Herbal Actions Defined

Herbs which terminate pregnancy or induce premature birth

Herbs with a hot, bitter taste or causing heat and irritation when applied to the skin

Herbs which increase the body’s resistance to biological, emotional, envirnomental or physical stressors and promote optimal physiological function

Herbs added to a mixture to aid the effects of the principal ingredient

Herbs which improve the tone, histology and function of the adrenal glands

Herbs that ward off disease or the effects of poison

Herbs that gradually restore the proper function of the body, usually by improving nutrition and increasing health and vitality

Herbs that reduce or diminish pain.

Herbs that reduce sexual desire or ability

Herbs that deaden sensation

Herbs which ease or mitigate pain

Herbs that counteract or neutralise acidity in the gastrointestinal tract

Herbs which expel intestinal worms

Herbs which help the body to combat inflammation. Demulcents and emollients can also act in the same way (see section).

Herbs that tone down allergic responses, often by stabilising mast cells

Herbs that inhibit or modify the action for androgens (male sex hormones)

Herbs that prevent or correct anemia

Herbs that prevent prevent or are effective against arrhythmias (variations from the normal rhythm or rate of the heart beat)

Herbs that prevent or relieve asthma attacks

Herbs that inhibit the growth of or destroy bacteria

Herbs which counteract bilousness or excess bile

Herbs that destroy or arrest the growth of micro-organisms

Herbs which reduce the incidence of dental caries (tooth decay)

Herbs which help the body remove excess catarrhal build ups from the sinus cavity area or other areas

Herbs that prevent clotting in a liquid, ie. blood

Herbs which prevent or arrest siezures

Herbs which alleviate depression

Herbs which alleviate diabetes or the symptoms of the disease

Herbs which alleviate diarrhea

Herbs which act as an antidote; counteracting poison or anything noxious

Herbs which prevent bruising

Herbs which prevent or alleviate edea (fluid retention)

Herbs which reduce the feeling of nausea and relieve or prevent vomiting

Herbs that destroy or inhibit the growth of fungi

Herbs which reduce or stop bleeding when taken internally

Herbs which reduce or supress excessive perspiration

Herbs that prevent the formation of stones or gravel in the urinary system, dissolve those already there and assist with their removal

Herbs which help the body to resist or destroy pathogenic micro-organisms

Herbs that protect against oxidation and free radical damage

Herbs that inhibit the activity of or kills parasites

Herbs which reduce fever

Herbs which reduce inflammation and pain

Herbs that reduce platelet aggregation

Herbs which reduce symptoms from the prostate gland

Herbs which kill or inhibit the growth or activity of protozoa

Herbs that relieve the symptoms of psoriasis

Herbs used in states of decay or putrefaction

Herbs which alleviate fever

Herbs which relieve rheumatism

Herbs that prevent scurvy

Herbs which counteract scrofula

Herbs which prevent putrefaction or infection

Herbs that can prevent or ease spasms or cramps in the body

Herbs which reduce the activity of the thyroid gland

Herbs that relieve amount or severity of coughing

Herbs which have action against malignant tumor

Herbs that relieve ulceration

Herbs that kill or inhibit the growth of viruses

Herbs that alleviate anxiety

Herbs that promote a mild movement of the bowels

Herbs which stimulate the sexual organs and excite sexual desire

Herbs that increase the appetite

Herbs with an agreeable odour and stimulating qualities

Herbs which contract tissue by precipitating proteins and can thus reduce secretions and discharges. They contain Tannins

Herbs which attenuate (dilute) humours and secretions

A resinous substance obtained from the exudations of vaious trees and used in medicinal preparations

Herbs that taste bitter act as stimulating tonics for the digestive system through a reflex via the taste buds

Herbs that improve the tone and function of the bladder

Herbs which act against abnormal slowness of the heartbeat

Herbs which reduce spasm in the lower respiratory tract

Herbs that have a mild sedating or tranquilising effect

Herbs which prevent the incidence of cancer

Herbs that have an effect on the heart

Herbs which protect cardiac tissue against hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) and decrease the risk of heart damage

Herbs that improve the force of contraction of the heart Carminative: Herbs that by their action stimulate peristalsis, relax the stomach and thereby help expel gas from the intestines

Herbs which prevent the production and facilitate the expulsion of gas in the gastrointestinal tract

Herbs which produce an evacuation of the bowels; laxitive

Corrosive herbs that are capable of burning away tissues

Herbs which act remedially on the head for headache

Herbs that stimulate the release and secretion of bile from the gall bladder into the intestines. They have a laxative effect

Herbs which prevent excess bile

Herbs which improve blood flow through body tissues

Herbs that induce clotting in a liquid ie. blood

Herbs which facilitate learning or memory

Herbs that stabilise collagen and thereby improves connective tissue tone

Herbs beneficial to the heart

Herbs which assist in restoring the body to a healthy state

Herbs which produce irritation in one part of the body to counteract irritation or inflammation in another part

Herbs used in cooking

Herbs usually rich in mucilage which can soothe and protect irritated or inflamed internal tissue particularly mucous membrane

Herbs which clear away obstructions by opening the natural passages or the body

Herbs that lessen nervous or functional activity; the opposite of a stimulant

Herbs used to purify the blood

Herbs with an action upon the skin

Cleansing herbs

A herb which has the power of cleansing ulcers or carrying off foul matter

Herbs that aid the skin in the elimination of toxins and promote perspiration

Herbs which stimulate the function of the gastrointestinal organs involved in digestion

Herbs which increase the tone of the stomach and aid digestion

Herbs which cleanse infections by destroying or inhibiting the activity of disease-producing micro-organisms

Herbs that increase and assist with elimination of urine

Herbs that bind to and activate dopamine receptors

Herbs which aid childbirth by increasing uterine contractions

Herbs with a gentle purgative action

Herbs that induce vomiting

Herbs that stimulate and normalise menstrual flow. This term can also include herbs that act as tonics on the female reproductive system

Herbs which soften, soothe and protect the skin. They act externally as demulcents do internally

Herbs that promote sneezing and nasal discharge

Herbs which act by subtle mechanisms to promote estrogen production and effects in the body

Herbs that induce an abnormal sense of vigour and buoyancy

Herbs related to skin diseases or eruptions

Herbs employed as a medium for the administration of medicine

Herbs which assist the body to remove excess mucus from the respiratory system

Herbs that reduce or eliminate fevers

Herbs that improve the tone, vigor and function of the female reproductive system

Herbs that help stimulate and increase milk flow

Herbs that stimulate the function of the stomach

Herbs which stop bleeding

Herbs which induce hallucinations

Herbs which aid, tone and strengthen the Liver, and increase the flow of bile

Herbs that protect the hepatocytes (liver cells) against toxic damage

Herbs used to restore the integrity of liver tissue

Herbs that cause a watery discharge

Herbs used in increased blood pressure

Herbs which promote sleep

Herbs that reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood

Herbs that reduce the level of glucose in the blood

Herbs that reduce the lipid level (cholesterol and triglycerides) of the blood

Herbs which reduce blood pressure

A Herb that reduces immune function and is used particularly when part of the immune system is overactive

A Herb that enhances immune function

A Herb that modulates and balances the activity of the immune system

A Herb which kills insects

A Herb which causes pain or heat

A Herb that promote bowel movement and offer relief from constipation

A medicine acting as an embrocation (lotion)

A Herb having the power of crushing a calculus (abnormal concretion usually in the form of mineral salts) within the bladder

A substance that removes sensation or pain when applied locally

A Herb that assists detoxification by its effect on lymphatic tissue and often also improves immune function

A Herb that improves the tone, vigour and function of the male reproductive system

A Herb which promotes suppuration (pus)

A herb that is characterised by a gummy or gelatinous consistency

A Herb that helps break up and disperse sticky mucus in the respiratory tract

A Herb that protects the mucous membranes, especially in the context of the gastric lining

A Herb that improves the tone, vigour, and function of the mucous membranes (particularly of the respiratory tract)

A Herb that restores the integrity of the mucous membranes (e.g. in the respiratory and digestive tracts)

A Herb which dilates the pupil of the eye

A Herb causing an unnatural contraction of the pupil of the eye

A Herb which relieves pain and induces sleep when used in medicinal doses; in large doses narcotics produce convulsions, coma or death

A Herb that produces an inclination to vomit

A Herb applicable to diseases of the kidney

Herbs that have a beneficial effect, either calming, soothing or strengthening on the nervous system.

A Herb that helps prevent damage to the brain or spinal cord from ischemia, stroke, convulsions or trauma.

See Cognition enhancing

A Herb that nourishes the body.

A Herb used in a toothache

A Herb used on inflammation of the eye or its appendages

A substance that stimulates the appetite

A Herb used to enhance the tone, vigour and function of the ovaries

Herbs that stimulate contractions of the Uterus.

A Herb, which kills parasites

A Herb that induces labour and assists in the efficient delivery of the foetus and the placenta

A Herb taken in preparation for labour and childbirth (treatment usually begins in the second trimester)

Herbs that strengthen and heal the respiratory system .

A Herb that dilated or widens the peripheral blood vessels and thereby improves circulation to the peripheral tissues and may assist in reducing blood pressure

A Herb that has a harmful or destructive effect when in contact with living tissue

A Herb that promotes the effect or production of progesterone

A Herb which inhibits the secretion of prolactin

A Herb which kills protozoa e.g. amoebae

A Herb to strengthen the lungs

A hot-tasting Herb that acts on a common group of nerve cell receptors having the effect of warming the body and improving digestion and circulation

A Herb which purges the body by emesis or via the bowels.

Herbs that are cooling and /or relieve thirst .

A Herb which resolves

A Herb that restores consciousness or normal physiological activity

Herbs that cause redness of the skin when applied topically which help to increase Blood flow and Circulation.

Herbs that calm the nervous system, reduce stress and nervousness.

A Herb that improves the tone, vigour and function of the sexual organs

A Herb that increases the secretion of the salivary glands

A Herb that relaxes skeletal muscle tone

A Herb, which induces sleep

A Herb that reduces or relieves smooth muscle spasm

A Herb that cures or alleviates a particular condition or disease

A Herb which provokes sneezing

Herbs that excite or quicken the activity of the physiological process .

A herb that strengthens, stimulates the stomach.

A Herb which deprives of sensibility

A Herb that stops bleeding when applied locally

A Herb, which produces sweating

A Herb that kills tape worms

A Herb that elevates mood

A Herb that enhances the activity of the thyroid gland

A Herb that enhances the flow of nutrients into a tissue

Herbs that strengthen and enliven specific organs or the whole body.

A Herb of a stimulating, narcotic or anaesthetic nature

A Herb that has a healing and restorative action on a specific organ or tissue

A Herb that blocks the activity of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)

A Herb that inhibits the growth or destroys microorganisms within the urinary tract

A Herb that has a soothing effect on mucous membranes of the urinary tract

A Herb that reduces the activity of the uterus

A Herb that increases the tone of the uterine muscle

A Herb that constricts or narrows the blood vessel

A Herb that dilates or widens the blood vessels

A Herb that protects the integrity of the blood vessels

A Herb that improves the tones and function of the veins

A Herb that destroys intestinal worms

A Herb that expels intestinal worms

A Herb that produces blisters

Herbs that are applied externally to help heal wounds and cuts.

A Herb that assists in the reduction of body weight