Page 8 - Terminology-Herbology
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N                             steep for a certain length of time. A small opening is then

                                                               made in the bottom, which allows the extract to slowly flow
        Narcotic:  An addicting substance that reduces pain and   out of the vessel. The remaining plant material (the marc)
        produces sleep.                                        may  be  discarded.  Many  tinctures  and  liquid extracts  are
                                                               prepared this way.
        Nauseant.  An herb that causes nausea and vomiting.
        Somewhat similar to an emetic.                         Pericarpium: The peel or rind of fruit.

        Nephritic: Herbs used in healing kidney problems.      Pharmacognosy: The study of natural products (i.e., plant,
                                                               animal, organism, or mineral in nature) used as drugs or for
        Nervine: A substance that calms and soothes the nerves and   the preparation of drugs. Derived from the Greek pharmakon
        reduces tension and anxiety.                           meaning drug and gnosis meaning knowledge.
        Nutritive: Nutritive agents nourish the body.  Herbs with   Phytochemicals:  Chemical compounds or chemical
        nutritive properties include alfalfa, amaranth, barley, bee   constituents formed in the plant’s normal metabolic processes.
        pollen, chickweed, comfrey, guarana, Iceland moss, Irish   The chemicals are often referred to as “secondary metabolites”
        moss, kelp, marshmallow, nettle, oatstraw, papaya, pumpkin,   of which there are several classes including alkaloids,
        red clover, rose hips, slippery elm, suma, watercress, and   anthraquinones,  coumarins,  fats,  flavonoids,  glycosides,
        yellow dock.                                           gums, iridoids, mucilages, phenols, phytoestrogens, tannins,
                                                               terpenes, and terpenoids, to mention a few. Extracts contain
                                 O                             many chemical constituents, while chemicals that have been
                                                               isolated from the plant are considered pharmaceutical drugs
                                                               (i.e., digoxin having been isolated from the foxglove or
        Oleum: The fixed oil preparation pressed or squeezed from  Digitalis lanata plant).
        the plant material.
                                                               Phytoestrogens:  A type of phytochemical with some
        Opthalmicum: A remedy for diseases of the eye.         influence on the estrogenic activity or hormonal system in
                                                               humans. This rather broad term does not mean that the plant
        Oxytocic:  These are herbs which help stimulate uterine   mimics human estrogen, only acts to affect it in some way.
        contractions to assist and induce a safe labor and delivery.
        Herbs with oxytocic properties are black cohosh, blue cohosh,  Phytomedicinals: Medicinal substances that originate from
        pennyroyal and red raspberry.                          plants. This may include certain phytochemicals as well as
                                                               whole plants or herbal preparations.
                                 P                             Poultice: A therapeutic topical application of a soft moist

                                                               mass of plant material (such as bruised fresh herbs), usually
        Parasiticide: Destroys parasites. (see germicide, antiparasitic)  wrapped in a fine woven cloth.

        Parturient: A substance that induces and promotes labor.  Pulvis: Powder
        Parturifacient: Herbs that induces child-birth or labor.   Pungent: Irritating or sharply painful. Producing a sharp
                                                               sensation of taste or smell.
        Pectoral: Relieves disorders of the chest and lungs, such as
        an expectorant.                                        Purgative: A substance that promotes the vigorous evacuation
                                                               of the bowels. Usually used to relieve severe constipation.
        Pediculus: The pedicle of a fruit, the stem just before the
        fruit.                                                 Pyroleum: The tar from dry distilled plant material.
        Peptic: An herb or substance that aids in the digestion of
        food. (Syn: digestive, eupeptic)                                                R

        Percolation: A process to extract the soluble constituents of a   Radix:  The root of a plant, though radix is sometimes
        plant with the assistance of gravity. The material is moistened   synonomous with rhizome
        and evenly packed into a tall, slightly conical vessel; the liquid
        (menstruum) is then poured onto the material and allowed to  Ramulus: Twig or branch.



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