Our glossary explains many of the terms used or processes described in our site, such as in our home remedies, in greater detail.
Acidic
A chemical substance with a sour taste and pungent odour that turns the blue litmus's paper to red and which, in combination with a base, forms a salt. To be acidic, a substance must have a pH between 0 and 7.0.
Acuminata
Leaf with a thin toe.
Albuminuria
Presence of proteins in urine.
Alkene
Dry fruit with a single seed, not adhering to the pericarp.
Allopathic
A term introduced by the German physician Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann, designating the methods of classical drug therapy, using active pharmacodynamic doses to combat causation, pathogenic changes and disease symptoms.
Anaerobic
Who lives without consuming oxygen in the atmospheric air.
Analeptics
Central nervous system stimulants.
Analgesic
A drug substance that is administered for the pain-reducing or stopping effect.
Analgesics
Active principles that have the property of suppressing or diminishing the sensation of pain.
Analgetics
Active principles that have the property of suppressing or diminishing the sensation of pain.
Angina
Affection characterized by pain.
Angiocolitis
Inflammation of the gall bladder as a result of hepatic lithiasis or infectious diseases.
Anorexia
Severe lack of appetite.
Antidiabetics
Plant species with hypoglycemic action used as adjuvants in the treatment of diabetes.
Antidiarrheals
Herbal preparations with a high content in Tanin which by their astringent action precipitates proteins in the intestinal content, being used as adjuvants in the treatment of acute inflammatory diseases of the intestine.
Antiemetics
Active herbal substances that have the property of attenuating or removing nausea and vomiting by acting through several pharmacodynamic mechanisms.
Antihistamine
A class of medicines often used to relieve symptoms of allergies, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, conjunctivitis and insect bites.
Antiphlogistics
Plant species that have the property of reducing inflammation due to the presence of active principles.
Antiscorbutics
An ancient name for some species of plate that were used to combat scorbutus due to non-nutritional nutrition generally lacking in vitamins.
Antiseptics
Or antimicrobial. There are numerous plant species that contain either antibiotics or substances of another nature that have the property of destroying the microorganisms found on living animal tissue.
Antispasmodics
Active herbal substances that diminish or remove smooth muscle contractions from internal organs.
Aphrodisiacs
Species that stimulate sexual appetite.
Appetisers
Plant species that due to the active principles they contain they have the property of stimulating salivary secretions by reflex or direct gastric and intestinal secretions.
Aromatherapy
Therapy by ingestion, body massage or inhalation of essential oils or aromatic essences. aromatherapy is a branch of phytotherapy, treating diseases by plant-derived products.
Aromatic
Medicinal herbs containing volatile oils with specific pharmacodynamic action.
Arteritis
Inflammation or degeneration of the arteries.
Arthritis
Acute, subacute or chronic inflammation of the joints due to trauma or chronic infection.
Ascites
Fluid accumulation in the abdomen.
Asphyxia
Suffocation due to choking, strangulation, inhalation of toxic gases as a symptom of some diseases.
Astringents
Plants with local haemostatic action through the protein precipitation phenomenon.
Atherosclerosis
Affection that is characterized by the deposition of atheromas on the arterial walls of the kidney, brain, heart, and usually associated with arteriosclerosis.
Bactericidal
Substances that kill bacteria.
Behic
Plant species used as antitussive.
Bilabiate
Corolla type consisting of 2 labia.
Biliary
Gall bladder disorders.
Biodegradable
"Under the action of microorganisms in the presence of oxygen, decomposition of an organic chemical component into carbon dioxide, water and mineral salts of the other elements present (mineralization) and the emergence of a new biomass. In the absence of oxygen, decomposition into carbon dioxide, methane, mineral salts and the creation of a new biomass. according to SR EN 13432: 2002.
Bitter
Plant species that due to the active principles they contain they have the property of stimulating salivary secretions by reflex or direct gastric and intestinal secretions.
Bouquet
More flowers arranged and tied together.
Bracts
Modified leaves to protect some of the inflorescences.
Bradycardia
Physiological or pathological condition characterized by the frequency of heart beats and pulse respectively.
Bradypnea
Slow breathing.
Bulb
The underground strain formed by a disk from which the leaf leaves the deposit role.
Calyx
External floral wrap, made up of sepals totality.
Capsule
Dry dehiscent fruit that comes from a pluricarpelar ovary.
Cardiac
Regarding the heart.
Cardiorenal
Affections that involve concurrently the heart and kidney involvement.
Carminative
Plant species favoring the elimination of gas from the intestines.
Caryopsis
Dry indecisive fruit to which the pericarp adheres to the seed.
Cathartic
Purgatory strong.
Choleretic
Plants or active substances that stimulate secretions of liver cells and implicitly the volume of bile secreted.
Cima
Inflorescence consisting of different axes of order and ages.
Citric Acid
Tricarboxylic acid present as a colorless powder with a sour taste, slightly soluble in water.
Colitis
Large intestine diseases.
Conditions
Diseases of various organs or systems.
Congenital
Which is at the moment of birth.
Conidiophores
Pedicel bearer of conidia.
Corolla
The second floral cover, made up of the petals.
Coryza
Inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
Cystitis
Bladder inflammation.
Diaphoretic
Plant species that have the property of increasing sweat.
Diuretics
Plant species or pure active substances that act on the kidney epithelium by increasing the amount of urine eliminated over time.
Dyspepsia
Functional Digestive Disorders.
Dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing.
Dysuria
Difficulty in evacuating the bladder that occurs following a prostate adenoma, narrowing of the urethra or insufficient bladder muscle contraction.
Edema
Liquid accumulation in the intercellular space.
Emarginate
With the stirring tip.
Emetics
Plant species or pure active substances that act against vomiting.
Emollient
Plant species that by their active substances relax the tissues and diminish the inflammation.
Enuresis
Emission of involuntary and unconscious urine (generally nocturnal) in a child aged between 2 and 4 years.
Estrogen
Feminine hormones.
Expectorant
Plant species that favor expectoration.
Exuding
It is the secretion product that is formed during an inflammatory process of mucous membranes and various tissues of the body. It is rich in albumin and is formed by passing the serum through the vessel walls into neighboring tissues.
Family (Plant Family)
A plant family is a collection of plants, grouped together, which share characteristics. Plants can be categorised by features such as appearance, their fruits, seeds (their size and number and whether they have a barry or capsule), the location of the seed pods, the shape of their flowers and so on, to illustrate their relationship to one another.
Fibrosis
Exaggerated development of connective tissue.
Filiform
Thin, thread-like.
Flatulence
Swallowing air with saliva or with food, resulting in stomach distention, bloating and epigastric gas.
Flavonoids
Class of secondary metabolites of the plants, known for their antioxidant properties.
Gastritis
Inflammation of the stomach lining.
Glomerule
Blooming made of flowers arranged very compact.
Gonorrhea
Gonococcal genital infection.
Headache
Long or intermittent pain of parts of the head often accompanied by other symptoms.
Hemoptysis
Removal of blood through cough, caused by a haemorrhage of the airways, especially in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Hemostatic
That stops haemorrhaging.
Hepatomegaly
Enlargement of the liver, palpably under the right ribs.
Hermaphrodite
A flower that has both stamens and pistil.
Hormone
A substance secreted by an endocrine gland, released into the bloodstream and intended to act specifically on one or more target organs in order to modify their function.
Hull
The lower part of the pulp flower, coming from the welding of two petals.
Hull
Long elongated fruit that opens on two lines.
Hydopsy
Water retention in tissues.
Hypercholesterolemic
Excess cholesterol in blood.
Hyperhidrosis
Excessive sweating.
Hypermenorea
Menstrual abundance.
Hypnotics
Substances that favor the installation of sleep.
Incontinence
Involuntary removal from the body of feces, urine or milk.
Infection
Invasion by microorganisms, localized or generalized, that by multiplication (with or without the secretion of toxins) leads to damage to the organism in question.
Inflammation
Immune response to an infection, irritation or injury.
Infusions
Aqueous solutions obtained by boiling plants for the purpose of extracting the active principles they contain.
Intestinal Flora
The totality of the germs that normally exists in the intestine.
Involucre
A group of bracts that surrounds and protects some inflorescences.
Lanceolate
Sharpened, spear-shaped.
Latex
Milky juice.
Laxative
Light purgative.
Leaflets
Components of composite leaves that catch on a common shaft.
Meteorism
Accumulation of gas in the intestine leading to abdominal volume growth, present in digestive organic diseases and in functional diseases (only digestive function is impaired).
Metritis
Inflammation of the uterus.
Metrorrhagia
Uterine bleeding between menstrual periods.
Micturition
Natural emission of urine by evacuation through the bladder.
Multisperm
Fruit with many seeds.
Mycelium
All the filaments of a mushroom.
Myocardial Infarction
Necrosis of a region of the myocardium (the heart muscle) as a result of a sudden obstruction of a coronary artery.
Narcotic
General anesthetic.
Nectarios
Formation that secretes nectar.
Nephritis
Inflammation of the kidney.
Nocturia
Night urinary incontinence.
Panic Attacks
Feelings of fear or intense anxiety, suddenly occurring, causing acceleration of heart rate, rapid and short breathing, loss of control.
Panicle
Composed inflorescence, consisting of a spoonful of spicules.
Parenchym
Sponge-like tissue, crossed by many vessels, made up of organ-specific tissue elements.
Pectoral Angina
Affection manifested by pain in the region of the heart or retrosternal that radiates in the left arm and that usually is accompanied by fear.
Peduncle
Cylindrical portion of flower or fruit support.
Perennial
Who lives and carries for many years, having a persistent root from which a new strain develops every spring.
Pericarp
The ensemble of tissues that make up the wall of the fruit.
Pharmacopoeias
Book that describdrugs, chemicals, and medicinal preparations.
Photophobia
Excessive sensitivity to light.
Phytotherapy
A science-based medical practice and thus is distinguished from other, more traditional approaches, such as medical herbalism, which relies on an empirical appreciation of medicinal herbs and which is often linked to traditional knowledge.
Pituitary Gland
A small organ in the form of a pea, located at the base of the brain, near the base of the nasal bridge.
Pneumothorax
Penetration of the air into the pleural cavity due to perforation of the lung or chest wall.
Retrosternally
Which is behind the sternum.
Rhizome
Cylindrical underground stem.
Sebum
Yellowish-white substance, mostly made of lipids (predominantly triglyceride type). Sebum lubricates the skin, protects it from humidity and dryness, maintains its suppleness and participates in the protection against microbes (bacteria and microscopic fungi).
Secretions
Liquid or solid products resulting from glandular cell activity.
Septic
Infected with microbes; which causes infection.
Sheath
The base part of the leaf that catches the stem.
Syndrome
All the signs and symptoms that appear together in the course of a disease, giving it a distinctive mark.
Vermifuge
Agent that destroys or expels parasitic worms.
Volatile
Substance that evaporates slightly at ordinary temperatures; volatilizable.