Abortifacient: An herb or substance that induces or causes an abortion, miscarriage, or premature expulsion of a fetus. (Abortient, Abortive)

Abortive: Same as Abortifacient

Absorbent: An herb or substance that promotes absorption, soaks up liquid, or acts as a sponge. (Absorbefacient)

Acidic: An herb or substance that reacts with an alkaloid to produce a salt.

Acidifier: An herb or substance that increases or imparts acidity, or lessens alkalinity, to the body fluids, especially the blood or the urine. (Ant: Alkalinizer, Antacid)

Acrid: An herb or substance that has a hot biting taste, or causes heat and irritation when applied to the skin. (Syn: Caustic Cauterant, Corrosive, Escharotic)

Adulterant: An impure ingredient or a substitute product introduced into a preparation.

Alkaloidal: An herb or substance that is usually derived from plants, and is typically nitrogen bearing, intensely bitter, and potentially toxic. It reacts with an acid to produce a salt. (e.g. caffeine, morphine, berberine) (Ant: Acidic)

Alterative: An herb or substance that corrects body functions either gradually or quickly by stimulating the defensive mechanisms of the metabolism, blood, or tissue in the presence of chronic or acute disease. (The time required may be six months or longer if chronic or a few minutes if acute). An herb which produces gradual and beneficial changes in the body, usually by improving metabolism, nutrition, circulation, or elimination, but without causing any drastic effects.

Analgesic: An herb or substance that relieves or reduces pain without causing unconsciousness (Syn: Anodyne, Anesthetic, Narcotic, Sedative

 

Anaphrodisiac: An herb or substance that reduces or represses sexual desire or potency. (Ant: Aphrodisiac)

Anesthetic: An herb or substance that temporarily reduces, deadens, or abolishes physical sensations. Thus it tends eliminate pain and the sense of touch. The effect may be local or general. (Syn: Analgesic, Anodyne, Narcotic, Sedative)

Anodyne: An herb or substance that soothes, relieves, or reduces pain without causing unconsciousness. (Syn: Analgesic, Anesthetic, Narcotic, Sedative)

Antacid: An herb or substance that corrects acidity by neutralization, usually in the stomach. (Ant: Acidifier, Syn: Alkalinizer)

Antagonist: An herb or substance that opposes the action of some other agent or medicine, especially the toxic effects of alkaline poisons.

Anthelmintic: An herb or substance that destroys and/or expels intestinal worms. (Syn: Vermicide, Vermifuge, Taeniacide, Taeniafuge)

Anti-diabetic: An herb or substance that helps counteract the effects of diabetes by stabilizing blood sugar levels directly or by stimulating or mimicing the production of insulin.

Anti-diarrhoeic: An herb or substance that counteract diarrhoea.

Antidote: An herb or substance that counteracts a poison by, [a] chemically destroying the poison, [b] mechanically preventing absorption, or [c] physiologically opposing the effects of the poison in the body after absorption.

Anti-dysenteric: An herb or substance that counteract dysentery.

Aphrodisiac: An herb or substance that increases or arouses sexual desire, power, or potency.

 

Appetizer: An herb or substance that excites or increases the appetite. (Syn: Digestive)

Aromatic: An herb or substance that has a mildly stimulating fragrant or pleasing smell.

Ascaricide: An herb or substance that kills nematode or unsegmented worms such as roundworms and threadworms.

Astringent: An herb or substance that acts upon the albumen of organic tissues to cause condensation and contraction, and restrains secretions and discharges. (Syn: Styptic)

Bitter: An herb or substance with a characteristic bitter taste that acts on the gastric mucous membranes of the mouth and stomach increasing their tone and activity and thereby improving the appetite and promoting digestion. (Syn: Bitter Tonic)

Bitter Tonic: An herb or substance, or combined formula, that acts on the gastric mucous membranes of the mouth and stomach increasing their tone and activity and thereby improving the appetite and promoting digestion. (Syn: Bitter)

Blood Purifier: An herb or substance which speeds up the process of detoxification and excretion of waste products in the blood by stimulating intestinal, liver, or bile functions, or creating laxative effects. (Syn: Depurative, Depurant, Detergent)

Bronchial: An herb or substance which relaxes constricting spasms and opens the bronchi or upper part of the lungs, thus improving respiration.

Calefacient: An herb or substance that is heating.

Calmative: An herb or substance that produces a calming, mildly sedative, or tranquilizing effect. (Syn: Sedative, Tranquilizer, Nervine)

Carcinostatic: An herb or substance that arrests or inhibits the development or continued growth of cancer, carcinomas, or malignant tumors.