It sometimes difficult to understand the terms that Medical herbalists and conventional medical people use. This article will endevour to explain the meaning of terms such as laxative, diuretic, diaphoretics, expectorants, bitters, stimulants, astringents, demulcents etc to assist your understanding of these terms in this blog and in any other medical literature. As we endevour to cure or heal ourselves and prevent diseases naturally such explanations are very useful so that we get full benefits from the information we glean in this blog and elsewhere.
The first thing that we need to know is that herbs are grouped by their actions. It is these actions that the above terms seek to put accross when herbs are grouped. It is important when taking herbs to consider taking a combination of herbs as disease may have resulted due to lack of balance in other areas not directly related to the disease. For example, urine infection requires an antiseptic herb (wild thyme) to fight the infection, a demulcent herb (mallow) to soothe the inflammation and relieve pain and a diuretic herb (couch grass) to flush out the accumulated waste.
The first thing that we need to know is that herbs are grouped by their actions. It is these actions that the above terms seek to put accross when herbs are grouped. It is important when taking herbs to consider taking a combination of herbs as disease may have resulted due to lack of balance in other areas not directly related to the disease. For example, urine infection requires an antiseptic herb (wild thyme) to fight the infection, a demulcent herb (mallow) to soothe the inflammation and relieve pain and a diuretic herb (couch grass) to flush out the accumulated waste.
Another example of the benefits of a combination of treatments is from Dr Richard Schulze, a foremost authority on herbs having seen patients get healed from 'incurable diseases', who spoke of patients suffering from diseases such as migraines, cancer getting healed just by doing a colon cleansing which is not directly related to such diseases. Enough of the digression, below is the meaning of the terms above.
Astringents
Astringents tone up relaxed tissue, reduce secretion of mucous membranes and can help reduce bleeding. Tannins are the active constituents here — these create the taste that dries your mouth, such as strong black tea. Astringent herbs include horse chestnut , wood avens, oak, pilewort, horsetail, yarrow, agrimony, shepherd's purse, golden rod, ground ivy, and white deadnettle.
Relaxants
Relaxants
Relaxants reduce tension in tissues by working on the nervous system, relaxing hollow organs and blood vessels. Secretions increase from mucous membranes and from sweat glands. Relaxant herbs are lime, mistletoe, valerian, yarrow, oat, chamomile, mugwort, St John's wort, vervain, hop, mint and wood betony
Bitters
These work through their taste, stimulating the release of the hormone gastrin. Gastrin increases the release of all digestive enzymes from the stomach, liver and pancreas. Bitters are used for poor appetite and sluggish bowels, infection (as they increase white cells) and diabetes. They are useful for digestive fullness and flatulence as they reduce fermentation in the gut. Bitter herbs include agrimony, fumitory, yellow dock, dandelion root, burdock and hop.
Stimulants
These increase circulation, energy and vitality. They are usually very warming. They stimulate the nervous system and therefore reflexes. Stimulant herbs include yarrow and horseradish.
Demulcents
These plants contain thick, viscous sap. They are used for soothing inflamed mucous membranes, coating them in a thick healing 'plaster' and stimulating increased production of mucus. Examples of plants in this group are mallow, comfrey, plantain and mullein.
Expectorants
These plants are known as local stimulants that work on the respiratory tract by liquefying sticky, thick mucus and aiding its expulsion from the lungs. They also constrict the blood vessels of the nose, reducing congestion. Plants belonging to this group include wild garlic, elecampane, coltsfoot, mint, wild thyme and sweet violet.
Nervines
These herbs all have an affinity for the nervous system. They are either stimulating or relaxing and are often nourishing and restorative. They include lime, oat , St John's wort, vervain and wood betony.
Diuretics
The plants included in this group increase the flow of urine and promote cleansing via the kidneys and bladder. They include couch grass, dandelion leaf, golden rod and nettle,
Diephoretics
These herbs are used to induce sweating and are used in as part of fever treatement and to promote good blood circulation. In so doing they indirectly help in healing by taking fresh blood to the affected parts of the body as well as the movement of other herbs to the sick parts of the body. In order for herbs to work they have to reach the affected parts of the body, we therefore need these herbs which include lime to cure or heal ourselves and prevent diseases naturally.
Laxatives
There are bulking laxatives such as plantain seeds, linseeds and stimulant laxatives that irritate the bowel to produce the urge to defecate, such as yellow dock. Stimulant laxatives are often given with a carminative (a substance that relieves flatulence) to prevent pain in the bowels. Bitter liver herbs can also improve bowel function affecting the blood vessels.
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