Medical Terms
Abscess: a
lump of pus caused by inflammation or bacteria
Acne: common skin disorder
usually caused by hormone imbalance especially during adolescence
Allergy: abnormal
response by the body to a food or foreign substance
Analgesic: a
pain-relieving substance
Anemic: reduction below
normal of the number of erythrocytes, quantity of hemoglobin, or the volume of
packed red cells in the blood; a symptom of various diseases and disorders
Antibiotic –
literally, life-killing; in modern medicine, a substance that will kill disease
causing micro organisms.
Anti-depressive: substance that relieves depression
Antianemic: Relating to factors or substances that prevent or
correct anemic conditions.
Antifungal: A drug
used to treat fungal infections.
Antihemorrhagic: reducing
hemorrhage
Anti-inflammatory: Reducing inflammation by acting on body mechanisms
Antioxidant: refers to the ability of a substance to control or
eliminate free radicals or reduce cellular oxidation in the body
Antiseptic: Something that discourages the growth microorganisms.
By contrast, aseptic refers to the absence of microorganisms.
Antispasmodic: capable of relieving spasms
Antiviral: An
agent that kills a virus or that suppresses its ability to replicate and,
hence, inhibits its capability to multiply and reproduce.
Arthritis: painful
inflammation of joint tissues
Asthma: spasm
of the bronchi in the lungs, narrowing the airways
Astringent: substance
able to contract cell walls and stop unwanted discharge
Bile: thick, oily fluid excreted
by the liver; bile helps the body digest fats
Blood Pressure: The pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the
arteries.
Bronchitis: infection
of the bronchi, the tubes that take air to the lungs
Bursitis: inflammation
of the water-filled cushions surrounding the knee (bursae)
Calmative: Simply
a calming agent, not necessarily sedative.
Carminative: Inducing the expulsion of gas from the
stomach and intestines.
Catarrh: excessive
excretion of the phlegm from the air passage
Cholagogue: Refers
to substances that stimulate bile production in the liver
Cholesterol: Fat-soluble
steroid alcohol found in animal fats, oils, and egg yolk; continuously
synthesized in the body, mainly in the liver.
Colic: abdominal pain caused by
wind in the intestines
Constipation: condition
where evacuating the bowels is infrequent and difficult
Compress – bandage or heating pad, cold compress is an ice
pack
Cystitis: bladder
infection causing infrequent and painful urination
Decoction: an
herbal preparation made by simmering plant material in water until maximum
extraction of active constituents is achieved. This process is usually used for
roots, barks, and seeds that are not water soluble enough for use in simple
infusions (teas).
Demulcent:
A soothing, usually
mucilaginous or oily substance, such as glycerin or lanolin, used especially to
relieve pain in inflamed or irritated mucous membranes.
Dermatitis: inflammation
of the skin
Detox: To counteract or destroy the toxic properties
Diaphoretic: Producing
or increasing perspiration.
Diarrhea: frequent
evacuation of loose (water) stools
Digestive: improving
digestion or relating to it
Diuretic: Medicine
which increases urination, often combined with demulcents.
Eczema: term
for a wide range of skin conditions
Emmenagogue: A
substance with medicinal properties designed to assist and promote the
menstrual discharges
Epilepsy: abnormality
of brain function causing seizures
Essential Oil: any of the large class of volatile (readily
vaporizing), usually scented plant oils that are constituents of many herbal
medications.
Expectorant: Medicine
that promotes the discharge of matter from the lungs, whether it be mucus, pus,
or any other morbid accumulation
Extract: in
herbalism, the desired constituents withdrawn from a plant by physical or
chemical means or both
Flatulence: excessive
amount of gas in stomach or intestines
Galactagogue: substance
that promotes the flow of breast milk
Gallstones: insoluble
stones which occur in the gall-bladder
Gastritis: inflammation
of stomach lining
Gingivitis: inflammation
of the gums Gout: inflammation in joints caused by a buildup of uric
acid
Hayfever: allergic
reaction to pollen causing inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and
eyes.
Hemorrhage: loss
of blood
Hemorrhoids: swollen
veins in the anus wall
Herbalism: the
practice of identifying and using plants that have aromatic, flavoring, and,
particularly, medicinal properties. The claims for the plants’ therapeutic
value may be based on scientific fact, folklore, myth, or conjecture
Histamine: A
compound, found in all cells, where tissue is damaged associated with allergies
and other inflammatory reactions.
Homeostasis - (physiology)
metabolic equilibrium actively maintained by several complex biological
mechanisms that operate via the autonomic nervous system to offset disrupting
changes
Hypertension: high
blood pressure
Hypertensive: Agent
that increases blood pressure
Hypotension: low
blood pressure
Immune system: the body’s defense mechanisms against infectious
organisms and other foreign materials, such as allergens
Indigestion: Condition
where digestion is difficult, resulting in abdominal pain
Infusion: A
preparation made by steeping the plant material in hot water
Insecticide: killing
insects
Insomnia: condition
where falling asleep is difficult or impossible
Kidney Stone: small,
hard stone that may form in the kidneys and cause intense pain. Various methods
are used to dissolve them or break them into smaller parts so that they may be
passed.
Laryngitis: inflammation
of the larynx
Laxative: Encourages
bowel movements
Meningitis: inflammation
of the membranes that protect the brain
Menorrhagia: an
excess loss of blood occurring during menstruation
Menstrual flow: discharge of blood and tissue debris of monthly period
Nerve tonic: a
medicinal preparation that is meant to stimulate and “tone up” the nervous
system and thus give a feeling of healthy wellbeing
Ointment: a
solid medication applied to the skin for soothing or healing
Parkinson’s Disease: a progressive disease of the nervous system
Piles: swollen veins in the anus
wall
Pleurisy: inflammation
of the membrane which surrounds the lungs (pleura)
Pneumonia: a
lung infection usually caused by bacteria or viruses
Poultice: a
plaster that is applied hot and wet
Prostate gland: male gland surrounding neck of bladder and urethra
Purgative: tending to cleanse or purge, especially causing
evacuation of the bowels.
Rheumatism: any
painful disorder of the joint tissues
Ringworm: skin
disease caused by fungal infection
Scabies: a
skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabei marked by severe
itching and crusty sores
Sedative: Allays
irritability or nerve action and induces a state of calmness
Shingles: viral
infection of the nerve gangli
Sinusitis: inflammation
of mucous membranes lining the sinuses (especially nasal)
Spasm: an abnormal muscle
contraction that is often accompanied by pain and may signal an underlying
disorder
Stimulant: an agent that arouses
organic activity, strengthens the action of the heart, increases vitality, and promotes
a sense of well-being.
Stomachic: product that serves
to increase stomach secretions
Thrombosis: formation
of a blood clot in a blood vessel
Thrush: fungal
infection of throat or vagina
Thyroid gland: gland that regulates the body’s metabolic rate,
situated in front of the windpipe (trachea)
Tonic: Medicine that permanently
increases the systemic tone by stimulating nutrition
Tonsillitis: inflammation
of the tonsils
Tonsils: lymph
tissue at the back of the throat
Tuberculosis: infectious
disease caused by bacteria entering the body through the digestive tract,
affecting the lungs first
Tumor: abnormal growth of the
cells anywhere in the body
Ulcer: slow-healing sore occurring
internally or externally
Urethritis: inflammation
of the tube from the bladder (urethra)
Uric acid: waste
product produced by metabolism
Vulnerary: Application
for external wounds
Whooping cough: infectious childhood disease of the upper respiratory tract