Earthnotes
Herbalist
Glossary

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DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. One final note: many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past, but be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.



A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   L   M   N   O   P   R   S   T   V   W

D
= toxic agent, AVOID          = danger/caution, mild to severe apply          = AVOID if pregnant
See corresponding herb pages for more information
TERM DEFINITION NATURAL AGENTS ASSOCIATED with the TERM
DECONGESTANT Reduces congestion or swelling Anise; Eucalyptus
= Elder
= Ginger, Wild
DEMULCENT Soothes irritated tissue; main application being to mucous membranes Almond; Arrowroot; Ash, Manna; Bala; Balloon Flower; Barley; Bistort; Canary Island Tea Plant; Celosia; Ceylon Spinach; Chickweed; Corn; Couchgrass; Currant, Red (See Black Currant); Mallow; Marshmallow; Shatavari (See Asparagus); Walnut, English
= Apricot; Borage; Cannabis; Cinnamon; Clover, Red; Coltsfoot; Comfrey; Licorice
= Cinnamon; Clover, Red; Coltsfoot
= Castor Bean
DEOBSTRUENT Clears obstructions from ducts of the body Ash, Prickly; Butcher's Broom; Dandelion
= Asparagus; Bogbean
DEODORANT Destroys or masks odors Eucalyptus
= Chamomile
DEPRESSANT Lessens nervous activity or the activity of an organ/s Ailanto (cardiac)
DEPURATIVE Cleanses the system as well as the blood (see also: BLOOD PURIFIER) Apple; Bo-Tree; Caesar Weed; Centipeda; Dandelion; Lady's Bedstraw; Poplar, White
= Birch, Sweet; Bogbean; Burdock
= Burdock
= Bonduc Nut; Columbine
DESSICANT A drying agent Anise, Star; Cabbage; Walnut, English
= Cattail; Cayenne
= Cattail
DETERGENT Cleans wounds/sores of dead/diseased matter Balmony; Balsam Pear; Black Currant
= Walnut, Black
DETOXICANT
DETOXIFY
DETOX
Counteracts toxins in the body; cleanses Apple (metals/radiation); Arenaria; Artichoke; Ash, Prickly; Dandelion; Garlic; Onion; Shiny Bramble (See Ash, Prickly)
= Barberry, common; Bead Tree; Cedar, White; Fo-Ti
= Barberry, common
DIAPHORETIC Promotes or induces perspiration Abscess Root; Agave; Agrimony; Akebia; Alfilaria; American Ivy; Ammoniac Gum; Anaphalis; Anise Hyssop; Asafetida; Ash, Prickly; Aspen, Quaking; Balloon Vine; Balm, Lemon; Basil, Holy; Beggartick, Swamp; Benjamin Bush; Black Currant; Bo-Tree; Bowman's Root; Burrweed; Butcher's Broom; Buttonbush; Candlenut; Caroba; Catnip; Centaury, European; Centaury, American; Cleavers; Coriander; Costmary; Dandelion; Horehound; Lady's Bedstraw; Meadowsweet; Oregano, Greek; Pinks, Chinese; Poplar, Black; Safflower; Sarsaparilla; Soapwort; Szechuan Pepper (See Ash, Prickly)
= Angelica; Angelica, American; Angelica, European Wild; Arsesmart; Asparagus; Avens; Bay; Bayberry; Bethroot; Birch, Common; Birch, Paper; Birch, Silver; Birch, Sweet; Black Cherry; Blazing Star; Bogbean; Boneset; Boneset, Asian; Buchu; Bupleurum; Borage; Burdock; Butternut; Cajuput; Calendula; Cayenne; Cedar, White; Celandine; Chamomile; Cinnamon; Cohosh, Blue; Coltsfoot; Linden; Mugwort; Poplar, Balsam; Sassafras; Stoneroot; Thistle, Blessed
= Angelica; Angelica, American; Angelica, European Wild; Burdock; Butternut; Cajuput; Calamint; Calendula; Celandine; Chamomile; Cinnamon; Cohosh, Blue; Coltsfoot; Ginger, Wild
= Ambrosia; Arnica; Arum; Asarabacca; Birthwort; Bittersweet, American; Black Cohosh; Blackroot; Bloodroot; Blue Flag; Boxwood; Bryony, White; Buttercup; Butterfly Weed; Cabbage, Skunk; Camphor; Columbine
DIGESTIVE Promotes or assists the process of breaking down food so it can be absorbed through the lining of the intestinal tract (digestion) Agave; Alfalfa; Allspice; Ambrette; Amomum; Anise, Star; Annatto; Apple; Aquilaria; Arrowroot; Ash, Prickly; Barley; Basil, Holy; Betony; Burnet, Salad; Cabbage; Cardamom, Bastard; Cardamom, Round; Catnip; Centaury, European; Chickweed; Coriander; Coriander, False; Damiana; Dandelion (tonic/stimulant); Dill; Ginger; Marjoram, Sweet; Mustard; Oregano, Greek; Shatavari (See Asparagus); Turmeric; Walnut, English
= Angelica; Bay; Bergamot; Boneset, Asian; Butternut; Cayenne; Chamomile; Chervil; Chicory; Cinnamon; Fennel; Horseradish; Licorice; Yarrow
= Angelica; Butternut; Chamomile; Cinnamon; Fennel; Sage, Clary; Yarrow
= Wormwood
DISCUTIENT Disperses tumors or other pathological accumulations Arrowhead; Pussytoes
= Arnica; Arrowwood; Castor Bean
DIURETIC Increases output of urine Agave; Agrimony; Agrimony, Hemp; Agrimony, Water; Akebia (strong); Alfalfa; Alfilaria; Allspice, Carolina; Aloe, False; Amber; Ammoniac Gum (mild); Amur Cork Tree; Angelica Tree; Anise, Star; Apple; Aquilaria; Arbutus; Arenaria; Artichoke; Asafetida; Ash; Ash, Black; Ash, Northern; Ash, American; Ash, Japanese Prickly; Aspen, Quaking; Asphodel; Astragalus; Astrogalus hoantchy; Atractylodes; Atractylodes chinensis; Atractylodes macrocephela; Atractylodes ovata; Bachelor Button; Baeckea; Bala; Balloon Vine; Balm of Copaiba; Balsam; Balsam of Peru; Balsam Pear; Bamboo, Black; Bamboo, Dwarf; Banana, Ryukyu; Bean; Beggartick, Swamp; Betel Nut; Betony; Bilberry; Bishopweed; Bistort; Blackberry (weak); Black Currant; Black Haw; Blueberry; Bottle Gourd; Brunfelsia; Burnet; Burnet, Salad (weak); Burrweed; Butcher's Broom; Buttonbush; Caesar Weed; Canary Island Tea Plant; Capers; Caroba; Carrot, Wild; Centipeda; Ceylon Spinach; Chickweed; Cleavers; Coriander; Corn; Costmary; Couchgrass (osmotic); Cucumber; Damiana; Dandelion (potent); Ginger; Gotu Kola; Ground Pine; Horehound; Joe-Pye-Weed; Lady's Bedstraw; Lovage; Lovage, Black; Meadowsweet; Parsley, Piert; Peach; Pilewort (see Amaranth); Pinks, Chinese; Poplar, Black; Poplar, Ontario; Poplar, White; Pussytoes; Sarsaparilla; Shatavari (See Asparagus); Squawvine; Szechuan Pepper (See Ash, Prickly); Turkey-Corn; Valerian, Red; Water Plantain
= Achryanthes root; Anemarrhena; Angelica; Angelica American; Arsesmart; Ashwaganda; Asparagus; Asparagus, Chinese; Asparagus, Fern; Bay; Bindweed; Birch, Common; Birch, Paper; Birch, Silver; Birch, Yellow; Bishop Flower; Blazing Star; Bogbean; Boldo; Boneset, Japanese; Borage; Broom, Dyer's; Buchu; Bugleweed; Burdock; Burnut; Butter-and-Eggs; Cashew; Cattail; Cedar, White; Celandine; Cereus, Night-Blooming; Chervil; Chicory; Clover, red; Cohosh, blue; Coltsfoot; Elder; Fennel; Figwort; Hops; Horseradish (potent); Mugwort; Nettle, Stinging; Parlsey; Sassafras; Sorrel; Stoneroot; Thistle, Blessed; Yarrow
= Achryanthes Root; Angelica; Angelica, American; Bugleweed; Burdock; Burnut; Butter-and-Eggs; Cattail; Celandine; Clover, Red; Cohosh, blue; Coltsfoot (weak); Fennel; Parsley; Yarrow
= Adonis; Alder Buckthorn; Arnica; Arrowwood; Asarabacca; Ash, Mountain; Birthwort, Frail; Belladonna, Japanese; Bittersweet, American; Black Cohosh; Bloodroot; Blue Flag; Broom, Scotch; Bryony; Cabbage, Skunk; Columbine; Pasque Flower (see Anemone); Stargrass
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©2006 by Ernestina Parziale, CH