5-alpha-Reductase inhibitor - reduces the production of androgens such as testosterone by blocking5-alpha-reductase
Abortifacient/Emmenagogue – a herb that brings on menstruation
Adaptogen/Tonic – herbs that improve energy, endurance, and stamina
Alterative/Depurative/Antidyscratic/Blood cleanser/Detoxifier – herbs that have a cleansing effect on the body
Anthelmintic - Herbs used to treat infections with parasitic worms
Anti Inflammatory - reduces or stops inflammation
Anti-ecchymotic - prevent, reduce or speed up healing of bruises
Antidepressants - stop or reduce depression symptoms
Antidiarrheal - stop or slow diarrhea
Antiedema- reduces edema (swelling)
Antiemetics - stop or prevent vomiting
Antifertility - reduce or prevent fertility
Antifungal - kills off fungus
Antihelminthic - kills off, removes or prevents parasites
Antihypertensives - stops or reduces high blood pressure
Antimicrobial - kills of pathogenic microbes such as bacteria, viruses, fungus, and parasites
Antimutagenic- reduces mutation in genes caused by mutagens
Antinausea/Antiemetic - stops or reduces nausea
Antioxidants - reduce and prevent oxidation in the body
Antiparasitic- kills or reduces parasites
Antiplatelet - reduces platelets in the blood
Antiprostatic - reduces symptoms/actions of the prostate gland
Antipruritic- reduces or stops skin itchin
Antipyretic- reduces fever
Antireflux - reduces or stops acid reflux.
Antiretroviral- stops or kills off retroviruses
Antirheumatic- prevents, reduces or stops inflammation in the joints and connective tissues
Antisecretory - stops or reduces secretions, commonly digestive
Antiseptic - stopping sepsis (infection)
Antithyroid - reduces symptoms/action of the thyroid
Antitussive - stops or reduces cough
Antiulcer - heals or prevents ulceration (usually of the stomach)
Antiviral - kills and prevents viruses
Anxiolytic -reduces or calms anxiety
Aperitifs - aids in digestion, taken at meal time.
Aphrodisiacs - increases sexual desire
Aromatic bitters - aids in the digestion of food, via stimulation of gastric secretions, ‘rest and digest’, and the relaxation of smooth muscle
Astringents - toning and tightening to the skin and mucous membranes
Bitters - aiding in digestion of food via stimulation of gastric secretions and the ‘rest and digest’ mode
Blood cleanser - cleansing to the blood, by helping the body to remove toxins at different levels
Bronchodilator - helps to open the airways, bronchi, and bronchioles
Cardioprotective - works to protect the heart
Cardiotonic - generally supports the overall function of the heart
Carminative - promotes circulation of blood to the digestive system, relaxes smooth muscle, and aids in reducing bloating and expelling gas
Cathartic - promotes catharsis (vomiting and potentially diarrhea)
Cholagogue - increases the flow of bile
Choleretic - increases the production of bile
Cicatrisant - skin cell regenerative helps to heal skin
Circulatory stimulant - increases circulation of blood, throughout the body and to the periphery
Cognitive enhancer - increases brain function
Collagen stabilising - helps to stabilize collagen
Coronary blood flow enhancer - increases blood through to and through the coronary arteries
Counterirritant/Rubefacient – herbs that increase circulation to tissues
Counterirritants - stimulates irritation in an area of skin to draw blood to the site and aid in the removal of inflammation but also provides pain relief through distraction caused by the irritation
Cytotoxic- toxic to cells (cell killing), usually specific cells
Demulcent - soothing and coating to the mucous membranes
Depurative - cleansing to the blood
Detergent - cleanses/cleans
Detoxifier - helps in the removal of toxins from the body
Diaphoretic - opens up the blood vessels
Digestive - aids in the digestion of food
Diuretic - promotes the filtration and flow of urine
Dopamine agonist : increases the action of Dopamine, through various means
Emetic - promotes/stimulates vomiting.
Emmenagogue - stimulates menstrual flow by stimulating the uterus
Entheogen - promotes altered mental states, more specific to ritual and healing
Enzyme-inhibitor - reduces or blocks the function of specific enzymes
Estrogenic - increases the action of Estrogen
Euphoric - increases the feelings of happiness of euphoria
Expectorant - stimulates the secretion and excretion of mucous from the respiratory system
Febrifuge -reduce, fight or eliminate fevers.
Galactagogue - increases the flow of breast milk
Gastroprotective - protects the digestive system (usually the stomach) lining
Hallucinogen - creates altered/expanded visual or mental states
Hemolytic - destroy red blood cells
Hemostatic - stop bleeding
Hepatic - helps support the function of the liver
Hepatic stimulant - stimulates the liver, often in clearance pathways
Hepatoprotective- protects and supports the function of the liver.
Hormonal - affects the balance of certain hormone production or receptors in the body
Hypnotic - causes a state of relaxation, often related to sleep inducing
Hypoglycemic - aids in reducing blood sugar
Hypotensive - reduces blood pressure
Immunomodulator - works to modulate and balance immune system response
Immunostimulant - stimulating to the immune system, or certain aspects of the immune system
Immunosuppressive - suppressing the immune system, or certain aspects of the immune system
Inotropic - helps to increase the strength of muscle contractions
Lactation promoter - promotes lactation/breast milk production and let down
Lactation suppressor - reduces breast milk production and flow
Laxative - increases/stimulates bowel movements
Libido reducer - suppresses and reduces sexual desire
Local anesthetic - numbs or blocks pain in a specific area, most often where the herb is applied
Lymphatic - promotes the flow of lymph fluid
Mast cell stabilizers - increases the stability of mast cells, helping to reduce allergic response
Melanin synthesis inhibitor - blocks and reduces the production of melanin
Memory enhancing - helps to increase the ability to memorise information
Mucolytic - thins mucous
Mucoprotective- helps to stabilize and protect mucous membranes
Mucus membrane tonic- stabilizes and strengthens mucous membranes.
Muscle relaxant - reduces spasm and contraction of muscles
Nephroprotective - protects the nephrons of the kidney, therefore supporting kidney health
Nervine - supports and nourishes the nervous system can be relaxing or stimulating, and specific to different organs or systems
Neuroprotective- These herbs help to prevent damage to the brain or spinal
cord from ischemia, stroke, convulsions or trauma.
Nervous trophorestorative - building, nourishing and repairing to the nervous system
Nootropic - helps to increase mental capacity, including cognitive, memory, motivation and creativity
Parasympatholytic (vagolytic) - reduces the vagal/parasympathetic (‘rest and digest’) response. Aids in stimulation of the heart rate and energy
Parasympathomimetic (vagotonic) - increases the parasympathetic (‘rest and digest’) nervous system response. Aids in relaxation and digestion
Parturient - supporting the labour and birthing process
Peripheral circulatory enhancer - helps to increase circulation to the peripheries of the body, e.g. hands and feet
Physical performance enhancer - increases the ability to perform physical tasks such as exercise
Physical performance enhancer - increases the abilityto perform physical tasks such as exercise
Platelet activating factor inhibitor - helps to reduceblood clots, by reducing platelet production
Progestogenic - enhances the action of progesterone in the body, either through increasing the hormone itself or the receptivity of cells
Prolactin inhibiting - blocks or reduces the effect ofprolactin
Prooxidant - increases or supports the oxidationprocess
Psychoactive - causes changes or shifts to mood, emotions, and perception
Purgative - a strong laxative
Radiosensitising - increasing the effect of radiation. It can be of use to increase the effect of treatments
Radiotherapy protective - helps to protect healthy cells from damage during radiotherapy treatments
Refrigerant - reduces body temperature
Relaxants - helps to relax the nervous system and muscles in the body
Respiratory spasmolytic - specifically reduces or stops the spasms of bronchioles or lung tissue
Rubefacients - topical irritant, opens up blood vessels and stimulates blood flow to the area
Sedative - increases deep relaxation in the nervous system to support sleep
Sialogogue - increases saliva production and flow
Spasmolytic - stops muscle spasm
Stimulant - increases flow, energy or action
Stomachics - supports the stomach and its function.
Styptic - stops bleeding topically
Sympatholytic - stops the sympathetic (fight or flight)nervous system response
Sympathomimetic - increases or stimulates the sympathetic (fight or flight) response
Thermogenic - increases heat in the body or metabolism.
Tissue perfusion enhancer - increases the ability for blood and therefore nutrients and oxygen to muscles and tissues
Tonic - a gentle, nourishing action that supports healthy functioning of certain organs, or body systems
Trophorestorative - nourishes and helps to rebuild or restore strength, function and vitality in an organ or body system
Uterine tonic - strengthens, balances and improves function of the uterus
Vascular protective - increases strength and protects the vascular system
Vascular tonic - strengthens, balances and improves function of the vascular system
Venous tonic (venotonic) - increases strength, integrity and function of the veins
Visceral relaxant - reduces spasm and tension in smooth muscles
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