Glossary of Herbal Action, Febrifuge - Vulnerary
Categories of Medicinal Herbs and How they Heal
Aug 17, 2009
There are several ways in which the body responds to treatment with medicinal herbs. Particular herbs can be utilized to stimulate, tone, purify or purge. Some herbs are especially helpful in controlling the balance of fluids within the body. Each of these actions are variably desirable in maintaining a healthy balance within the body or in aiding the body in its recovery from certain illnesses.
A materia medica will tell the reader which actions particular herbs possess, but understanding what these actions mean is paramount in choosing which medicinal herbs can be useful in given situations. Familiarity with these actions and the herbs that possess them makes it possible to choose a course of therapy that will result in homeostasis.
To facilitate the understanding of the terms of herbal action from Febrifuge to Vulnerary, a glossary of these terms is provided below.
For herbal action terms beginning with the letter, A (Adaptogen to Aromatic), please refer to, Medicinal Herbs and How they Heal: Glossary of Herbal Actions from Adaptogen - Aromatic. This article also gives a good introduction to how and why medicinal herbs are categorized in this way.
For herbal action terms beginning with the word Bitter and ending with Expectorant, please refer to Glossary of Herbal Actions: Bitter - Expectorant.
Categories of Herbal Action: Febrifuge - Vulnerary
- Febrifuge (also, antipyretic) - the febrifuges act to lower body temperature, as in the case of fevers. Prickly Ash, Skullcap and White Willow can act as febrifuges.
- Galactogogue - these herbs act by augmenting the production of mother's-milk in breast-feeding mothers. Blessed Thistle, Fenugreek and Marshmallow are widely used galactogogues.
- Hepatic - these herbs act by strengthening and toning the liver. They also stimulate bile flow. Milk Thistle is an especially good hepatic herb.
- Hypnotic - contrary to the sound of this action, hypnotic herbs do not induce hypnosis or trances. These herbs help to induce sleep. Hops and Valerian are two useful hypnotic herbs.
- Hypotensive - hypotensive herbs' actions work to lower abnormally high blood pressure. Two examples of hypotensives are Hops and Valerian.
- Laxative - herbs with laxative actions are herbs which promote the evacuation of the bowels by stimulating peristalsis. Such remedies should not be used regularly or over an extended period of time. Diet, adequate hydration, general health, physical activity and stress levels should all be considered before one uses stimulant laxatives. Senna is a well known stimulant laxative.
- Mucilage - mucilaginous acting herbs contain gelatinous properties and will often have demulcent actions associated with them. Kelp, Marshmallow, and Sassafras pith are mucilaginous herbs.
- Nervine - herbs that act to strengthen or tone the nervous system or ease anxiety and stress are known as nervines. There are three general categories of nervines: tonics, relaxants and stimulants. Skullcap and Valerian are among the relaxant nervines.
- Oxytocic - oxytocic herbs act by stimulating uterine contractions. These can be of special help in toning the uterus after childbirth and in cases where the mother may be prone to post-partum hemorrhage. Squaw Vine and Red Raspberry are two oxytocic herbs.
- Parasiticide - herbs that act to kill and rid parasites from the skin or digestive tract are parasiticides. These include Black Walnut, Chaparral and Wormwood.
- Pectoral - herbs known as pectorals have a general strengthening and healing action on the respiratory system. Examples include Comfrey, Mullein and Elecampane.
- Purgative - purgative herbs act by producing very strong laxative effects and watery evacuations. Aloe Vera and Cascara Sagrada can be used as purgatives.
- Rubefacient - this category of herbs stimulate an increase in blood circulation, locally, when applied to the skin. This action is desirable in promoting wound healing, cleansing and localized nourishment of tissues. Rubefacients are also helpful when used to reduce the localized pain or swelling associated with arthritis. Ginger and Capsicum are examples of rubefacient herbs.
- Sedative - sedative herbs are those that act to significantly calm and quiet the nervous system. Chamomile, Valerian and St. John's Wort are widely used sedative herbs.
- Sialagogue - sialagogues are herbs whose action stimulate the secretion of saliva from the salivary glands. This action can be helpful when difficulties arise with the comfortable digestion of certain starchy carbohydrates. Ginger and Rhubarb fall into the sialagogue category of herbal actions.
- Stimulant - herbs that act as stimulants increase energy in the body, increase circulation, work to break up obstructions and warm the body. Among many others, Black Pepper, Ginseng and Echinacea act as stimulants.
- Stomachic - these are herbs which act as tonics to promote digestive processes and strengthen the stomach. Peppermint is a familiar stomachic.
- Tonic - tonic herbs promote the various functions of the bodily systems. Most tonics have general effects on the entire body, but some also have more specific effects on particular organs or systems.
- Vulnerary - herbs that help promote the healing of skin lesions and wounds are known as vulneraries. Yet, vulneraries also have a marked effect on internal healing, such as in the case of stomach ulcers. Vulnerary herbs act by promoting cell growth and repair. Aloe Vera, Comfrey and Calendula are of few of the vulnerary herbs.
Reference:
Bown, D. (2001). Herbal: The essential guide to herbs for living. Parksgate Road, London SW11 4NQ: Barnes and Noble, Inc., by arrangement with Pavilion Books, Ltd.
Hoffmann, D. (1993). An elder’s herbal. One Park Street, Rochester, Vermont 05767: Healing Arts Press.
Tierra, M. (1998). The way of herbs. 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020: Pocket Books.
Todd, J. (2005). Jude’s herbal home remedies. 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125: Llwellyn Publications.
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