Medicinal properties
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Many plants have traditional medical uses. Ethnobotanists and pharmacognacists catalog and study these plants and uses. This is a list of some of the more common medicinal properties that are ascribed to plants.
- Anti-catarrhal -- eliminates or counteracts mucous conditions
- Anti-coagulant -- prevent coagulation of blood
- Anti-histamine -- reduce or eliminate allergic effects mediated by histamine
- Anti-emetic -- relieves vomiting
- Anti-inflammatory -- reduces inflammation
- Anti-microbial -- kills or slows the growth of microbes
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- Anti-bacterial -- kills or slows the growth of bacteria
- Anti-fungal -- kills or slows the growth of fungi
- Anti-viral -- kills or slows the growth of viruses
- Anti-parasitic -- kills or slows the growth of parasites
- Anti-pyretic -- prevents or reduces fever by lowering body temperature
- Anti-spasmodic -- suppresses smooth muscle contractions
- Astringent -- shrinks or constricts body tissues
- Carminative -- anti-spasmodic, used particularly against cramps of the digestive tract
- Cholagogue -- promotes the discharge of bile from the system
- Demulcent -- acts as a protective barrier on irritated or inflamed tissue
- Diaphoretic -- increases perspiration
- Diuretic -- elevates the rate of bodily urine excretion
- Emetic -- induces vomiting
- Emmenagogue -- stimulates blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus
- Expectorant -- loosen mucus from the respiratory tract
- Hepatic -- strengthens or regulates the secretion of bile
- Laxative -- promotes defecation
- Nervine -- has a beneficial effect upon the nervous system in some way
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- Sedative -- depresses the central nervous system, causing calmness, relaxation and similar, stronger effects
- Tonic -- strengthens and improves specific organs, systems, weaknesses or the body as a whole
- Stomachic -- tones the stomach, improving its function and increasing appetite
- Vulnerary -- used in healing or treating wounds
