial as warming herbs for cold days when appropriate layers are on, or can actually help cool a body down on a hot summer's day. Catnip, Yarrow, and Garlic are all diaphoretic herbs.

Diuretic: Promotes the flow of urine. This action is most useful for acute infection of the urinary tract (bladder infections, etc.). If someone is already taking a pharmaceutical diuretic for high blood pressure, best to avoid herbs with this action. Dandelion leaf, Nettle, and Burdock are all potent diuretic herbs.

emetic - produces vomiting

Emmenagogue: Herbs that promote menstrual flow, or induce menstruation. This action can help alleviate the discomfort of menstrual associated bloating and cramping, either just before or during the beginning of a period. Ginger, Yarrow, and Catnip are all herbs with an emmenagogue action.

emollient - softens and soothes the skin

Expectorant: Promotes removal of respiratory secretions (mucus, particulate from smoke, etc.). Herbs with this action do so by slightly irritating the tissues to promote coughing, while stimulating mucus production (stimulant expectorants), by relaxing the tissue so that mucus can flow (relaxant expectorants). Pine, Garlic, and Cottonwood are examples.

febrifuge - an agent that reduces or relieves a fever

Immunomodulating/Immune Stimulating: These are herbs that have a stimulating effect on your immune system, They can be super specific in how they do this (by encouraging a particular type of immune cell, etc.), or a bit more general (encouraging production of mucus, tightening your tissue barriers, increasing your temperature slightly, etc.). Echinacea and Garlic are classics.

hemostatic - controls the flow or stops the flow of blood

hepatic - having to do with the liver

hypertensive - raises blood pressure

hypotensive - lowers blood pressure

Laxative: Laxative herbs promote bowel movements. There are several ways that herbs can act as a laxative, and each type differs in strength. Bulk laxatives, such as plantain husk and chia seed, are gentle. The bitterness of some gentle laxatives encourage digestive enzyme secretion, and promote BMs just by their flavor. Stimulant laxatives such as Senna are the strongest, and MAKE you go, rather than HELP you go.

Lymphatic: Encouraging the production and/or movement of lymphatic fluid. These herbs move the waters and substances of your lymphatic system, the system of passageways that runs between your lymph nodes, and does a huge amount of work to keep your immune system healthy. Burdock and Oregon Grape are examples.

narcotic - induces drowsiness, sleep, or stupor and lessons pain

Nervine: Calming to the nervous system, nervines are often soothing to mental/emotional agitation. Some nervines like milky oats/oatstraw help to restore and nourish the nervous system, helping to regain nervous system function in some cases. These herbs help to lessen worry, dampen anxiety, and can help people overcome chronic states of stress. Lemon Balm, Milky Oats, and Rose have nervine activity.

Nutritive: As you might guess, these are very foodlike herbs. A student of ours once described them as salad in a cup. These herbs can be useful as an addition to just about any formula, especially when people are recovering from illness, struggling with a chronic illness, or even when you are in a particularly stressful period in your life (pregnancy, starting a new exercise regime, etc.). They provide crucial micronutrients, and can be especially useful for getting nutrients into folks who are ready to change up their diet yet. Nettle, Marshmallow, and Oatstraw are all examples.

purgative - laxative, causes the evacuation of intestinal contents

rubefacient – brings blood to the skins surface

Sedative: These herbs exert a soothing, tranquilizing effect on the body. Gives a mellowing to the mind and body that can help induce rest, or a deep sense of relaxation. In high doses, sedative herbs can also promote sleep. Catnip, Skullcap, and Valerian are all considered sedative herbs.

soporific - inducing sleep

stimulant - temporarily increases body or organ function

stomachic - aids the stomach and digestion action

Styptic: Decreases or stops the bleeding from injury. This action can be helpful not only for topical wounds, but also for slowing bleeding associated with ulcer, menstrual flooding, and other non-life threatening bleeding conditions. herbs with this action tend to also be very drying and astringent. Yarrow is one of our most famous styptic herbs.

sudorific - acts to increase perspiration

Tonifying: These are herbs that increase the strength and function of a tissue. This is a general term that is often associated with a particular body system (liver tonic, digestive tonic, etc.). It can also mean an herb which tones/tightens the mucus membranes and skin. This last definition is often associated with Astringent activity. Raspberry leaf, Rose flower, and Oregon Grape are examples. 

Trophorestorative: These are herbs which gently nourish and restore function to exhausted, injured or diseased tissues/organ systems. Usually we associate this term with a particular organ or tissue (nervous system, digestive, urinary, etc.). Milky Oats, Lemon Balm, and Nettle root are examples.

Vulnerary: These are wound healing herbs. This action is most associated with healing the skin and digestive tract, though there are herbs that also have a wound healing effect in other body systems (urinary tract, etc.). Along with cuts and scratches, vulnerary herbs also tend to be helpful for things like bites and stings. Yarrow, plantain, and calendula are examples of vulnerary herbs.

Warming: Herbs that are warming have a tendency to turn up the body's processes, including promoting circulation, giving us a little extra digestive fire, and even bringing up body temperature. Herbs with warming properties are often spicy, aromatic, and sometimes contain resins. Pine, Ginger, and Garlic are all warming herbs.