Click on a letter below to jump to terms that start with that letter.
A
Aerial Plant Parts
The aerial plant parts are the parts above the soil. This includes the stems, leaves, petioles, flowers, fruit and seeds.
Alterative (Herbal Properties)
An alterative enriches blood flow to tissues and is purifying/detoxifying to the blood: blood toxicity, infections, inflammation, arthritis, cancer, skin eruptions. It has a positive action on the liver and digestion due to its bitter qualities.
HERBS INCLUDE:
| 🌱 Alfalfa | 🌱 Gotu Kola |
| 🌱 Aloe Vera | 🌱 Ho Shou Wu (Fo-Ti Root) |
| 🌱 Angelica | 🌱 Lycii |
| 🌱 Burdock Root | 🌱 Marshmallow |
| 🌱 Comfrey | 🌱 Nettles (Stinging Nettles) |
| 🌱 Cascara Sagrada (2) | 🌱 Oregon Grape Root |
| 🌱 Chrysanthemum | 🌱 Peony |
| 🌱 Coptis | 🌱 Plantain |
| 🌱 Dandelion Root (3) | 🌱 Rehmannia |
| 🌱 Dong Quai | 🌱 Red Clover (6) |
| 🌱 Echinacea | 🌱 Sarsaparilla (5) |
| 🌱 Elder Flower (4) | 🌱 Sassafras |
| 🌱 Ginseng | 🌱 Uva Ursi |
| 🌱 Goldenseal | 🌱 Yellow Dock |
Notes:
(1) Neutralizes acid conditions (stagnation in blood)
(2) Laxative (constipation/toxicities)
(3) Hepatic tonic and diuretic properties (chronic blood toxicities)
(4) Diaphoretic (purifying blood colds and flues)
(5) Diuretic (infections)
(6) Cancer (protein assimilation)
Amphoteric (Herbal Properties)
An amphoteric normalizes processes in the body, like blood pressure.
HERBS INCLUDE:
| 🌱 Garlic | 🌱 Vitex |
M
Menstruum
The liquid solvent used to extract an herb’s medicinal properties (compounds) are called the menstruum. The following are examples that may be used as a menstruum:
- Water, such as used to make a tisane, decoction, or macerate (aka, herbal tea)
- Alcohol (ethanol), such as used to make a tincture or extract
- Vinegar, such as used in herbal vinegars
- Glycerin, such as used in a non-alcohol extract
- Honey, such as used in an oxymel when combined with vinegar
V
VOCs - Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemical compounds that readily evaporate into the air under normal atmospheric conditions, meaning the part that has an odor that can evaporate quickly.
