Herbal Medicine Terms & Preparations

Question 1

Acetract

Answer 1

a herbal preparation that uses vinegar to extract minerals and aromatic compounds from fresh or dried plant material.

Question 2

Carrier oil

Answer 2

Vegetable oils derived from seeds, kernels, or nuts of a plant, such as avocado, sunflower, apricot, or coconut. Carrier oils are used to dilute concentrated essential oils so they can be “carried” safely into the skin for therapeutic benefits.

Question 3

Tisane

Answer 3

Originally from the Greekptisanē, to crush, tisanes are infusions of fresh or dried herbs used as a medicinal beverage.(top)

Question 4

Tincture

Answer 4

An extract of a plant made by soaking (macerating) herbs in a solution of alcohol or of a specific ratio of alcohol to water. Tinctures macerate for two to six weeks in a dark place after which the liquid extract is strained from the plant material and used therapeutically.

Question 5

Syrup

Answer 5

an herbal preparation that combines an infusion or decoction with an equal amount of simple syrup (concentrated sugar solution) or honey.

Question 6

Suppository

Answer 6

a solid, conical-shaped medicinal substance designed to melt at body temperature within the rectum or vagina to deliver localized herbal treatment.

Question 7

Salve

Answer 7

a semi-solid medicinal ointment prepared by combining an herb infused oil with beeswax.

Question 8

Poultice

Answer 8

A therapeutic topical application of a soft, moist mass of plant material (bruised fresh herbs), usually wrapped in a fine woven cloth and applied to the affected area.

Question 9

Plaster

Answer 9

a medicated or protective dressing that consists of spreading powdered, slightly moistened herbs onto a cloth and covered with plastic to protect clothing and trap body heat.

Question 10

Cordial

Answer 10

stimulating beverages shared between friends and loved ones to invoke a sense of well-being. They are meant to warm, stimulate, and aid digestion.

Question 11

Cream

Answer 11

a semisolid emulsion of oil (often herb-infused) and water (often an infusion or decoction).

Question 12

Percolation

Answer 12

A process to extract the soluble constituents of a plant with the assistance of gravity. The material is moistened and evenly packed into a tall, slightly conical vessel; the liquid (menstruum) is then poured onto the material and allowed to steep for a certain length of time. A small opening is then made in the bottom, which allows the extract to slowly flow out of the vessel. The remaining plant material (the marc) may be discarded. Many tinctures and liquid extracts are prepared this way.

Question 13

Oxymel

Answer 13

a remedy form ancient Greece and Persia that combines a herb infused vinegar with honey;oxymeans acid and honey meansmel.

Question 14

Lotion

Answer 14

a liquid preparation containing water and/or alcohol that is used to emulsify or suspend insoluble plant material, to be used topically for skin conditions that are itchy, inflamed, infected, or painful.

Question 15

Liniment

Answer 15

A plant extract prepared in a base of alcohol, witch hazel, or vinegar to be applied topically to sore muscles, sprains, bruises, boils, burns, or sunburns to soothe pain and reduce inflammation.

Question 16

Infusion

Answer 16

An extract, often referred to as a tea but more accurately a tisane, made by pouring boiling water over fresh or dried plant material (usually flowers, fruit, or leaves), which is allowed to steep for 10-20 minutes before drinking. Cold infusions are prepared when the goal is to extract polysaccharides, mucilage, and nutrients often reduced or damaged by hot water. Infusions are an easy and affordable way to administer herbs. They may be used therapeutically or as a beverage tea, depending on the herb(s) and amounts used.

Question 17

Decoction

Answer 17

An extract, often referred to as a tea, made by simmering dense plant material (primarily the bark, rhizomes, roots, and seeds) in water. Natural dyes are often made this way also.

Question 18

Electuary

Answer 18

powdered herbs combined with enough honey to create a spreadable paste.

Question 19

Elixir

Answer 19

a clear, sweet liquid containing at least one active ingredient, used for medicinal purposes; contains honey or simple syrup and may contain alcohol (brandy or vodka).

Question 20

Essential Oils

Answer 20

Highly concentrated aromatic volatile oils extracted via steam distillation from the leaves, flowers, bark, and other parts of plants that contain high amounts of the essential oils. Therapeutic use generally includes dilution of the highly concentrated oil in a carrier oil.

Question 21

Fluid extract

Answer 21

A concentrated liquid herbal preparation containing equal parts herb or crude drug with a hydro-ethanolic solvent made so that each 1 mL of liquid contains 1 g of the herb or crude drug that is used.

Question 22

Gargle

Answer 22

swishing a disinfectant or anti-inflammatory liquid herbal preparation as a herbal mouthwash.

Question 23

Gel

Answer 23

a semi-solid colloidal dispersion of a solid substance with a liquid or gas, such as a jelly.

Question 24

Infused Oils

Answer 24

A process of extraction in which the volatile oils and other fat-soluble compounds of a plant are obtained by soaking the plant material in a carrier oil for two to four weeks or via gentle heating. The oil is then strained off and used alone or in making therapeutic skin salves, ointments, lotions and creams.

Question 25

Herbal Compress

Answer 25

soaking a clean soft cloth in a strained, strong herbal infusion or decoction, used warm or cold, held in place onto the affected area to alleviate pain or reduce inflammation.

Question 26

Glycerite

Answer 26

a liquid preparation of a herb or medicinal substance dissolved in or mixed with vegetable glycerin.

Question 27

Eyebaths/eyewash

Answer 27

using gentle herbs as a dilute, cool infusion to bath the tissue surrounding the eye to reduce itchiness, redness, or infection. Care must be taken to ensure that no plant material remains in the eyewash.

Question 28

Binomial, or Latin binomial

Answer 28

The two-part scientific Latin name used to identify plants. The first name is the genus and is a general name that may be shared by a number of related plants. The second is the species name, which refers to the name that is specific to that individual plant, e.g.,Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia.

Question 29

Crude drug

Answer 29

A naturally occurring substance that has undergone only the process of collection and drying, i.e., plants, parts of plants, extracts, or exudates.

Question 30

Drug

Answer 30

a pure substance or combination of pure substances (isolated from natural sources, semi-synthetic, or purely chemical in origin) intended to mitigate, treat, cure or prevent a disease in humans and/or other animals.

Question 31

Formula

Answer 31

A combination of foods or herbs that can both enhance and neutralize potential effects of other ingredients in the preparation; where the formula as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts

Question 32

Garble

Answer 32

to remove the useful part of the plant from that which has less potent or no medicinal effects. e.g., removing petals from the calyx or removing leaves from the stem.

Question 33

Pharmacology

Answer 33

the study of the origin, nature, chemistry, uses and biochemical effects of drugs; it includes pharmacognosy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacotherapeutics, and toxicology.

Question 34

Pharmacopoeia

Answer 34

– a medical textbook or official publication containing a list of medicinal drugs or herbal medicines with their properties, inherent effects and instructions for use.

Question 35

Phytochemicals

Answer 35

Chemical compounds or chemical constituents produced as a result of the plant’s normal metabolic processes. The chemicals are often referred to as secondary metabolites, of which there are several classes including alkaloids, anthraquinones, coumarins, fats, flavonoids, glycosides, gums, iridoids, mucilages, phenols, phytoestrogens, tannins, terpenes, terpenoids, and others. Extracts contain many chemical constituents, while chemicals that have been isolated from the plant are considered pharmaceutical drugs, e.g., salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin, originally isolated from the meadowsweet(Filipendula ulmaria, syn.Spiraea ulmaria,Rosaceae).

Question 36

Phytoestrogens

Answer 36

A type of phytochemical with some influence on the estrogenic activity or hormonal system in humans. This rather broad term does not mean that the plant mimics human estrogen, but rather can compete for estrogen receptor site access blocking harmful estrogens, such as xenoestrogens, which can result in harmful effects.

Question 37

Phytomedicines

Answer 37

Medicinal substances that originate from plants. This may include specific phytochemicals as well as whole plants or herbal preparations.(top)

Question 38

Pharmacognosy

Answer 38

The study of natural products, i.e., plant, animal, organism, or mineral in nature, used as drugs or for the preparation of drugs. Derived from the Greekpharmakonmeaning drug andgnosismeaning knowledge.

Question 39

Herb

Answer 39

The word herb (sometimes referred to as a botanical) has several different meanings depending on the perspective:
In commercial terms, herb generally refers to the leafy part of the plant used for culinary purposes. Seeds, bark, roots, etc. are usually referred to as spices and may have tropical or sub-tropical origins
In horticultural terms, herb refers to the plant being herbaceous, i.e., a non-woody, vascular plant.
In taxonomic terms, herb generally refers to the aboveground or aerial parts of the plant, i.e., the flower, leaf, and stem.
In terms of herbal medicine, herb refers to plants used in various forms or preparations, valued for their therapeutic benefits, and sold as dietary supplements in the US marketplace. This includes trees, fungi, and marine substances.

Question 40

Maceration

Answer 40

An extraction process that occurs for a specified period of time during which fresh or dried plant material, cut into small pieces, are immersed in a liquid solvent or menstruum so that the medicinally active plant material maintains contact with the liquid component, releasing its chemical components into it.

Question 41

Marc

Answer 41

The plant material that is used in making an herbal extraction or preparation.

Question 42

Materia Medica

Answer 42

a Latin term from early pharmacy meaning medical material/substance

Question 43

Menstruum

Answer 43

A naturally-derived substance used as a solvent to extract compounds from plant material when making herbal extractions or preparations.