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Medical Glossary
Abortifacient
A product that is capable of inducing abortion.
Absolute
An absolute is a highly concentrated viscous, semisolid, or solid natural material, usually obtained by alcohol extraction from the concrete.
Absorbent
A substances with the ability to
attract dissolved or finely dispersed substances from another medium.
Acid
This is a solution having a pH of less than seven.
Acute
This is a term of description for an illness or
symptom of sudden onset, which generally has a short duration.
Adsorbent
This is a solid substance which binds
other substances to its surface but does not interact chemically with them.
Adulterate
To make impure by the addition of an inferior substance.
Alkali
An alkali is a substance with a pH greater than 7. Sodium hydroxide
is an example of an alkali, or base used to neutralize an acid to make soap.
Alterative
This term describes an agent that corrects a disordered bodily
function gradually, similar to a tonic.
Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is the absence of
menstruation.
Analgesic
An analgesic is a remedy that deadens
pain without loss of consciousness.
Anaphrodisiac
This is a substance that reduces sexual desire.
Anodyne
This term is used to describe a product that stills pain and quiets disturbed feelings.
Anthelmintic
An anthelmintic is a vermifuge, destroying or expelling intestinal worms.
Antiarrhythmic
This term refers to a product combating an irregular heart beat.
Antibiotic
This is a product that prevents the growth of, or destroys, bacteria.
Anticoagulant
An anticoagulant prevents clotting of the blood.
Anticonvulsant
This refers to a substance that helps arrest or prevent convulsions.
Antidepressant
This is an agent that helps alleviate depression.
Antidiarrhral
A substance that helps alleviate diarrhea.
Antiedamatous
This is the term for a product that prevents swelling.
Antiemetic
This is an agent that reduces the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting.
Antihemorrhagic
This term is used for a substance that prevents or combats hemorrhage or bleeding.
Antihistamine
This is a product that treats allergic
conditions; counteracts effects of histamine (produces capillary dilation).
Antimicrobial
This is a term used for an agent that
resists or destroys pathogenic microorganisms.
Antineuralgic
A substance that relieves or reduces nerve pain.
Antioxident
This is a substance used to prevent or
delay oxidation or deterioration, especially with exposure to air.
Antiparasitic
An agent that is destructive to parasites.
Antiphlogistic
This is a product that checks or counteracts inflammation.
Antipruritic
An antipruritic relieves the sensation
of itching or prevents its occurrence.
Antiputresent
This is an agent that prevents and combats decay or putrefaction.
Antipyretic
This is a product that reduces fever.
Antisclerotic
An antisclerotic helps to prevent the hardening of tissue.
Antiseborrheic
An antiseborrheic helps control the products of sebum, the oily secretion from sweat glands.
Antiseptic
This is a substance which slows the growth of microorganisms of living tissue.
Antispasmodic
This is a substance that prevents and eases spasms or convulsions.
Antitoxic
This is antidote or treatment that counteracts the effects of poison.
Antitussive
An antitussive is the term for a product that relieves coughs.
Antiviral
This term refers to a substance that inhibits the growth of a virus.
Aperient
This term refers to a substance that is a mild laxative.
Aperitif
This is a substance that is a stimulant of the appetite.
Aphrodisiac
This term refers to an agent that increases or stimulates sexual desire.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the art of using pure essential oils from plants for their physical and emotional Therapeutic (Therapuetic)
effects.
Bactericidal
This term is used for an agent that destroys bacteria.
Bacteriostatic
This terms refers to a substance which inhibits the growth of bacteria, but does not destroy bacteria.
Balneological Treatment
This term is used for a treatment by immersing part of the body in a bath.
Calmative
This is a term generally used to describe a sedative.
Cardiotonic
This is a term for an agent having a stimulating effect on the heart.
Cathartic
This is a term for a purgative, capable of causing a violent purging or catharsis of the body.
Cephalic
This term refers to a remedy for disorders of the head; referring or directed towards the head.
Cholagogue
Promotes the discharge and flow of bile from the gallbladder.
Cicatrizant
This is an agent that promotes healing by the formation of scar tissue.
Comedogenic
This refers to a substance that tends to aggrivate or produce acne.
Compress
This is a fabric or substance prepared hot or
cold to an area of the body, for relief of swelling and pain, or to produce localized pressure.
Convulsant Poison
This is a substance causing violent spasms of the face, trunk, and/or extremities.
Cutaneous
This is relating to, existing on, or affecting the skin, such as "cutaneous nerves", or "cutaneous infection".
Cytotoxic
This term refers to an agent considered toxic to all cells.
Decongestive
This is an agent for the relief or reduction of congestion.
Demulcent
This is a substance that soothes or protects mucous membranes and allays irritation.
Deodorant
This term is used for an agent that corrects, masks or removes unpleasant odors.
Depurative
This is an agent that helps combat impurity in the blood and organs; detoxifying.
Dermal
This term refers or pertains to the skin. It is the layer of skin below the surface
layer which is called the Epidermal.
Diaphoretic
This is the term used for an agent that promotes sweating.
Disinfectant
This refers to a substance that prevents and also combats the spread of germs.
Diuretic
This is an agent increasing urine output.
Dysmenorrhea
This term refers to difficult or painful menstruation.
Dyspnea
This is a term used for difficult breathing.
Eczema
This describes inflammatory skin conditions.
Edema
This term refers to abnormal accumulation of fluids within tissues.
Embryotoxic
This term describes an agent poisonous to a developing embryo.
Emetic
This is a substance causing vomiting.
Emmenagogue
This refers to an agent that induces or assists menstruation.
Epidermis/Epidermal
This is the superficial epithelial (surface) layers of the skin. The epidermis is where new cells are constantly being formed.
Febrifuge
This term is used for an agent fighting a fever.
Fungicidal
This is a term used for an agent that prevents and combats fungal infection.
Fungistatic
This is a term used for an agent that inhibits the growth of fungi.
Galactogogue
This term refers to a substance which stimulates secretion of milk.
Germicidal
This is an agent that destroys germs or micro-organisms such as bacteria, etc.
Hemostatic
This is a term for an agent that arrests bleeding.
Homeopathic
This is a term for a product containing infinitesimal doses of a substance that would, in normal doses, produce
symptoms of the disease that it is intended to treat.
Homeopathy
This is a medical system that uses the idea of like attracts like, whereby infinitesimal doses of natural
substances are used to stimulate a person's immune and defense system.
Hypertensive
This is a term for an agent that raises blood pressure.
Hypnotic
This is a term for a substance causing sleep.
Hypotensive
This is a term for an agent that lowers blood pressure.
Insecticide
This is a term for a substance that repels insects.
Irritant
This term refers to an agent that causes irritation or inflammation of the skin.
Lactation
This term refers to production of milk; the period after giving birth during which milk is secreted in the breasts.
Lymphatic
This term is used pertaining to the lymph system.
Menopause
This refers to permanent cessation of menstruation.
Menorrhagia
This refers to abnormally heavy menstrual periods.
Metrorrhagia
This is any irregular, acyclic bleeding from the uterus between periods.
Mucolytic
This term refers to an agent breaking down or dissolving mucus.
Musculotropic
A substance affecting, attracted to, or acting upon muscle tissue.
Myalgia
A substance used to diffuse muscle pain.
Narcotic
This term refers to a substance that induces sleep; intoxicating or poisonous in large doses.
Nervine
This is an agent strengthening and toning to the nerves and nervous system.
Neurotoxic
This refers to a substance poisonous to the nerves.
Ointment
This is a semisolid preparation usually containing medicinal substances and intended for external Therapeutic (Therapuetic)
application.
Parasiticide
This term refers to an agent that prevents and destroys parasites such as fleas, lice, etc.
Paresthesia
This is an abnormal sensation, such as burning or prickling.
Pathological
This is an agent with an unnatural or destructive process on living tissue.
Pediculicide
This term refers to a substance that destroys lice.
Photosensitizer
This term is used for substances which make the skin sensitive
and reactive to the sun's energy, especially light. Lemon, Lime, and
bergamot are examples of essential oils
that are slightly photosensitive and should not be worn if sunbathing or in a sun lamp.
Photosynthesis
The process of increasing sensitivity to sunlight.
Poultice
This is a soft mass prepared by moistening botanicals or other absorbent substances with oil or water,
and usually applied to the hot skin.
Pregnancy/cautions
While pregnant, a woman must reconsider her lifesyle and actions
to protect her unborn child. Any products consumed, applied, or inhailed will affect the fetus, and
therefore all cautions and labels must be consulted, and if in doubt, restrain from use and consult your doctor.
Aromatherapists advise against using mixtures that contain any of the following oils; basil, clary sage,
cedarwood, cypress, juniper, and rose.
Pruritus
This is another word used for the symptoms of itching.
Psoriasis
This is an inherited condition characterized by the eruption of reddish, scaled papules on the skin of
the elbows, knees, scalp, and trunk.
Psychosomatic
This is the manifestation of physical symptoms resulting from a mental state.
Pyretic
This is a fever-inducing agent.
Regulator
This is a substance that helps balance and regulate the functions of the body.
Relaxant
This term is used for an agent that is soothing, causing relaxation, andrelieving strain or tension.
Restorative
This is a substance that helps strengthen and revive the body systems.
Revulsive
This refers to an agent that relieves pain by means of the diversion of blood or disease from one part of the body to another.
Rubefacient
This is a substance that causes redness of the skin, with possibly irritation.
Sclerosis
This refers to hardening of tissue due to inflammation.
Sedative
This is a substance that has a calming, quieting effect, and quiets nervous excitement.
Sensitize
This term is used to describe the process of exposure
to a substance that may render a person sensitive to the substance, or easily acted on by the sun. A
sensitization reaction is characterized by a severe response that is not seen upon initial application of
the product. After several applications, the consumer discontinues use of the product with no adverse effects.
After not using the product for several weeks or months the next time the product is applied a severe and immediate
reaction is seen. This type of reaction can be dangerous and should be avoided. It can be seen with preservatives,
sunscreens, fragrances and many other materials.
Soporific
This is a substance that induces sleep.
Stimulant
This term refers to an agent that quickens the physiological functions of the body.
Stomachic
This is the term for a substance that is a stomach-strengthening remedy.
Styptic
This is an astringent agent that stops or reduces external bleeding.
Sub-cutas
This term is referring to an area beneath the top part of the skin, the deeper part of the dermis of the skin.
Sudorific
This is an agent that causes sweating.
Synergism
This is when two or more substances work together to create a benefit greater than the sum of each individual benefit.
Synergy
This is agents working together harmoniously; coordination in the action of muscles, organs or substances.
Tannin
This is a substance that has an astringent action, and helps seal the tissue.
Tonic
This is an herbal remedy taken to maintain health or ward off illness, rather than to treat an illness. It
is also known as a normalizer and is typically taken for an extended
period of time to strengthen and enliven the whole or specific parts of the body.
Topical Application
This is a substance administered to the skin.
Vasoconstrictor
This is an agent that causes narrowing of the blood vessels.
Vasodilator
This is an agent that dilates the blood vessels.
Vermifuge
This is an agent used to treat worm infestation.
Virustatic
This is a substance inhibiting viral action.
Vulnerary
This is an agent that helps heal wounds and sores by
external application.
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Ingredients