Herbs1 Flashcards
What are herbs?
Plants with a high concentration of phytochemicals
What is hormesis?
Hormesis is a term used by toxicologists to refer to a biphasic dose response to an environmental agent characterized by a low dose stimulation or beneficial effect and a high dose inhibitory or toxic effect.
What does an antimicrobial herbal action do?
Destroy or stop growth of bacteria and microbes (tea tree oil)
What does an anticatarrhal herbal action do?
Dry out respiratory tract catarrh (elderflower)
What does an antiemetic herbal action do?
Stops vomiting. (ginger)
What does an antispasmodic herbal action do?
Relaxed muscular spasms (wild yam)
What does an antitussive herbal action do?
Controls or prevents cough (liquorice)
What does an antipyretic herbal action do?
Reduces fever
What does a demulcent herbal action do?
Soothes mucous membrane inflammation (slippery elm)
What does a rubefacient herbal action do?
Increases local blood supply, reduces pain (wintergreen - external)
What does an galactagogue herbal action do?
Promotes flow of breast milk (fennel)
What does an emmenagoue herbal action do?
Induces menstruation (motherwort)
What does a cholagogue herbal action do?
Increases flow of bile from the gallbladder (dandelion root)
What does a bitter herbal action do?
stimulates appetite and digestion (gentian).
What does a diaphoretic herbal action do?
Increases perspiration (elderflower)
