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.

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♠ = 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
NARCOTIC	A possibly habit-forming agent which produces sleep/stupor while relieving pain when taken in therapeutic doses, but in large doses, produces convulsions, coma, or death	Turkey-Corn ♣ = Bay; Bead Tree (weak); Bogbean; Celandine; Poppy ♥ = Celandine ♠ = Aconite; Belladonna; Belladonna, Japanese; Black Cohosh (slightly); Boxwood; Broom, Scotch; Calabar Bean
NERVINE	Soothes; reduces nervousness, emotional distress, and apprehension. Same as Sedative or Tranquilizer	See SEDATIVE
NUTRITIVE	Supplying food value in the form of vitamins and/or minerals	Adder's Tongue; Alaria; Barley; Cabbage; Chickweed; Cucumber; Currant, Red (see Black Currant); Pilewort (see Amaranth); Slippery Elm ♣ = Alfalfa; Cashew; Cattail ♥ = Cattail

©2006 by Ernestina Parziale, CH