Therapeutic Actions Flashcards
Adaptogen/Adaptogenic
Stress-response modifiers that
increase an organism’s nonspecific
resistance to stress by increasing its
ability to adapt and survive
Adrenal Tonic
Supports and reinvigorates the
action of the adrenal glands
Alterative / Depurative
Supports & enhances the major
channels of elimination
(emunctories) in the body.
Analgesic/ Anodyne
Reduces or relieves the
sensation of pain.
Adaptogen/Adaptogenic
Stress-response modifiers that
increase an organism’s nonspecific
resistance to stress by increasing its
ability to adapt and survive.
Adrenal Tonic
Supports and reinvigorates the
action of the adrenal glands.
Alterative / Depurative
Supports & enhances the major
channels of elimination
(emunctories) in the body.
Analgesic/ Anodyne
Reduces or relieves the
sensation of pain.
Antacid
A substance that neutralizes acid
in the gastrointestinal tract
Anthelmintic
Kills or assists with the eradication
of intestinal worms
Anti-allergic
Down-regulates the allergic
response by stabilizing the
membranes of mast cells.(Histamine)
Anti-bacterial
Destroys bacteria (bactericidal) or
inhibits the growth of bacteria
(bacteriostatic).
Anti-catarrhal
Anti-catarrhal: reduces excessive
mucus or phlegm, either through
reducing secretions, or helping to
remove it (expectoration).
Anti-depressant/Thymoleptic
aids in alleviating
depression.
Anti-emetic
Prevents or reduces nausea &
vomiting.
Anti-hyperhydrotic / Refrigerant
Reduces
excessive sweating/lowers body temperature
Anti-inflammatory
Reduces inflammation or the
severity of inflammatory
diseases.
Anti-lithic
Reduces the formation of stones
(calculi) within the urinary tract
or gall bladder
Anti-microbial/ Antiseptic
Works directly on destroying
micro-organisms or indirectly via
enhancing the immune system
response to the presence of
these agents.
Anti-oxidant
Protects or minimizes damage
to cells by oxidation and free
radical damage.
Anti-platelet
Reduces platelet aggregation
within the blood.
Anti-pruritic
A substance that relieves or
prevents itching. Usually applied
topically to the skin.
Anti-pyretic / Febrifuge
Used to reduce or prevent fever.
Anti-rheumatic
A substance that prevents or
relieves rheumatic symptoms.
Antitussive
Reduces coughing by supressing
the cough reflex
Antiviral
Inhibits the growth, destroys or
increases the immune system
response to the presence of a
virus.
Aromatic Digestive
These herbs reduce spasm and
increase circulation (warming) to
the digestive tract
Anxiolytic
Aids in reducing or treating
anxiety states.
Astringent
Contracts tissues thereby
reducing excretions &
discharges, creating a short-term
barrier to inflammation and
irritation.
Bitter
Stimulates bitter-sensitive taste buds
on the tongue as well as other bitter
receptors in the GIT, lungs, urinary
tract, bone marrow, immune cells,
thymus & thyroid.
Bronchodilator/
bronchospasmolytic
Reduces the spasm of smooth
muscles surrounding the
bronchioles.
Cardioprotective
Protects heart tissue against reduced
oxygen (hypoxia) and/ or toxins.
Cardiotonic
Beneficial effect on the heart and
blood vessels.
Carminative
Reduces smooth muscle
spasm of the digestive tract.
Cholagogue
Stimulates, increases the
release of stored bile. This occurs by increasing the
strength of gallbladder
contractions.
Choleretic
Increases the production of bile
by the liver
Circulatory Stimulant
Improves blood flow throughout
body tissues.
Cognition Enhancing /
Nootropic
Enhances learning,
concentration and / or aids with
memory
Demulcent
Mucilage content that creates
soothing & protective effect on
mucous membranes of GIT
Diaphoretic
Increases sweating and excretion
of toxins through the skin.
Diuretic
Increases the output of urine.
Emmenagogue
Initiates & promotes menstrual
flow
Emollient
Soothes, softens or
protects the skin
(demulcents are used on
internal surfaces);
mucilage-containing.
Expectorant
Increases the clearance of excess
mucus from the lungs.
Female tonic
Enhances the tone, vigor and
function of the female
reproductive system.
Galactagogue
Increases breast milk production.
Hepatoprotective
Exerts a protective effect
on liver tissues against
various hepatotoxins.
Hypnotic / Soporific
Works on the nervous system to
induce drowsiness and sleep
Hypocholesterolaemic
Reduces the level of cholesterol
within the bloodstream.
Hypoglycaemic
Reduces the digestive absorption
of glucose, thereby reducing the
level of glucose in the blood.
Hypotensive
Reduces both systolic &
diastolic blood pressure.
Immune Modulating
(Immunomodulatory)
The action may be
enhancing/stimulating or depressing
on some aspect/s of the
immunoregulatory sytem
Immune Enhancing
(Immunostimulatory)
Enhances an aspect of the
immune system (enhances
function or stimulates an
immune response).
Immune Suppressant
(Immunosuppressant)
Reduces immune system function
especially when the immune system
is overactive.
Laxative
Facilitates evacuation of the bowel.
Local Anaesthetic
Local application reduces nerve
sensations and inflammation
messages (COX-1 & COX-2) of pain.
Lymphatic
Encourages the flow of lymphatic
fluid and / or delivery to organs of
elimination.
Male tonic
Tonify and support the function
of the male reproductive
system
Mucolytic
A herb that helps break up and
disperse sticky mucus (phlegm)
in the respiratory tract.
Mucous Membrane
Trophorestorative
Restores the integrity
(structure), normalizes
function and secretions of
the mucous membranes.
Nervine Tonic
Improves the tone, vigor and
functions of the nervous system.
Neuroprotective
Aids in reducing the
damage to the brain or
spinal cord from
ischaemia, stroke,
convulsions or trauma.
Nutritive
Provides nourishment/nutrients
by virtue of mineral, trace
element, amino acid and vitamin
content found in parts of the
plant.
Oestrogen Modulator
Modulates & balances oestrogen
production & effects in the body.
Parturifacient
Stimulates uterine contractions to
induce and support labour.
Oxytocic
Stimulates the smooth muscle
of the uterus to contract.
Partus Preparator
Taken as early as in the second
trimester of pregnancy to
encourage the tone and function
of the uterus in preparation of
labour & childbirth.
Peripheral Vasodilator
Increases dilation of the
peripheral blood vessels
increasing blood supply &
reducing blood pressure.
Rubefacient/Counter-irritiant
Local application produces
heat, redness & capillary
dilation
Sialagogue
Increases the secretion
and flow of saliva.
Sedative/Relaxant (Nervine
relaxant)
Reduces nervous system activity
to relieve nervous tension, pain,
muscular spasm and aid sleep.
Spasmolytic/Antispasmodic
Relaxes the involuntary overcontraction of smooth muscle
Stimulant
Increases the physiological activity of the
body or specific organ or body system.
Stomachic
Improves the tone & function
of the stomach. Increases
appetite.
Styptic/Haemostatic
Localized action that stops
bleeding by contracting the tissue
& blood vessels.
Thyroid Stimulant/Tonic
A substance that enhances
the activity of the thyroid
gland.
Tissue Perfusion Enhancer
Improves the delivery of
nutrients and oxygen to tissues
and remove metabolic waste.
Tonic
Improves the tone, function and
health of a target tissue, organ or
system
Trophorestorative
Produces a restorative and
healing action on the structure
and function of specific tissues or
organs.
Uterine Tonic
Tones, nourishes and balances the
membranes and muscles of the
female reproductive system.
Vasoconstrictor
Constricts or narrows blood
vessels.
Vulnerary
Enhances localized wound
healing via protecting against
infection and stimulating cell
growth.
