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NATUROPATHIC NETWORK
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Adaptogen (action) helps the body to adapt to stress or change from any source.
Allopathy \Al*lop"a*thy\, n. [Gr. ? other + ? suffering, ?, ?, to suffer: cf. G. allopathie, F. allopathie. See {Pathos}.] That system of medical practice which aims to combat disease by the use of remedies which produce effects different from those produced by the special disease treated; -- a term invented by Hahnemann to designate the ordinary practice, as opposed to homoeopathy. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
An allopath is Naturopathic speak for your orthodox medico ... the view is they work against disease rather than promoting the body's defence mechanism to rid itself of disease - comes back to the philosophy of the Naturopath (but as stated in the definition it is actually a term coined by the father of Homoeopathy). (Editors comment)
Alterative (action) improves the elimination of metabolic waste and in so doing restores normal body functions. (See also depurative).
Analgesic (action) relieves pain when administered orally or topically. In naturopathic medicine the philosophy is to remove the source of the pain rather than suppress pain.
Anaphrodisiac (action) reduces sexual function and desire.
Anodyne (action) reduces, soothes, or eases pain.
Antacid (action) neutralizes stomach acid.
Anthelmintic (action) used to expel or destroy parasitic worms in the gastro-intestinal tract.
Antiarthritic (action) relieves and heals arthritic conditions.
Anticatarrhal (action) reduces catarrh or excess mucous.
Anti-coagulant (action) slows or prevents blood clotting.
Antidote (action) counteracts or neutralizes a poison.
Anti-lithic (action) prevents the formation of calculi or gravel (stones) in the urinary system.
Anti-mitotic (action) inhibits cell division.
Anti-neoplastic (action) inhibits or destroys tumours.
Antipyretic (action) prevents or reduces fever (as per febrifuge).
Antiscorbutic (action) prevents or cures scurvy.
Antiseptic (action) prevents, resists, and counteracts infection.
Antispasmodic (action) reduces or prevents excessive muscular spasm (as per spasmolytic).
Anti-sudorific (action) stops or prevents sweating.
Antitussive (action) relieves or reduces coughing.
Aperient (action) provides a mild laxative affect.
Aphrodisiac (action) increases sexual arousal/interest.
Aromatic a substance that has an aroma.
Astringent (action) makes tissues firmer and reduces discharge.
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Balsamic a substance that contains resins and benzoic acid and is used to treat colds and abrasions.
Bitter a substance with a bitter taste that causes the secretion of gastric juices through reflex and thus aiding digestion.
Bronchodilator (action) increases the diameter of the air passages to the lungs.
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Cardio-active (action) acts on the heart in some way.
Carminative (action) improves digestion and relieves flatus and colic.
Cathartic (action) causes evacuation of the bowels.
Cholagogue (action) stimulates or aids the release of bile from the gall bladder.
Choleretic (action) stimulates the production of bile in the liver.
Counterirritant (action) topically applied increases circulation to the area and provides temporary relief of deep seated painful irritations.
Cooling (action) a substance that reduces temperature and cools the skin.
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Demulcent (action) soothing and protective to irritated tissues surfaces.
Deobstruent (action) removes obstructions from the body by opening normal channels of elimination.
Depurative (action) promotes elimination via natural channels of the body.
Detergent (action) cleanses either internally or externally.
Diaphoretic (action) causes sweating and increases elimination via the skin often used to aid in fever management.
Diuretic (action) increases the secretion and flow of urine.
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Emetic (action) induces vomiting.
Emmenagogue (action) promotes menstruation.
Emollient (action) softens, soothes, and protects the skin.
Expectorant (action) promotes the removal of excess mucus from the lungs and air passages (see Relaxing and Stimulating Expectorant).
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Febrifuge (action) reduces fever (as per antipyretic).
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Galactogogue (action) increases or promotes the flow of breast milk.
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Haemostatic (action) reduces or stops bleeding (as per styptic).
Hepatic (action) strengthens, tones and stimulates bile secretions, improving liver function.
"herbalism is any system of medicine or health-care that relies on plants as the source of remedies; as seen principally: (1) in almost all cultures prior to the impact of the Industrial Revolution, mostly as a self-help therapy but exemplified in the hands of locally-trained rural practitioners; and (2) as a substantial modern alternative to conventional drug-based medicine. In most countries traditional and modern usages coexist; thus herbalism today's is based on remedies and techniques tried and tested through generations of use, but increasingly re-evaluated in the light of modern medical refinements. A key feature of herbalism is that remedies are used to support and modify disturbed body functions, rather than to directly attack the symptoms of disease." Mills
Homoeopathy is a system of medicine which is able to address both acute and chronic disease. This system is based on the theory that "like cures like". This law was discovered Dr Samuel Hahnemann in 1796, who was a German scientists. For the last 200 or so years this law has been verified both clinically and experimentally, although the scientific community is still out to lunch on a final call! Homoeopathy is a safe, gentle, and an effective system of medicine. Its remedies are derived from natural substances to a precise standard and work by invigorating and stimulating the body's own healing powers.
It’s name is derived from two Greek words meaning, similar suffering.
Hydrogogue (action) acts to remove accumulations of water or serum.
Hypolipidaemic (action) lowers blood lipid levels.
Hypotensive (action) reduces blood pressure.
Hypnotic (action) induces sleep.
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Insecticide (action) kills insects.
Irritant (action) any agent that causes irritation of tissue.
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Law of Similars A natural law. Hahnemann defines it’s use as "let likes be cured with likes". This means that a medicine can cure a disease if it is able to produce in a healthy person symptoms similar to those of the disease.
Laxative (action) aids in evacuation of the bowels or softens stools.
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medical herbalism the term used to denote the professional practice of herbalism in Australia by the NHAA
Mydriatic (action) dilates the pupils.
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Narcotic (action) causes stupour and complete loss of awareness.
Nephritic (action) has an action on the kidneys.
Nervine (action) used to restore nerves to their natural state - tones and strengthens the nervous system.
Nutritive (action) nourishes the body.
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Oxytocic (action) stimulates uterine contractions as per the action of the hormone oxytocin.
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Parasiticide (action) destroys parasites internally and externally.
Paturient (action) facilitates childbirth.
Pectoral (action) strengthens and improves function of chest and lungs.
"phytotherapy a term used in continental Europe and increasingly in the U.K. to denote the use of plant remedies in medicine; favoured especially by those who wish to emphasize the modern potential of traditional remedies, and likely to feature more in scientific and legislative circles." Mills
Purgative (action) evacuates the bowels (generally considered to be more severe than aperient and laxatives).
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Refrigerant (action) relieves thirst and reduces body temperature.
Resolvent (action) reduces swellings.
Rubefacient (action) reddens the skin by increasing blood flow to an area. Relieves congestion and inflammation of deeper tissues.
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Sedative (action) relaxes and reduces nerve conditions.
Sialogogue (action) promotes secretion and flow of saliva.
Soporific (action) promotes sleep (as per hypnotic).
Spasmolytic (action) counteracts or relieves muscle spasm (as per antispasmodic).
Sternutatory (action) causes sneezing by irritating the mucous membranes of the nasal passages.
Stimulant (action) increases functional activity and energy in the body or an organ.
Stomachic (action) relieves stomach pain.
Styptic (action) stops bleeding when applied externally.
Sudorific (action) induces sweating.
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Taeniacide (action) expels tapeworms from the body.
Thymoleptic (action) tones or restores the nervous system as well as stimulating and engendering a feeling of well-being.
Tonic (action) improves the function of, energizes and tones the body or particular tissues or organs.
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Vasoconstrictor (action) causes the constriction of blood vessels.
Vasodilator (action) causes the dilation of blood vessels.
Vermifuge (action) expels or destroys worms (as per anthelmintic).
Vesicant (action) similar to rubefacient - causes blistering when applied to the skin.
Vulnerary (action) hastens the healing of wounds.
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