Below are the categories under which herbs fall. In order to understand how you might use herbs it is important to know what they might DO to you, in you or for you. It is important to know WHY you are choosing an herb and not enough to know that the herb was listed on your favorite message board.
ADAPTOGEN
These herbs have immune system enhancers which help the body adjust to change, regulate stress and restore natural immune resistance. Herbs which are used for this purpose include echinacea, garlic, gingo biloba, ginseng, goldenseal, pau d’arco and suma.
ALTERATIVE
Alteratives (some people think this is alternative but it is a different word) are considered useful in altering body chemistry gradually. Herbs with alterative properties stimulate gradual changes in metabolism and tissue function in acute and chronic conditions and increase overall health, energy, vigor and strength. Alteratives are similar to tonics, which help both the overall systems as well as aiding particular organs, tissues and cells. alternative herbs, include aloe vera, black cohosh, blue cohosh, blue vervain, capsicum, cascara sagrada, chamomile, damiana, dandelion, echnicacea, elecampane, fenugreek, garlic, gentian, ginger, gingo biloba, goldenseal, hawthorn, horsetail, milk thistle, red clover, red raspberry, schizandra, suma, yarro and yellow dock root.
ANALGESIC
Analgesic herbs are used to relieve pain without loss of consciousness. Some of the herbs commonly used as analgesics include feverfew, lobelia, mullein, pau d’acro, skullcap, willow bark and wood betony.
ANESTHETIC
Anesthetics are used for their ability to cause physical insensitivity. Examples of herbs with this property are caraway, kava and tea tree.
ANODYNE
Herbs with this property have the ability to soothe and reduce the intensity of pain. Herbs with this ability include anise, chamomile, cloves, juniper, pleurisy root and rosemary.
ANORECTIC
Anorectic herbs help to reduce appetite. herbs with this asset include chickweed, ephedra, fellel, garcinia and guarana.
ANTACID
An antacid is used to neutralize acids in the stomach and intestinal tract. Herbs used for this include dandelion, fennel, ginger, kelp, Iceland moss and slippery elm.
ANTHELMINTIC
Herbs with anthelmintic agents either expel or destroy worms in the body. Other similar terms to describe such agents include vermifuge, mermicide and taeniacide. Herbs with these fighting abilityies include black cohosh, blue walnut, gentian, goldenseal, mandrake, prickly ash, pumpkin seed and senna.
ANTI-ASTHMATIC
Anti-asthmatics are used to help relieve the symptoms associated with asthma. some of the anti-asthmatic herbs are elecampane, ephedra, gotu kola, lobelia, prickly ash, wild cherry and yerba santa.
ANTIBACTERIAL
Antibacterial herbs are those that fight and destroy bacteria and include alfalfa, basil, chamomile, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, parsley, peppermint, rhubarb, tumeric, uva ursi and yucca.
ANTIBIOTIC
Herbs that work as natural antibiotics help the body’s immune system destroy growths of micro-organisms. Some herbs commonly used as natural antibiotics include buchu, chaparral, echinacea, garlic, goldenseal, myrrh, red clover and yellow dock.
ANTICATARRHAL
These are herbs which help dissolve and eliminate, as well prevent the formation of mucus and inflammation of the mucus membrane. herbs that are considered to be anticatarrhal include comfrey, elecampane, ephedra, funugreek, licorice, lobelia, marshmallow, mullein and wild cherry.
ANTICOAGULANT
Anticoagulant herbs help the body prevent clotting of the blood. Herbs with this constituent include garlic, turmeric and yellow melilot.
ANTIEMETIC
Antiemetics prevent vomiting, and herbs with this ability include clove, Iceland moss, raspberry and spearmint.
ANTIFUNGAL
Antifungal agents act against and destroy various fungi. Herbs in this gategory include alfalfa, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, kava kava, kombucha, parsley, St. John’s wort, skullcap, thyme and turmeric.
ANTIGALACTAGOGUE
Herbs with this property work opposite to herbs with galactagogue properties. Sage and black walnut are examples of herbs in this category.
ANTIHYDROTIC
Antihydrodics reduce levels of perspiration. Herbs with this ability include astragalus and sage.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Herbs with this ability reduce inflammation in the body without acting directly on the cause of the inflammation. Herbs in this category include birth, chicory, cranberry, elder flowers, eucalyptus, fennel, feverfew, ginger, licorice, marshmallow, papaya, passion flower, peppermint, pine tree bark, queen of the meadow, rhubarb, rosemary, safflower, turmeric, wild yam and witch hazel.
ANTILITHIC
Antilithic herbs work to prevent the formation of stones in the gall blader and kidney, as well as aiding the expulsion of those already formed. Antilithics are similar to lithotriptics. Some herbs used for this purpose are buchu leaves, hydrangea and uva ursi leaves.
ANTIMICROBIAL
Antimicrobials helps the body destroy microbes by affecting their growth and multiplication, Herbs with this ability include fennel, fevergfew, myrrh, pau d’archo, rhubarb, tea tree and uva ursi.
ANTINEOPLASTIC
Herbs with this quality destroy, inhibit and prevent tumors. Herbs in this category include aloe vera, black walnut, burdock, cat’s claw, chickweed, flaxseed, garlic, hops, horsetail, ho-sho-wu, irish moss, mistletoe, pau d’arco, periwinkle, pine tree bark, rhubarb, saffron, St. John’s wort, slippery elm and turmeric.
ANTIOXIDANT
Antioxidant herbs counteract the negative effects of oxidation on body tissues. Included in this category are barley, billberry, cat’s claw, chaparral, gingo biloba, milk thistle, pine tree, rosemary, sage and turmeric.
ANTIPERIODIC
This constituent counteractshe effects of periodic diseases (intermittent) like malaria. Herbs in this category include angelica, blue vervain, boneset, chinchone, eucalyptus, golden seal and willow.
ANTITUSSIVE
Herbs with antitussive agents are cough suppressants. Herbs in this category include coltsfoot, comfrey, borehound, mullein and wild cherry bark.
ANTIVENOMOUS
Antivenomous agents counteract venom, as from a snake bite. Herbs with this quality include pennyroyal and plantain.
ANTIVIRAL
Antiviral agents act to destroy viruses in the body. Herbs with antiviral qualities include aloe vera, astragalus, barley, boneset, calendula, echinacea, ho-shouwu, licorice, maitake, reishi, pau d’arco, red raspberry and turmeric.
APHRODISIAC
An aphrodisiac is used to help restore normal sexual potency and function and improve sexual desire. Some herbs used as aphrodisiacs include astragalus, damiana, false unicorn, fenugreek, ginseng, kava kava and saw palmetto.
ASTRINGENT
An astringent acts to contract and tighten, similar to styptic. This constricting action can help eliminate secretions and hemorrhaging. Some herbs with astringent actions are amaranth, blackberry root, black walnut, capsicum, elecampane, ephedra, fenugreek, horsetail, hydrangea, mullein, oak bark, queen of the meadow, St. John wort, slippery elm and witch hazel.
BITTER
An agent that acts on the mucous membranes in the mouth to promote appetite and encourage digestion. Herbs in this category include alfalfa, blackberry, blessed thistle, bugleweed, chaparral, chinchona, eyebright, feverfew, gentian, licorice, quassia, watercress, wild cherry and wild lettuce.
BLOOD PURIFIER
Agents that clean and remove impurities from the blood, similar to depurative. Examples of blood purifiers include birch, buckthorn, calendula, centaury, couch grass, dandelion, plantain and watercress.
CARMINATIVE
Herbs which can help eliminate gas from the stomach and intestine are considered carminatives. Some of the herbs commonly used are angelica root, capsicum, caraway seeds, catnip, chamomile flowers, echinacea, fennel, ginger, hops, lemon balm, parsley root, peppermint, saffron and valerian.
CHOLAGOGUE
This herb property increases the flow of bile which aids digestion, as well as acting as a mild laxative. Herbs which are used for this purpose are aloe vera, barberry, culvers root, dandelion, goldenseal, hops, licorice, Oregon grape root and wild yam.
DECONGESTANT
An agent that relieves congestion in the upper respiratory tract. Herbs with decongestant properties include ephedra, lobelia, pennyroyal, valerian and yerba santa.
DEMULCENT
These herbs work internally to help soothe and protect the mucous membranes in the body. Some herbs with this property are aloe vera, burdock, chickweed, comfrey, echinacea, fenugreek, flaxseed, Irish moss, kelp, licorice, marshmallow, mullein, oatstraw and psyllium.
DIAPHORETIC
Diaphoretic herbs help the body produce perspiration to help the skin eliminate toxins, similar to sudorific. Herbs with diaphoretic properties include angelica, blue vervain, boneset, borage, butchers broom, capsicum, catnip, chamomile, elder flowers, elecampane, ephedra, garlic, hyssop, lemon balm leaves and yarrow.
DIGESTIVE
Digestives promote or aid in the digestion process. Such herbs include anise, capsicum, centaury, echinacea, garlic, horseradish, mustard, papaya, safflower and sage.
DIURETIC
A diuretic is used to increase the flow of urine to relieve water retention. Some herbs used for this purpose are alfalfa, blue cohosh, buchu leaves, burdock, butchers broom, damiana, dandelion, devils claw, false unicorn, fennel, hawthorn, horsetail, hydrangea, juniper berries, lily-of-the-valley, marshmallow, parsley, queen of the meadow, saw palmetto and uva ursi.
EMETIC
An emetic is used to induce vomiting. Emetic herbs include bayberry, boneset, buckthorn, culver, false unicorn, lobelia, mandrake, mistletoe, mustard seed, pleurisy, quassia, rue and senega.
EMMENAGOGUE
Herbs with emmenagogue properties promote menstrual flow. Some herbs which help with this situation are angelica, aloe vera, black cohosh, blue cohosh, gentian, ginger, goldenseal, horsetail, juniper berries, mistletoe, myrrh, pennyroyal and saffron.
ESTROGENIC
Estrogenic herbs promote or produce estrus. Herbs with estrogenic properties include blue cohosh, dong quai, false unicorn, fennel and licorice.
EXPECTORANT
Expectorants help the body expel mucus from the lungs, nose and throat. Herbs used for this purpose include anise seed, blue cohosh, blue vervain, comfrey root, elder flowers, elecampane root, ephedra, flaxseed, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, horehound, hyssop, Irish moss, licorice, lobelia, marshmallow, mullein leaves, slippery elm, wild cherry bark and yerba santa leaves.
FEBRIFUGE
Herbs with this property help reduce fevers, similar to refrigerant and antipyretic. Some febrifuges are bilberry, boneset, borage, buckthorn, catnip, chamomile, elder flowers, fenugreek, garlic, gentian, ginger, hyssop, pleurisy root, sarsaparilla, white willow bark and wormwood.
GALACTAGOGUE
Herbs with galactagogue properties stimulate lactation in women. herbs in this category include anise, basil, blessed thistle, borage, fenugreek, horsetail and vervain.
GERMICIDE
Germicides are known for their ability to destroy germs and other microorganisms. Herbs in this category include cloves, eucalyptus and tea tree.
HEPATIC
These herbs help to strengthen, tone, and increase bile flow to promote normal liver function. Some herbs with hepatic properties are barberry bark, cascara sagrada, dandelion root, gentian, goldenseal, horseradish, mandrake root, milk thistle, olive oil, Oregon grape, parsley, queen of the meadow and rhubarb.
HEMOSTATIC
Hemostatics stop blood flow by acting as antihemorrhagic agents. Herbs in this category include bistort, blackberry, bugleweed, calendula, nettle, periwinkle, shepherds purse and witch hazel.
IMMUNOSTIMULANTS
Immunostimulants enhance or boost the body’s natural defense against illness and disease. Herbs with this ability include astragalus, barley, dong quai, kombucha, maitake, queen of the meadow, reishi and shiitake.
INSECTICIDE
Insecticides are used to kill insects. An example of an herb with this ability is bayberry.
LITHOTRIPTIC
These are herbs which help dissolve and eliminate urinary stones from the body. They include buchu leaves butchers broom, cascara sagrada, cornsilk, dandelion devils claw, horsetail, marshmallow, parsley, queen of the meadow, uva ursi and white oak bark.
MUCILANT
Herbs that are considered mucilants have mucilage properties which have a soothing and demulcent effect. They coat and protect mucous membranes from irritations. Mucilants have a wide variety of applications including coughs, sore throats, and irritated stomach bowels, bladder and kidneys. They can also be used for laxatives, cream and ointments because of their soothing effects. Mucilant herbs include aloe vera, chickweed coltsfoot, comfrey, flaxseed, Iceland moss, marshmallow plantain, psyllium seed and slippery elm.
NARCOTIC
Herbs with narcotic agents can be used to soothe intractable pain or to induce anesthesia. Herbs with these agents should be used carefully. They include bugleweed, guarana and wild lettuce. Herbs that can be used to counteract narcotic effects include alfalfa (for addiction) and marjoram and mustard (for poisoning).
NEPHRITIC
These are used in healing kidney problems. Herbs with nephritic properties include buchu leaves, couch grass root, goldenseal, horsetail, hydrangea, juniper berries, Oregon grape and queen of the meadow root.
NERVINE
Nervine herbs help soothe, calm and nourish the nervous system. Some of the nervine herbs are black cohosh, blue vervain, boneset, catnip, chamomile, cramp bark. damiana, gotu kola, hops, lady’s slipper, lemon balm, lobelia, oatraw, passion flower, skullcap, valerian root and wood betony.
NUTRITIVE
Nutritive agents nourish the body. Herbs iwth nutritive properties include alfalfa, amaranth, barley, bee pollen, chickweed, comfrey, guarana, Iceland moss, Irish moss, kelp, marshmallow, nettle, oatstraw, papaya, pumpkin, red clover, rose hips, slippery elm, suma, watercress and yellow dock.
OXYTOCIC
These are herbs which help stimulate uterine contractions to assit and induce a safe labor and delivery. Herbs with oxytocic properties are black cohosh, blue cohosh, pennyroyal and red raspberry.
PARASITICIDE
Parasiticidic herbs are those that destroy parasites in the body. Herbs with parasticidic agents include chaparral, feverfew, figwort, horseradish, mandrake, papaya, parsley, peach, pennyroyal, plantain, pumpkin, rhubarb, sage, thyme, vervain, wild cherry and wood betony.
PECTORAL
Pectoral agents give relief and remedy pulmonary and other respiriatory conditions. Examples of pectorals are chickweed, coltsfoot, couch grass, hyssop, Iceland moss and wild cherry.
PURGATIVE
A cathartic or purgative herbis used for purging and stimulating the action of evacuating the bowels. this action may be mild or strong depending on the need. Purgatives and cathartics are similar to aperients and laxatives, which are mild purgative used to relieve constipation. Herbs considered to be purgative included aloe vera, barberry bark, boneset, buckthorn bark, cascara sagrada, elder flowers, goldenseal, mandrake, Oregon grape root, psyllium, rhubarb root and senna leaves.
RUBEFACIENT
Hers with rubefacient properties are reddening agens that help to increase the flow of the blood to the surface of the skin to aid in healing in cases such as sprains and muscle soreness. Some herbs used for this purpose include camphor, capsicum, cloves, eucalyptus, galric, ginger, horseradish, mustard seed, peppermint oil, pine oil, stinging nettle and thyme oil.
SEDATIVE
Sedative herbs are used to relieve irritability and promote calm and tranquil feelings. Some are catnip, chamomile, cramp bark, dong quai, hawthron, hops, kava kava, lady’s slipper, lobelia, passion flower, red clovers, St. John’s wort, schizandra, skullcap, valerian and wood betony.
SIALOGUGE
Herbs with this property help to promote the flow and secretion of saliva to aid in the diegestion of starches. Some herbs include bayberry, capsicum, echinacea, gentian, ginger, horseradish, hydrangea, licorice, prickly ash, rhubarb and yerba santa.
STIMULANT
These herbs help to inrease the function of the body energy leels, circulation, and help eliminate toxins. herbs with stimulant properties are angelica, boneset, capsicum, damiana, devil’s claw, echinacea, elder flowers, elecampane, ephedra, false unicorn, garlic, gentian, ginger, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, ho-shou-wu, milk thistle, prickley ash bark, saffron, sarsaparilla root and suma.
STOMACHIC
Stomachics strengthen and tone the stomach. herbs in the stomachic category included agrimony, anise, barberry, basil, caraway, celery, chinchina, cloves, dandelion, gentian, ginseng, gymnema, hops, horseradish, papaya, peach, pennyroyal, quassia, rhubarb, rosehips and watercress.
VASOCONSTRICTOR
Herbs with vasoldilating agents expand the blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Herbs in this category included fever few, hawthorn and ho-shou-wu.
VULNERARY
Herbs with vulnerary properties are used to help promote the healing of wounds, cuts and abrasions. some used are aloe vera, black walnut, burdock, capsicum, fenugreek, flaxseed, garlic, gentian, goldenseal, hops, horsetail, mullein, oatstraw and plantain leaves.
Taken in part from the Today’s Herbal Health – Louise Tenney – buy the book – ORDER PRODUCTS:
