Page 8 - Terminology-Herbology

N steep for a certain length of time. A small opening is then

made in the bottom, which allows the extract to slowly flow
Narcotic: An addicting substance that reduces pain and out of the vessel. The remaining plant material (the marc)
produces sleep. may be discarded. Many tinctures and liquid extracts are
prepared this way.
Nauseant. An herb that causes nausea and vomiting.
Somewhat similar to an emetic. Pericarpium: The peel or rind of fruit.

Nephritic: Herbs used in healing kidney problems. Pharmacognosy: The study of natural products (i.e., plant,
animal, organism, or mineral in nature) used as drugs or for
Nervine: A substance that calms and soothes the nerves and the preparation of drugs. Derived from the Greek pharmakon
reduces tension and anxiety. meaning drug and gnosis meaning knowledge.
Nutritive: Nutritive agents nourish the body. Herbs with Phytochemicals: Chemical compounds or chemical
nutritive properties include alfalfa, amaranth, barley, bee constituents formed in the plant’s normal metabolic processes.
pollen, chickweed, comfrey, guarana, Iceland moss, Irish The chemicals are often referred to as “secondary metabolites”
moss, kelp, marshmallow, nettle, oatstraw, papaya, pumpkin, of which there are several classes including alkaloids,
red clover, rose hips, slippery elm, suma, watercress, and anthraquinones, coumarins, fats, flavonoids, glycosides,
yellow dock. gums, iridoids, mucilages, phenols, phytoestrogens, tannins,
terpenes, and terpenoids, to mention a few. Extracts contain
O many chemical constituents, while chemicals that have been
isolated from the plant are considered pharmaceutical drugs
(i.e., digoxin having been isolated from the foxglove or
Oleum: The fixed oil preparation pressed or squeezed from Digitalis lanata plant).
the plant material.
Phytoestrogens: A type of phytochemical with some
Opthalmicum: A remedy for diseases of the eye. influence on the estrogenic activity or hormonal system in
humans. This rather broad term does not mean that the plant
Oxytocic: These are herbs which help stimulate uterine mimics human estrogen, only acts to affect it in some way.
contractions to assist and induce a safe labor and delivery.
Herbs with oxytocic properties are black cohosh, blue cohosh, Phytomedicinals: Medicinal substances that originate from
pennyroyal and red raspberry. plants. This may include certain phytochemicals as well as
whole plants or herbal preparations.
P Poultice: A therapeutic topical application of a soft moist

mass of plant material (such as bruised fresh herbs), usually
Parasiticide: Destroys parasites. (see germicide, antiparasitic) wrapped in a fine woven cloth.

Parturient: A substance that induces and promotes labor. Pulvis: Powder
Parturifacient: Herbs that induces child-birth or labor. Pungent: Irritating or sharply painful. Producing a sharp
sensation of taste or smell.
Pectoral: Relieves disorders of the chest and lungs, such as
an expectorant. Purgative: A substance that promotes the vigorous evacuation
of the bowels. Usually used to relieve severe constipation.
Pediculus: The pedicle of a fruit, the stem just before the
fruit. Pyroleum: The tar from dry distilled plant material.
Peptic: An herb or substance that aids in the digestion of
food. (Syn: digestive, eupeptic) R

Percolation: A process to extract the soluble constituents of a Radix: The root of a plant, though radix is sometimes
plant with the assistance of gravity. The material is moistened synonomous with rhizome
and evenly packed into a tall, slightly conical vessel; the liquid
(menstruum) is then poured onto the material and allowed to Ramulus: Twig or branch.

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