Like every field of endeavour, herbalism has its own terminology. Much of it is borrowed from chemistry, anatomy, physiology and industrial medicine. There are also terms that have, over the years, become herbal jargon.
These first 4 categories are things that you will have seen a lot of in books and have only been given unsatisfactory definitions. I’m here to remedy that! There are more specific terms coming up on other, more advanced pages about using herbs for medicine but these are the words and terms that you come up against time and time again, explained simply for you so that you can at least get through a herb book without feeling like a dummy.
You may note that on this website, I don’t use ‘Anti-‘ much (like anti-inflammatory) in my lists of actions and properties. That’s because the ‘Anti-s’ don’t really explain how something works, and they can be very, very broad categories. I prefer to hone in on the herbal action that gives the herb that property. For example, Calendula is ‘anti-inflammatory’ through several actions (moving lymph, building blood vessels, etc). At the same time, Cayenne is anti-inflammatory because it draws the blood away from the inflamed area, reducing local inflammation. Plantain is anti-inflammatory because its astringent effect tightens tissue and blood vessels, reducing inflammation by restricting fluid flow through membranes and tissues. If you know the action of a herb, it is easier to know if it is suited to your case. If you only know that it is ‘anti-something’, you need to check through lists to find the appropriate class of herbs, then through the herbs themselves. The way I do it here takes a little more learning but is ultimately faster and more effective. You will also be learning not to combine herbs that have opposing actions (unless that is specifically what you’re after, which may be in some cases).
Learning things this way also helps you to stop making ‘shot gun’ formulas that combine every herb that is listed as ‘good for xyz’ in your favourite herb book. I know someone posted a formulation recently that was ‘good for coughs and sore throats’, but several of the herbs were working against some of the others, resulting in a formula that would have worked because of the sheer number of herbs in the mix (one of them would have hit the target) but could have been just as effective with two of the herbs they listed.
Herb
- Herb – a non woody plant.
- Herb – the above ground parts of a plant harvested for medicine
- Herb – the guy down the road, my mate Herbert
- Herb – either tobacco of cannabis depending on your taste
Chemistry
You’ll hear a lot about some chemicals and compounds. Here’s some basics –
- Alkaloids – a class of substances that produce strong alkaline reactions in various bodily processes. Names end in ‘-ine‘ like Codeine, Morphine. Change chemistry
- Emulsifier - a compound that allows oils to bond with water
- Glycosides – energy producers for various bodily functions. Give sugars on hydrolysis. Give energy to processes
- Hydrolysis – a chemical reaction where water is mostly used to break down the chemical bonds that exist between a particular substance
- Tannins – compounds that combine with proteins. Toughen things up
- Steroids – hormonal substances. End in ‘-ol‘, ‘-gen‘, ‘-one‘. Boost specific activities
- pH – the number of hydrogen ions in the solution. It works on a negative logarithm, that’s why the numbers for acids which have more hydrogen ions is lower. Using the logarithm method allows us to use simple numbers such as 7.2 instead of (horrible measurements like 1 x 10^-5 mol/L). If you’re really keen and want to know the formula, here it is: pH = -log([H+]). pH is measured on a scale of 0-14 with 7 being neutral. Below that is acidic, above it is alkaline. Smart, hey?
Actions – common terms
- Alternatives- the old name for herbs that ‘çlean the blood’. More technically, herbs that alter a process in the body to restore normal health
- Anodynes- relieve pain
- Antiseptics- stops things going rotten
- Astringents- tighten membranes and tissue preventing leaks
- Bitters- cooling stimulants for digestion
- Carminatives- settle stomach, expel gas
- Demulcents – moisten and soften tissue on your insides
- Diaphoretics- make you sweat
- Diuretics- make you wee
- Emollients- moisten and soften tissue on your insides
- Nervines- helps nervous conditions
- Normaliser – brings things back to a normal state of function
- Rubefacients- makes skin red
- Vermifuges- gets rid of worms and parasites
- Vulneraries- general wound healers
Remedy Making
There’s some great terms that you might want to know for using herbs –
- Aceta – a herbal extraction with vinegar as the solvent
- ABV – Alcohol By Volume. The amount of alcohol in a solution of alcohol and water
- Alcohol – a liquid that contains ethanol and water
- Compress – external application of a herb soaked cloth
- Decanting – allowing the sediment to settle before pouring off the extract
- Decoction – heat extraction of a herb using hot water and simmering as the solvent
- Digesting – using a low heat for a long time, mainly for oils
- Emulsifier – a compound that allows water and oil molecules to join in a remedy
- Essential oil -a volatile oil that evaporates easily
- Express – to press out the juice of a herb
- Filtering – removing fine materials from the extract. Finer than straining.
- Fixed oil – a non-volatile oil e.g. Grapeseed oil, Olive oil
- Fomentation – hot compress
- Glycerite -a herbal extraction with vegetable glycerine as the solvent
- Imiscible – material that don’t mix e.g. oil and water
- Infusion – a strong extraction of a herb in hot or cold water made over hours
- Liniment – alcohol rub
- Marc – the solid material leftover after extraction
- Menstruum – the liquid that dissolves the soluble parts of herbs. The solution.
- Percolation – passing a solvent slowly through packed herbal powder
- Poultice – external application of crushed herb (usually fresh)
- Pressing – forcing the extract from the marc with pressure
- Proof – an old way of indicating alcohol strength. Divide ‘proof’ by 2 to get ‘ABV’
- Reduce – to lower the amount of something, usually through evaporation
- Salve – external remedy usually made by mixing beeswax into the oil to give more solidity to the oil
- Solute – the thing that’s dissolved in a solution
- Solvent – the thing that does the dissolving in a solution
- Straining – removing the solid material through a cloth or mesh
- Succus – pressed out plant juice
- Tea – a light extraction of a herb in hot water for 10 minutes or so
- Tincture – a herbal extraction with alcohol as the solvent
- Vinegar – a liquid that is at least 4% Acetic Acid, the rest being water
- Volatile oil – an oil that evaporates easily – think ‘essential oil’
Books
- Materia medica – a book of herbs and their effects herb by herb
- Repertory – a book of ailments and the herbs suited to them
- Pharmacopeia – an official list of medicinal compounds and their effects
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