Medicinal Herbal

The Actions of Herbs

On this page a list of actions has been put together and the most useful representatives in each category indicated. The more important of the herbs are underlined. They are in alphabetical order, not necessarily in order of importance. More information can be found in The Herbs, where the actions of each herb are given.

 

Alteratives

These are herbs that will gradually restore the proper function of the body, improving health and vitality. These herbs were once known as “blood cleansers”.

Blue Flag, Burdock, Cleavers, Echinacea, Figwort, Oregon Grape, Nettle, Red Clover, Sarsaparilla, Yellow Dock. Bladder wrack, Garlic, Golden Seal, Poke Root, Sassafras, Wild Indigo

 

Analgesic

These herbs reduce pain taken internally or applied externally. Passion Flower, Skullcap, St John’s Wort, White Willow Bark, Valerian

 

Anthelmintics

These herbs will kill or expel worms from the digestive system.

Aloe, Black Walnut Hull, Garlic, Tansy, Thuja, Wormwood,

 

Anti-Bilious

These herbs help the body to remove excess bile and can be beneficial in cases of biliary and jaundice.

Balmony, Barberry, Dandelion, Golden Seal, Vervain, Mugwort, Wild Yam, Wormwood

 

Anti-Catarrhal

These herbs help remove excess catarrhal build-up, in the sinuses or elsewhere in the body.

Boneset, Echinacea, Eyebright, Garlic, Golden Seal, Golden Rod, Hyssop, Mullein, Sage, Wild Indigo, Yarrow, Bearberry, Cayenne, Coltsfoot, Elder, Elecampane, Irish Moss, Marshmallow, Peppermint, Thyme

 

Anti-Emetic

These herbs help to relieve or prevent vomiting as well as reduce the feeling of nausea,

Meadowsweet, Lemon Balm, Cayenne, Cloves, Dill, Fennel, Lavender

 

Anti-Inflammatory

These herbs combat inflammation.

Chamomile, Devil’ Claw, Marigold, St John’s Wort, Turmeric, White Willow, Meadowsweet, Witch Hazel

 

Anti-Lithic

The anti-lithic herbs prevent the formation of stones or gravel in the urinary system and can help the body remove them.

Gravel Root, Hydrangea, Stone Root,

 

Anti-Microbial

These herbs help the body destroy or resist pathogenic microorganisms.

Clove, Echinacea, Elderberry, Olive Leaf, Wild Indigo, Wormwood, Anise, Bearberry, caraway, Cayenne, Coriander, Elecampane, Garlic, Gentian, Juniper, Marigold, Marjoram, Myrrh, Peppermint, Rosemary, Thyme.

 

Astringent

These herbs contract tissues, reducing secretions and discharges.

Agrimony, Bayberry, Beth Root, Witch Hazel, Bearberry, Eyebright, Golden Rod, Kola, Meadowsweet, Oak Bark, Periwinkle, Plantain, Rhubarb Root, Rosemary, Slippery Elm, St John’s Wort, Wild Cherry, Yarrow.

 

Bitter

Herbs that taste bitter stimulate the digestive system through a reflex through the taste buds,

Barberry, Centaury, Gentian, Golden Seal, Hops, Tansy, Wormwood. Boneset, Chamomile, White Horehound, Yarrow.

 

Cardiac Tonic

Cardiac tonics effect the heart. Their specific function can be found in The Herbs section. Lily of the Valley, Hawthorn, Motherwort, Night Blooming Cereus

 

Carminative

The carminative herbs, rich in volatile oils, stimulate peristalsis of the digestive, relaxing the stomach, supporting digestion and helping alleviate gas in the digestive track.

Angelica, Anise, Caraway, Dill, Peppermint, Lemon Balm, Cardamon, Cayenne, Cinnamon, Chamomile, Coriander, Fennel, Garlic, Ginger, Hyssop, Juniper, Thyme, Valerian.

 

Cholagogue

The cholagogues stimulate the release of bile from the Gall bladder, which can be very beneficial for Gall-bladder problems. The increase in the amount of bile in the duodenum also produces a laxative effect.

Balmony, Barberry, Wild Yam, Blue Flag, Boldo, Dandelion, Gentian, Golden Seal, Oregon Grape

 

Demulcent

These herbs, mostly rich in mucilage, sooth and protect irritated or inflamed internal tissue.

Comfrey, Irish Moss, Marshmallow, Slippery Elm, Coltsfoot, Corn silk, Couchgrass, Flax Seed, Licorice, Mullein, oats,

 

Diaphoretic

These herbs promote perspiration and aid the body in the elimination of toxins.

Boneset, Cayenne, Elder, Garlic, Ginger, Peppermint, Pleurisy Root, Prickly Ash, Yarrow, Angelica, Bayberry, Buchu,

Chamomile, Fennel, Linden, Thuja, Thyme, White Horehound

 

Diuretic

These herbs increase the secretion and elimination of urine.

Bearberry, Boneset, Buchu, Cleavers, Corn Silk, Couchgrass, Dandelion, Gravel Root, Juniper, Lily of the Valley, Parsley, Yarrow.

 

Emetic

Emetics cause vomiting. Most of these herbs only cause vomiting only in high dosage. Safe dosages are given in The Herbs section.

Lobelia, Blood Root, Boneset, Elder Flowers.

 

Emmenagogue

These herbs both stimulate and normalize menstrual flow. The term is often used in the wider context of tonics for the female reproductive system.

Beth Root, Black Cohosh, Black Haw, Blessed Thistle, Blue Cohosh, Fenugreek, Gentian, Ginger, Golden Seal, Juniper Berry, Marigold, Motherwort, Parsley,

Pennyroyal, Peppermint, Raspberry,

Rosemary, Squaw Vine, Tansy, Vervain, Wormwood, Yarrow.

 

Emollient

Emollients are applied to the skin to soften, sooth or protect it.

Chickweed, Comfrey, Fenugreek, Flax Seed, Marshmallow, Plantain, Slippery Elm, Borage, Coltsfoot, Elecampane, Licorice, Mullein.

 

Expectorant

These herbs support the body in the removal of excess mucus from the respiratory system.

Anise, Blood Root, Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Elecampane, Grindelia, Hyssop, Licorice, Lobelia, Mullein, White Horehound, Elder Flower, Garlic, Golden Seal, Irish Moss, Marshmallow, Pleurisy Root, Thuja, Thyme, Vervain.

 

Febrifuge (Anti-Pyretic)

These herbs help to reduce fever.

Angelica, Boneset, Cayenne, Elder Flower, Pennyroyal, Peppermint, Lemon Balm, Blessed Thistle, Borage, Hyssop, Pleurisy Root, Prickly Ash, Raspberry, Thyme, Vervain.

 

Galactogogue

These herbs help the nursing mother increase the flow of milk.

Anise, Blessed Thistle, Centaury, Fennel, Vervain

 

Hepatic

These herbs tone and strengthen the Liver and increase the flow of bile.

Balmony, Barberry, Blue Flag, Centaury, Dandelion, Golden Seal, Oregon Grape, Wild Yam, Boldo, Cascara Sagrada, Celery, Cleavers, Elecampane, Fennel, Gentian, Horseradish, Hyssop, Hyssop, Motherwort, Prickly Ash, Wild Indigo, Wormwood, Yarrow, Yellow Dock.

 

Hypnotic

These herbs will induce sleep.

California poppy, Hops, Passion Flower, Valerian, Mistletoe, Skullcap, Wild Lettuce.

 

Laxative

These herbs promote the evacuation of the bowels.

Barberry, Buckthorn, Cascara Sagrada, Dandelion, Rhubarb Root, Senna Leaf, Yellow Dock, Balmony, Burdock, Flax Seed, Oregon Grape,

 

Nervine

Nervines have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, toning and strengthening it. Some act as stimulants, some as relaxants.

(see The Herbs section for details)

Black Cohosh, Black Haw,

Blue Cohosh, Chamomile, Cramp Bark, Damiana, Ginseng, Hops, Kola, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Linden, Lobelia, Mistletoe, Motherwort, Passion Flower, Peppermint, Red Clover, Rosemary, Skullcap, Valerian, Vervain, Wild Lettuce.

 

Oxytocic

The Oxytocics stimulate the contraction of the uterus. This can be helpful in childbirth.

Blue Cohosh, Golden Seal, Squaw Vine, Beth Root.

 

Pectoral

These herbs have a strengthening and healing effect on the respiratory system.

Blood Root, Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Elecampane, Golden Seal, Licorice, Mullein, Angelica, Anise, Elder, Garlic, Hyssop, Irish Moss, Marshmallow, Pleurisy Root, Vervain, White Horehound

 

Rubefacient

Rubefacient, when applied to the skin, cause a mild local irritation and dilation of the capillaries. Blood is drawn from deeper parts of the body into the skin to fill these expanded capillaries and often relieves internal pain.

Cayenne, Ginger, Horseradish, Garlic, Nettles, Peppermint oil, Rosemary oil,.

 

Sedative

These herbs calm the nervous system and reduce stress and nervousness throughout the body. They can have a positive effect on tissues of the body that have been irritated by nervous problems.

Blue Cohosh, Bugleweed, Passion Flower, Skullcap, Valerian, Black Cohosh, Black Haw, Boldo, Chamomile, Cramp Bark, Hops, Lobelia, Motherwort, Red Clover, St John’s Wort, Wild Lettuce.

 

Sialagogue

These herbs stimulate the secretion of saliva from the salivary glands.

Cayenne, Centaury, Gentian, Blue Flag, Ginger, Prickly Ash

 

Stimulant

Stimulants quicken and enliven the physiological functions of the body.

Bayberry, Cayenne, Horseradish, Tansy, Wormwood, Angelica, Balmony, Caraway, Cardamon, Cinnamon, Garlic, Gentien, Ginseng, Juniper, Pennyroyal, Peppermint, Prickly Ash, Rosemary, Sage, White Horehound, yarrow

 

Styptic

These herbs reduce or stop external bleeding by their astringency.

( see Astringents )

 

Tonic

The tonic herbs strengthen and enliven specific organs or the whole body. This is a very long list that must be taken in context.

( see The Organ section )

 

Vulnerary

These herbs are applied externally to aid in the healing of wounds and cuts.

Aloe, Chickweed, Comfrey, Elder, Golden Seal, Marigold, Marshmallow, Mullein, Slippery Elm, St John’s Wort, Arnica, Burdock, Cleavers, Fenugreek, Flax Seed, Garlic, Horsetail, Hyssop, Irish Moss, Myrrh, Shepherds Purse, Thyme, Witch Hazel, Yarrow