Glossary of Modern Medical Terms

adaptogen	carminative
–adapts towards homeostasis	–soothes smooth muscle of digestive system
–increases resistance to physical, environmental and mental stress	–relieves gas and bloating.
–increases sense of well-being.	cathartic
–some work by enhancing immunity	–strong purgatives that produces bowel
alterative	movements, usually loose or watery.
–traditionally used in the sense of a blood cleanser.	–stronger than purgatives
–restores proper functioning of cleansing organs (liver, bowels, kidneys, skin)	cholagogue
analgesic	–increases flow of Bile.
–relieves pain.	counterirritant
antiarthritic	–produces inflammation
–relieves or treats joint inflammation	–draws blood to the area.
antibacterial	decongestant
–kills bacteria.	–relieves mucus congestion.
–some may work by enhancing immunity	–some are mucolytic, some expectorant
antibilious	demulcent
–removes excess bile	–soothes inflammation of mucous membranes.
anti-cancer	deobstruent
–medicine that has an effect against cancer; either:	–removes obstructions; it can refer to digestive organs, or in a greater sense, to any obstruction of the body
–anti-tumor	depurative
–inhibiting certain cancer cell types	–purifies and cleanses the blood.
–inhibiting angiogenesis	diaphoretic
–some work by enhancing immunity	–increases sweat
anti-catarrhal	digestive
–clears Phlegm	–promotes digestion
–can also refer to medicines areducing inflammation of the mucous membranes	diuretic
anti-depressant	–increases urine.
–treats mental depression (alleviate or cure)	emetic
anti-emetic	–induces vomiting.
–stops vomiting.	emmenagogue
anti-fungal	–promotes menstruation.
–kills fungii.	emollient
anti-hemorrhagic	–softens and soothes the skin
–stops bleeding.	–can also have this effect internally
anti-hypertensive	expectorant
–reduces high blood pressure	–ejects phlegm.
anti-inflammatory	febrifuge
–relieves inflammation.	–reduces or relieves fever.
anti-lithic	galactagogue
–dissolve or reduces stones or helps them to pass	–promotes breast milk.
antimicrobial	hemostatic
–helps destroy microbes (principally bacteria).	–stops the flow of blood.
–some may work by enhancing immunity	hepatic
antioxidant	–medicine dedicated to the liver.
–protects from oxidative stress and damage. antipruritic	hypotensive
–relieves itching.	–lowers blood pressure (as opposed to anti-hypertensive which reduces high blood pressure)
antirheumatic	laxative
–relieves or treats rheumatism	–gently moves the bowel
–may work as anti-inflammatory, diuretic, alterative or diaphoretic	mucolytic
antiseptic	–thins thick mucus
–removes toxins (principally from bacteria) and waste such as pus.	–breaks down mucus.
antispasmodic	nervine
–stops or lessens spasms and convulsions.	–calms the nerves, settles the mind, and spirit. nutritive
–some have general CNS depressant effect	–provides good nutrition
antitussive	pectoral
–relieves coughs.	–medicine for the lungs.
–some work as expectorants or mucolytics, some are anti-inflammatory, some antibacterial	–some are anti-tussive, some expectorant
antiviral	purgative
–kills or supresses virus.	–causes evacuation of the bowels.
–some may work by enhancing immunity	relaxant
aperient	–promotes relaxation.
–mild laxative; promote bowel movements	–some have calming effect on the muscles, some relax nerves
aperitive	restorative
–stimulates appetite.	–tonifies and organ, tissue or function
aphrodisiac	–balances a particular organ or system.
–increases sexual desire and activity.	rubefacient
–some restore hormones, some irritate the urinary system to cause stimulation, some enhance blood supply and some have narcotic or relaxant effect to inhibit anxiety.	–increases local blood supply marked by reddening of the skin.
aromatic	sedative
–usually carminative	–tranquilizing effect on the mind and body.
–has strong aroma	stimulant
astringent	–increases function of the body, an organ or system.
–firms and tightens tissues	stomachic
–decreases eccess secretions.	–medicine for the stomach.
bitter	–promotes digestion and enhances stomach function
–stimulates appetite, gastric juices, Liver, Gall Bladder and/or gastrointestinal function.	styptic
cardioactive	–stops bleeding.
–medicines which effect the heart from their cardiac glycosides	sudorific
cardiotonic	–promotes sweat
–increases Heart tone	tonic
–some regulate heart activity, some slow but strengthen heartbeat	–increases tone of an organ or system.
	–often used to indicate a strengthening medicine which enhances function of an organ or system
	–restores function of an organ
	vulnerary
	–medicine for wounds.