Many plants have traditional medical uses. Ethnobotanists and pharmacognacists catalog and study these plants and uses. This is a list of some of the more common medicinal properties that are ascribed to plants. Ethnobotany is the study of the relationship between plants and people: Fromethno - study of people and botany - study of plants. ...

• Anti-catarrhal -- eliminates or counteracts mucous conditions
• Anti-coagulant -- prevent coagulation of blood
• Anti-emetic -- relieves vomiting
• Anti-inflammatory -- reduces inflammation
• Anti-microbial -- kills or slows the growth of microbes

• Anti-bacterial -- kills or slows the growth of bacteria
• Anti-fungal -- kills or slows the growth of fungi
• Anti-viral -- kills or slows the growth of viruses
• Anti-parasitic -- kills or slows the growth of parasites

• Anti-spasmodic -- suppresses smooth muscle contractions
• Astringent -- shrinks or constricts body tissues
• Carminative -- anti-spasmodic, used particularly against cramps of the digestive tract
• Cholagogue -- promotes the discharge of bile from the system
• Demulcent -- acts as a protective barrier on irritated or inflamed tissue
• Diaphoretic -- increases perspiration
• Diuretic -- elevates the rate of bodily urine excretion
• Emetic -- induces vomiting
• Emmenagogue -- stimulates blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus
• Expectorant -- loosen mucus from the respiratory tract
• Hepatic -- strengthens or regulates the secretion of bile
• Laxative -- promotes defecation
• Nervine -- has a beneficial effect upon the nervous system in some way

• Sedative -- depresses the central nervous system, causing calmness, relaxation and similar, stronger effects

• Tonic -- strengthens and improves specific organs, systems, weaknesses or the body as a whole
• Vulnerary -- used in healing or treating wounds

An anti-catarrhal is an herb (or mixture of herbs) that eliminates or counteracts mucous conditions. ... The word mucous is an adjective which means pertaining to mucus or having the qualities of mucus. ... An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents coagulation; that is, it stops blood from clotting. ... The coagulation of blood is a complex process during which blood forms solid clots. ... Human blood smear: a - erythrocytes; b - neutrophil; c - eosinophil; d - lymphocyte. ... An antiemetic is a drug that is effective against vomiting and nausea. ... Vomiting (or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of ones stomach through the mouth. ... Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation. ... Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ... An antimicrobial is a substance that kills or slows the growth of microbes like bacteria (antibacterial activity), fungi (antifungal activity), viruses (antiviral activity), or parasites (antiparasitic activity). ... A microorganism or microbe is an organism that is so small that it is microscopic (invisible to the naked eye). ... An antiseptic is a substance that kills or prevents the growth and reproduction of various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses on the external surfaces of the body. ... Subgroups Actinobacteria Aquificae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chlamydiae/Verrucomicrobia Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are a major group of living organisms. ... An antifungal drug is medication used to treat fungal infections such as athletes foot, ringworm and candidiasis (thrush), as well as serious systemic infections like cryptococcal meningitis. ... Divisions Chytridiomycota Zygomycota Ascomycota Basidiomycota The Fungi (singular: fungus) are a large group of organisms ranked as a kingdom within the Domain Eukaryota. ... Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections. ... A common alternate meaning of virus is computer virus. ... A parasite is an organism that lives in or on the living tissue of a host organism at the expense of it. ... A top-down view of skeletal muscle Muscle (from Latin musculus little mouse, referring to muscles like the biceps which pop up as though a mouse were scurrying about under the skin [1]) is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. ... An astringent is a chemical substance that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues, usually locally after topical medicinal application. ... Biological tissue is a group of cells that perform a similar function. ... A carminative, also known as carminativum ( plural: carminativa), is a medicinal drug with antispasmodic activity that is used against cramps of the digestive tract in combination with flatulence. ... A cramp is an unpleasant sensation caused by contraction, usually of a muscle. ... For the Physics term GUT, please refer to Grand unification theory The gastrointestinal or digestive tract, also referred to as the GI tract or the alimentary canal or the gut, is the system of organs within multicellular animals which takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and... Cholagogue is a substance which is added to the bile canaliculi in the alimentary canal during glyco-respiration. ... Bile (or gall) is a bitter, greenish-yellow alkaline fluid secreted by the liver of most vertebrates. ... Demulcent herbs often have a high content of mucilage, making them ideal to soothe and protect irritated or inflammed internal tissues of the body. ... This article or section seems not to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ... Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ... Biological tissue is a group of cells that perform a similar function. ... A diaphoretic is a drug which increases perspiration. ... Sweating (also called perspiration or sometimes transpiration) is the loss of a watery fluid, consisting mainly of sodium chloride and urea in solution, that is secreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals. ... A diuretic is any drug that elevates the rate of bodily urine excretion. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Vomiting (or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of ones stomach through the mouth. ... Vomiting (or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of ones stomach through the mouth. ... Emmenagogues are herbs which stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus. ... Human male pelvis, viewed from front Human female pelvis, viewed from front The pelvis is the bony structure located at the base of the spine (properly known as the caudal end). ... The uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ of most mammals, including humans. ... A cough medicine or antitussive is a medication given to people to help them stop coughing. ... Mucus is a slippery secretion of the lining of various membranes in the body (mucous membranes). ... In humans the respiratory tract is the part of the anatomy that has to do with the process of respiration or breathing. ... The liver is an organ in vertebrates including humans. ... Bile (or gall) is a bitter, greenish-yellow alkaline fluid secreted by the liver of most vertebrates. ... A laxative is a preparation used for encouraging defecation, or the expulsion of feces. ... Anatomy of the anus and rectum Defecation or feceation is the act or process by which organisms eliminate solid or semisolid waste material from the digestive tract. ... The nervous system of an animal coordinates the activity of the muscles, monitors the organs, constructs and also stops input from the senses, and initiates actions. ... A sedative is a drug that depresses the central nervous system (CNS), which causes calmness, relaxation, reduction of anxiety, sleepiness, slowed breathing, slurred speech, staggering gait, poor judgment, and slow, uncertain reflexes. ... A diagram showing the CNS: 1. ... Tonic may mean: A concept from musical harmony and musical theory: see Tonic (music); A carbonated beverage flavoured with quinine, used in cocktails: see Tonic water. ... An organ is the following: In anatomy, an organ is a group of tissues which perform some function. ... Healing is the process whereby the cells in the body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged or necrotic area. ... Superficial bullet wounds A wound is type of physical trauma wherein the skin is torn, cut or punctured (an open wound), or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion (a closed wound). ...

See also

• Alternative medicine
• Herbalism
• List of medicinal herbs