Action of Herbs
From Health Facts
Latest Edit: Iva Lloyd, ND 2014-05-24 (EDT)
The physiological effects of herbs is dependent on the constituents that are present within the herbs. These effects are variable and can include: [1] [2] [3]
- Abortifacient
- Adaptogen: an agent that supports the body's ability to accommodate varying physical and emotional stresses
- Alterative: gradually restores the proper functioning of the body and increases health and vitality
- Analgesic: diminishes pain
- Anaphrodisiac: a substance that reduces libido (usually in males).
- Anaphylactic Reactions:
- Anodyne: see Analgesic
- Antacid: a substance that counteracts or neutralizes acidity in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Antihelmintic: destroys or expels worms from the digestive system.
- Antiaging: a substance that alleviates the effect of the aging process.
- Antiallergic: a substance that tones down the allergic response often by stabilizing mast cells.
- Antianaemic: a substance that prevents or corrects anaemia (that is a reduction in the number of circulating red blood cells or in the quantity of hemoglobin).
- Antiandrogenic: a substance that inhibits or modifies the action of androgens (male sex hormones).
- Antiarrhythmic: see Cardiac Tonic
- Antiasthmatic: a substance that prevents or relieves asthma attacks.
- Antibacterial: see Antimicrobial
- Antibilious: see Cholagogue
- Antibiotic: see Antimicrobial
- Anticariogenic: a substance that reduces the incidence of tooth decay (dental caries).
- Anticatarrhal: see Decongestant
- Anticoagulant: a substance that reduces the rate of blood coagulation.
- Anticonvulsant: a substance that tends to prevent or arrest seizures (convulsions).
- Antidepressant: a substance that alleviates depression.
- Antidiabetic: see Hypoglycaemic
- Antidiarrheal: a substance that alleviates diarrhea.
- Antiecchmotic: a substance that prevents or relieves bruising.
- Antiemetic: reduces the feeling of nausea and relieves or prevents vomiting
- Antifibrotic: a substance that reduces the excessive formation of fibrous connective tissue e.g. in sclerodema.
- Antifungal: a substance that inhibits the growth of or destroys fungi.
- Antihaemorrhagic: see Cardiac Tonic
- Antihelmintic: a substance that will destroy or expel worms from the digestive system.
- Antihyperhidrotic: a substance that reduces excessive sweating.
- Anti-infection, see Antimicrobial
- Anti-inflammatory topically: a substance that helps the body to reduce surface inflammation
- Anti-inflammatory gastrointestinal: a substance that helps the body to reduce inflammation in the gastric tract.
- Anti-inflammatory musculoskeletal: see also Antirheumatic.
- Anti-inflammatory other: a substance that helps the body to reduce inflammation.
- Antilithic: prevents the formation of stones or gravel in the urinary system and can help the body in their removal
- Antimalarial: used to treat or prevent malaria.
- Antimicrobial: help the body to destroy or resist pathogenic micro-organisms
- Antiobesity: a substance that assists in the reduction of body weight.
- Antioedematous: a substance that prevents or alleviates oedema (fluid retention).
- Antioxidant: a substance that protects against oxidation and free radical damage.
- Anti-PAF: a substance that inhibits the activity of platelet activation factor (PAF). PAF is a potent inflammatory agent and inducer of systemic anaphylactic symptoms).
- Antiparasitic: a substance that inhibits the activity of or kills parasites especially protozoa.
- Antiplatelet: see Cardiac Tonic
- Antiprostatic: a substance that reduces symptoms from the prostate gland.
- Antiprotozoal: see Antiparasitic.
- Antipruritic: a substance that relieves or prevents itching.
- Antipyretic: prevents or reduces fever
- Antirheumatic: a substance that prevents or relieves rheumatic symptoms.
- Antiseptic: see Antimicrobial
- Antispasmodic: prevents or reduces the intensity of spasticity, tremors or muscle cramps
- Antithyroid: a substance that reduces the activity of the thyroid gland.
- Antitumour: a substance that has activity against a malignant tumour.
- Antitussive: relieves coughing
- Antiulcer: a substance that prevents or relieves ulcerations (usually in the gastrointestinal tract).
- Antiuraemic: a substance that reduces the levels of urea in the blood (especially in kidney failure).
- Antiviral: see Antimicrobial
- Anxiolytic: a substance that relieves anxiety.
- Aperient: see Laxative
- Aphrodisiac: increases sexual arousal
- Aromatic: have a strong and often pleasant odour and stimulate the digestive system.
- Astringent: contracts tissue, reducing bleeding or fluid exudate
- Bitter: stimulates the stomach, gallbladder, and appetite due to its bitter qualities
- Bladder tonic: a substance that improves the tone and function of the bladder and reduces postvoid residual urine.
- Bronchospasmolytic: see Antispasmodic
- Cancer preventative: see Antitumour.
- Cardioprotective: see Cardiac Tonic
- Cardiac Tonic: affects the heart through stimulation, tonification or regulation
- Carminative: expels gas from the intestines
- Cathartic: see Laxative
- Cholagogue: increases the flow of bile into the intestines
- Choleretic: see Cholagogue
- Circulatory stimulant: see Cardiac Tonic
- CNS stimulant: a substance that stimulates the central nervous system increasing alertness.
- Cognition enhancing: a substance that facilitates learning, memory or concentration.
- Collagen stabilizing: a substance that stabilzes collagen and protects it from degradtion. Connective tissue tone is thereby improved.
- Counterirritant: a substance that produces a superficial inflammation of the skin in order to relieve a deeper inflammation e.g. in muscles, joints and ligaments.
- Decongestant: helps the body to remove excess catarrhal or mucous
- Demulcent: soothes irritated tissue, especially mucous membranes
- Depurative: cleanses and purifies the system, especially the blood
- Diaphoretic: promotes perspiration
- Diuretic: increases the output of urine
- Diuretic depurative: a substance that assists in detoxification of the body by the kidneys.
- Dopaminergic agonist: a substance that binds to and activates dopamine receptors.
- Emetic: induces vomiting
- Emmenagogue: promotes menstrual flow
- Emollient: used externally to soften and smooth (i.e., moisturizers)
- Expectorant: promotes the discharge of mucous from the lungs
- Febrifuge: see Antipyretic
- Female tonic: a substance that improves the tone, vigour and function of the female reproductive system.
- Galactagogue: increases activity of the mammary ducts
- Healing promoter: see Alterative
- Hemostatic: stops bleeding (usually the same as an Astringent, but not always)
- Hepaprotective: see Hepatic
- Hepatotrophorestorative: see Hepatic
- Hepatic: affects the liver
- Hypnotic: see Sedative
- Hypocholesterolemic: see Hypolipidaemic.
- Hypoglycaemic: a substance that reduces the level of glucose in th blood.
- Hypolipidaemic: a substance that reduces the lipid level (cholesterol and triglycerides) of blood.
- Hypotensive: see Cardiac Tonic
- Immune depressant: a substance that reduces immune function and is used particularly where part of the immune system is overactive
- Immune enhancing: a substance that enhances immune function.
- Immune modulating: a substance that modulates and balances the activity of the immune system.
- Laxative: promotes bowel activity
- Local anaesthetic: a substance that removes sensation or pain when applied locally.
- Lymphatic: promote the health of the lymphatic system carrying tissue fluid.
- Male tonic: a substance that improves the tone, vigour and function of the male reproductive system.
- Metabolic stimulant: a substance that boosts basal metabolic rate.
- Mucoprotective: a substance that protects the mucous memebrane especially in the context of the gastric lining.
- Mucous membrane tonic: a substance that improves the tone, vigour and function of the mucous membrane (particularly of the respiratory tract).
- Mucous membrane trophorestorative: a substance that improves the integrity of mucous membranes e.g. in the respiratory and digestive tracts.
- Narcotic: similar to Analgesics in that they remove pain, but in high doses they also induce sleep.
- Nervine: has a beneficial effect on the nervous system
- Neuroprotective: see Nervine
- Nutrient: see Alterative
- Oestrogen modulating: see Phytoestrogen
- Orexigenic: is a substance which increases appetite and therefore enhances food consumption.
- Ovarian tonic: a substance that improves the tone, vigour and function of the ovaries.
- Oxytocic: a substance that causes contraction of the uterine muscle in association with giving birth.
- Oxytonic: stimulates the contraction of the uterus
- Parturifacient: see Oxytocic
- Partus preparator: see Uterine tonic
- Peripheral vasodilator: see Cardiac Tonic
- Pectoral: has a general strengthening and healing effect on the respiratory system
- Phytoestrogen: have an affinity for estrogen receptors
- Pregnancy Contraindications
- Progesterogenic: a substance that promotes the effect or production of progesterone.
- Prolactin inhibitor: a substance that inhibits the secretion of prolactin.
- Purgative: see Laxative
- Pungent: a hot tasting substance that acts upon a common group of nerve cell receptors having the effect of warming the body and improving circulation and digestion.
- Refrigerant: a substance that has cooling properties particularly when applied to the skin.
- Restorative: see Alterative
- Rubefacient: local irritant that promotes erythema
- Sedative: calming effect on the nervous system, usually used to induce sleep
- Sexual tonic: a substance that improves the tone, vigour and function of the sexual organs.
- Sialagogue: stimulates the secretion of saliva
- Skeletal muscle relaxant: is a substance which affects skeletal muscle function and decreases the muscle tone.
- Soporific: see Sedative
- Spasmolytics see Antispasmotic
- Stimulant: enhances a physiological process
- Stomachic: see Carminative
- Styptic: see Astringent
- Thymoleptic: see Antidepressant.
- Thyroid stimulant: a substance that enhances the activity of the thyroid gland.
- Tissue perfusion enhancing: a substance that enhances the flow of nutrients into tissue.
- Tonic: strengthens an organ or the person's vitality in general
- TSH antagonist: a substance that blocks the activity of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).
- Urinary antiseptic: see Antimicrobial
- Urinary demulcent: see Demulcent
- Uterine antihaemorrhagic: a substance that reduces the menstrual flow when taken internally.
- Uterine spasmolytic: see Antispasmodic
- Uterine tonic: a substance that increases the tone of the uterine muscle.
- Vermicide: see Antihelmintic
- Vermifuge: see Antihelmintic
- Vasoconstrictor: a substance that constricts or narrows the blood vessels.
- Vasodilator: a substance that dilates or widens blood vessels.
- Vasoprotective: see Cardiac Tonic
- Venotonic: see Cardiac Tonic
- Vermifuge: see Antihelmintic.
- Vulnerary: heals wounds
Check out further information on botanical medicine and the classification of herbs.
References
- ↑ Godfrey Anthony, Saunders Paul Richard, et al. 2010 Principles and Practices of Naturopathic Botanical Medicine, Vol 1: Botanical Medicine Monographs
- ↑ Boon Heather, Smith Michael 2009 55 Most Common Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition Institute of Naturopathic Medicine and Research, Toronto.
- ↑ Bone Kerry 2007 The Ultimate Herbal Compendium, A Desktop Guide For Herbal Prescribers Phytotherapy Press, Australia
