Medicinal Herbs and How They Heal
Glossary of Herbal Actions, Terms from Adaptogen – Aromatic
Aug 16, 2009
Within allopathic medicine the modern pharmaceutical industry expends much effort examining various plants to discover how and why their properties work.
The herbalist, however, in his more ancient practice, primarily uses an approach which categorizes plants according to what types of conditions they may help to treat.
This method of categorizing herbs is based upon herbal properties, known as “actions”. When exploring a materia medica (an encyclopedic work detailing a collection of medicinal herbs) herbal actions tell the reader which herbs may be appropriately used in a given situation.
In some cases, the herbal action is due to specific chemical properties contained within the herb, such as in the foxglove plant from which the pharmaceutical industry makes a powerful heart medication, digitalis, which strengthens the contraction of the heart muscle, slows the heart rate and helps to eliminate excess fluid from the body’s tissues.
But the herbalist considers that most times an herb’s action is attributable to the complex synergies of the plant’s constituent parts. This approach makes herbal medicine a more benign and nutritive approach to addressing matters of strengthening the body and dealing with various conditions of disease.
Since herbal actions are the basis for selecting which herbs are useful in achieving and maintaining homeostasis, one must familiarize himself with the terms in order to discover what those actions are.
Categories of Herbal Action: Adaptogen - Aromatic
- Adaptogen – herbs with an adaptogenic action work by supporting the adrenal glands. As the name implies, they assist the body in adapting to stressors which might otherwise lead to physical exhaustion, compromised immune function, or even collapse. Panax Gensing is an example.
- Analgesic (also, Anodynes) – these are herbs whose actions work to reduce pain. Examples include White Willow from which aspirin is made, and Hops.
- Anthelmintic – anthelmintically acting herbs work to rid the digestive tract of parasitic worms. Black Walnut and Wormwood are two examples of anthelmintic herbs.
- Alterative – alteratives help to restore balance within the body by supporting the various organs and bodily systems’ natural functions. Some alteratives support processes of waste elimination in the skin, lungs, kidneys, and bowels. Others assist the immune system in that they possess antimicrobial properties. Examples of alteratives are Cleavers and Burdock.
- Anticatarrhal – anticatarrhals work to remove excess mucus accumulations from anywhere within the body. While healthy amounts of mucus are desirable, and even necessary, when excessive amounts of mucus build up it usually is an indication of an immune response within the body. When the mucus accumulation is too great it can lead to serious disease states such as malabsorption of nutrients in the bowel, bronchitis or pneumonia. Eyebright, Sassafras and Goldenseal are common anticatarrhals.
- Anti-inflammatory – as the name suggests, anti-inflammatories soothe inflammation. Inflammation is generally indicated by a combination heat, redness, itching or pain, and possibly fever. While anti-inflammatory herbs help to soothe the discomfort of inflammation and support the body’s natural response to the offending agent, they do not work to stop the body’s attempt at self-defense. White Willow and Butchers Broom are both anti-inflammatory herbs.
- Antimicrobial – antimicrobial herbs assist the body in its efforts to resist or rid itself of disease causing micro-organisms such as bacteria, molds, viruses, and parasites. A few antimicrobials act as specific poisons toward certain invaders, but for the most part, antimicrobial herbs help the body resist infection and support the body in mounting its own immune response. Echinacea, St. John’s Wort, and Garlic possess such attributes.
- Antispasmodic – antispasmodics ease muscle tension, reduce muscle spasm and alleviate cramping. Some antispasmodics have a generalized effect, and work on easing tension throughout the body while others tend to be more organ-specific. Many antispasmodics are also “nervines” which make them helpful in relieving emotional tension as well.
- Antiemetic – these herbs work to relieve nausea and vomiting. Ginger and Fennel are antiemetic herbs.
- Anti-galactagogue – such herbs prevent or reduce milk production in the mammary glands. Two examples of herbal anti-galactagogues are Sage and Black Walnut.
- Antilithic – herbs possessing antilithic action help to prevent the formation of stones and gravel, or remove them from the urinary tract. Gravel Root and Stone Root are common antilithics.
- Antineoplastic – these herbs act to aid the body to inhibit and fight against tumor development. Shitake mushroom has shown itself to act in this way.
- Antiseptic – the action of antiseptic herbs help to prevent and resist bacterial growth, when applied to damaged skin. Myrrh and cloves are both antiseptic.
- Astringent – as nearly any teenage girl can tell, witch hazel is an astringent, and it helps to support the health and integrity of the skin; thus her healthy teenaged glow! Astringents do their work via the binding action they have on mucus membranes, skin and other tissues. Astringents possess substances known as tannins which reduce inflammation and create a barrier against infectious agents.
- Aphrodisiac – herbs used to stimulate sexual potency are known as aphrodisiacs. Ginseng and Yohimbe are considered aphrodisiacs.
- Aromatic – aromatic herbs have strong and often pleasant aromas. Some aromatic herbs such as Garlic, Anise, and Peppermint are useful to stimulate appetite by increasing the flow of digestive juices.
There are many, many more medicinal herbal actions with which one should become familiar. Further information is presented in a Glossary of Herbal Action Terms from Bitter to Expectorant. The Glossary of Herbal Action Terms ranging from Febrifuge to Vulnerary is also available.
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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