ANTITUSSIVE

Herbs with antitussive agents are cough suppressants. Herbs in this category include coltsfoot, comfrey, borehound, mullein and wild cherry bark

ANTIVENOMOUS

Antivenomous agents counteract venom, as from a snake bite. Herbs with this quality include pennyroyal and plantain

ANTIVIRAL

Antiviral agents act to destroy viruses in the body. Herbs with antiviral qualities include aloe vera, astragalus, barley, boneset, calendula, echinacea, ho-shouwu, licorice, maitake, reishi, pau d'arco, red raspberry and turmeric

APHRODISIAC

An aphrodisiac is used to help restore normal sexual potency and function and improve sexual desire. Some herbs used as aphrodisiacs include astragalus, damiana, false unicorn, fenugreek, ginseng, kava kava and saw palmetto

ASTRINGENT

An astringent acts to contract and tighten, similar to styptic. This constricting action can help eliminate secretions and hemorrhaging. Some herbs with astringent actions are amaranth, blackberry root, black walnut, capsicum, elecampane, ephedra, fenugreek, horsetail, hydrangea, mullein, oak bark, queen of the meadow, St. John wort, slippery elm and witch hazel

BITTER

An agent that acts on the mucous membranes in the mouth to promote appetite and encourage digestion. Herbs in this category include alfalfa, blackberry, blessed thistle, bugleweed, chaparral, chinchona, eyebright, feverfew, gentian, licorice, quassia, watercress, wild cherry and wild lettuce

BLOOD PURIFIER

Agents that clean and remove impurities from the blood, similar to depurative. Examples of blood purifiers include birch, buckthorn, calendula, centaury, couch grass, dandelion, plantain and watercress

CARMINATIVE

Herbs which can help eliminate gas from the stomach and intestine are considered carminatives. Some of the herbs commonly used are angelica root, capsicum, caraway seeds, catnip, chamomile flowers, echinacea, fennel, ginger, hops, lemon balm, parsley root, peppermint, saffron and valerian

CHOLAGOGUE

This herb property increases the flow of bile which aids digestion, as well as acting as a mild laxative. Herbs which are used for this purpose are aloe vera, barberry, culver</R>s root, dandelion, goldenseal, hops, licorice, Oregon grape root and wild yam

DECONGESTANT

An agent that relieves congestion in the upper respiratory tract. Herbs with decongestant properties include ephedra, lobelia, pennyroyal, valerian and yerba santa

DEMULCENT

These herbs work internally to help soothe and protect the mucous membranes in the body. Some herbs with this property are aloe vera, burdock, chickweed, comfrey, echinacea, fenugreek, flaxseed, Irish moss, kelp, licorice, marshmallow, mullein, oatstraw and psyllium

DIAPHORETIC

Diaphoretic herbs help the body produce perspiration to help the skin eliminate toxins, similar to sudorific. Herbs with diaphoretic properties include angelica, blue vervain, boneset, borage, butchers broom, capsicum, catnip, chamomile, elder flowers, elecampane, ephedra, garlic, hyssop, lemon balm leaves and yarrow.

DIGESTIVE

Digestives promote or aid in the digestion process. Such herbs include anise, capsicum, centaury, echinacea, garlic, horseradish, mustard, papaya, safflower and sage

DIURETIC

A diuretic is used to increase the flow of urine to relieve water retention. Some herbs used for this purpose are alfalfa, blue cohosh, buchu leaves, burdock, butchers broom, damiana, dandelion, devil</R>s claw, false unicorn, fennel, hawthorn, horsetail, hydrangea, juniper berries, lily-of-the-valley, marshmallow, parsley, queen of the meadow, saw palmetto and uva ursi

EMETIC

An emetic is used to induce vomiting. Emetic herbs include bayberry, boneset, buckthorn, culver, false unicorn, lobelia, mandrake, mistletoe, mustard seed, pleurisy, quassia, rue and senega

EMMENAGOGUE

Herbs with emmenagogue properties promote menstrual flow. Some herbs which help with this situation are angelica, aloe vera, black cohosh, blue cohosh, gentian, ginger, goldenseal, horsetail, juniper berries, mistletoe, myrrh, pennyroyal and saffron

ESTROGENIC

Estrogenic herbs promote or produce estrus. Herbs with estrogenic properties include blue cohosh, dong quai, false unicorn, fennel and licorice

EXPECTORANT

Expectorants help the body expel mucus from the lungs, nose and throat. Herbs used for this purpose include anise seed, blue cohosh, blue vervain, comfrey root, elder flowers, elecampane root, ephedra, flaxseed, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, horehound, hyssop, Irish moss, licorice, lobelia, marshmallow, mullein leaves, slippery elm, wild cherry bark and yerba santa leaves

FEBRIFUGE

Herbs with this property help reduce fevers, similar to refrigerant and antipyretic. Some febrifuges are bilberry, boneset, borage, buckthorn, catnip, chamomile, elder flowers, fenugreek, garlic, gentian, ginger, hyssop, pleurisy root, sarsaparilla, white willow bark and wormwood

GALACTAGOGUE

Herbs with galactagogue properties stimulate lactation in women. herbs in this category include anise, basil, blessed thistle, borage, fenugreek, horsetail and vervain

GERMICIDE

Germicides are known for their ability to destroy germs and other microorganisms. Herbs in this category include cloves, eucalyptus and tea tree

HEPATIC

These herbs help to strengthen, tone, and increase bile flow to promote normal liver function. Some herbs with hepatic properties are barberry bark, cascara sagrada, dandelion root, gentian, goldenseal, horseradish, mandrake root, milk thistle, olive oil, Oregon grape, parsley, queen of the meadow and rhubarb

HEMOSTATIC

Hemostatics stop blood flow by acting as antihemorrhagic agents. Herbs in this category include bistort, blackberry, bugleweed, calendula, nettle, periwinkle, shepherds purse and witch hazel

IMMUNOSTIMULANTS

Immunostimulants enhance or boost the body's natural defense against illness and disease. Herbs with this ability include astragalus, barley, dong quai, kombucha, maitake, queen of the meadow, reishi and shiitake

INSECTICIDE

Insecticides are used to kill insects. An example of an herb with this ability is bayberry

LITHOTRIPTIC

These are herbs which help dissolve and eliminate urinary stones from the body. They include buchu leaves butchers broom, cascara sagrada, cornsilk, dandelion devils claw, horsetail, marshmallow, parsley, queen of the meadow, uva ursi and white oak bark

MUCILANT

Herbs that are considered mucilants have mucilage properties which have a soothing and demulcent effect. They coat and protect mucous membranes from irritations. Mucilants have a wide variety of applications including coughs, sore throats, and irritated stomach bowels, bladder and kidneys. They can also be used for laxatives, cream and ointments because of their soothing effects. Mucilant herbs include aloe vera, chickweed coltsfoot, comfrey, flaxseed, Iceland moss, marshmallow plantain, psyllium seed and slippery elm

NARCOTIC

Herbs with narcotic agents can be used to soothe intractable pain or to induce anesthesia. Herbs with these agents should be used carefully. They include bugleweed, guarana and wild lettuce. Herbs that can be used to counteract narcotic effects include alfalfa (for addiction) and marjoram and mustard (for poisoning)

NEPHRITIC

These are used in healing kidney problems. Herbs with nephritic properties include buchu leaves, couch grass root, goldenseal, horsetail, hydrangea, juniper berries, Oregon grape and queen of the meadow root

NERVINE

Nervine herbs help soothe, calm and nourish the nervous system. Some of the nervine herbs are black cohosh, blue vervain, boneset, catnip, chamomile, cramp bark. damiana, gotu kola, hops, lady's slipper, lemon balm, lobelia, oatraw, passion flower, skullcap, valerian root and wood betony.

NUTRITIVE

Nutritive agents nourish the body.  Herbs iwth nutritive properties include alfalfa, amaranth, barley, bee pollen, chickweed, comfrey, guarana, Iceland moss, Irish moss, kelp, marshmallow, nettle, oatstraw, papaya, pumpkin, red clover, rose hips, slippery elm, suma, watercress and yellow dock.

OXYTOCIC

these are herbs which help stimulate uterine contractions to assit and induce a safe labor and delivery.  Herbs with oxytocic properties are black cohosh, blue cohosh, pennyroyal and red raspberry.

PARASITICIDE

parasiticidic herbs are those that destroy parasites in the body.   Herbs with parasticidic agents include chaparral, feverfew, figwort, horseradish, mandrake, papaya, parsley, peach, pennyroyal, plantain, pumpkin, rhubarb, sage, thyme, vervain, wild cherry and wood betony.

PECTORAL

Pectoral agents give relief and rememdy pulmonary and other respiriatory conditions.  Examples of pectorals are chickweed, coltsfoot, couch grass, hyssop, Iceland moss and wild cherry.

PURGATIVE

A cathartic or purgative herbis used for purging and stimulating the action of evacuating the bowels.  this action may be mild or strong depending on the need.  Purgatives and cathartics are similar to aperients and laxatives, which are mild purgative used to relieve constipation.  Herbs considered to be purgative included aloe vera, barberry bark, boneset, buckthorn bark, cascara sagrada, elder flowers, goldenseal, mandrake, Oregon grape root, psyllium, rhubarb root and senna leaves.

RUBEFACIENT

hers with rubefacient properties are reddening agens that help to increase the flow of the blood to the surface of the skin to aid in healing in cases such as sprains and muscle soreness.  Some herbs used for this purpose include camphor, capsicum, cloves, eucalyptus, galric, ginger, horseradish, mustard seed, peppermint oil, pine oil, stinging nettle and thyme oil.

SEDATIVE

Sedative herbs are used to relieve irritability and promote calm and tranquil feelings.  Some are catnip, chamomile, cramp bark, dong quai, hawthron, hops, kava kava, lady's slipper, lobelia, passion flower, red clovers, St. John's wort, schizandra, skullcap, valerian and wood betony.

SIALOGUGE

Herbs with this property help to promote the flow and secretion of saliva to aid in the diegestion of starches.  Some herbs include bayberry, capsicum, echinacea, gentian, ginger, horseradish, hydrangea, licorice, prickly ash, rhubarb and yerba santa.

STIMULANT

These herbs help to inrease the function of the body energy leels, circulation, and help eliminate toxins.  herbs with stimulant properties are angelica, boneset, capsicum, damiana, devil's claw, echinacea, elder flowers, elecampane, ephedra, false unicorn, garlic, gentian, ginger, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, ho-shou-wu, milk thistle, prickley ash bark, saffron, sarsaparilla root and suma.

STOMACHIC

Stomachics strengthen and tone the stomach.  herbs in the stomachic category included agrimony, anise, barberry, basil, caraway, celery, chinchina, cloves, dandelion, gentian, ginseng, gymnema, hops, horseradish, papaya, peach, pennyroyal, quassia, rhubarb, rosehips and watercress.

VASOCONSTRICTOR

Herbs with vasoldilating agents expand the blood vessels and lower blood pressure.  Herbs in this category included fever few, hawthorn and ho-shou-wu.

VULNERARY

Herbs with vulnerary properties are used to help promote the healing of wounds, cuts and abrasions.  some used are aloe vera, black walnut, burdock, capsicum, fenugreek, flaxseed, garlic, gentian, goldenseal, hops, horsetail, mullein, oatstraw and plantain leaves.

Taken in part from the Today's Herbal Health - Louise Tenney