ALTERATIVE:	A vague term to indicate a substance which alters a  condition by producing a gradual change toward the  restoration to health.
ANODYNE:	Eases pain.
ANTHELMINTIC:	Expels or destroys intestinal worms.
ANTIDOTE:	Agents which counteract or destroy the effects of poison or  other medicines.
ANTISCORBUTIC:	Counteracts scurvy.
ANTISEPTIC:	Destroys or inhibits bacteria.
ANTISPASMODIC:	Prevents or allays spasms or cramps.
APHRODISIAC:	Stimulates the sex organs.
APERIENT:	Herbal agents that are mild laxatives to the intestines, being gentle in peristaltic action.
APPETIZER:	Stimulates the appetite.
AROMATIC:	Agents which emit a fragrant smell and produce a pungent  taste.   Used chiefly to make other medicines more palatable.
ASTRINGENT:	Causes contraction of tissues.
BALSAMIC:	A healing or soothing agent.
BITTER TONIC:	Bitter tasting properties which stimulate the flow of saliva  and gastric juice.    Used to increase the appetite and aid the process of digestion.
CARDIAC:	Agents which have an effect on the heart.
CARMINATIVE:	Expels gas from the stomach, intestines or bowels.
CATHARTIC:	Causes evacuation from the bowels.  There are different  types of cathartics.  Aperient or laxatives are mild and gentle in their actions.   Purgatives are powerful and  produce copious evacuations and are used only by adults afflicted with stubborn conditions.
CHOLAGOGUE:	Increases the flow of bile and promotes it's ejection.
CORDIAL:	Invigorating and stimulating.
COUNTERIRRITANT:	Agents applied to the skin to produce an irritation   for the purpose of counteracting a deep             inflammation.
DEMULCENT:	Soothing, bland.  Used to relieve internal inflammations.  Provides a protective coating and allays irritation of the membranes.
DEPURATIVE:	A purifying agent.
DETERGENT:	Cleansing.
DIGESTIVE:	Aids digestion.
DIAPHORETICS:	Herbal agents that increase eliminative secretions  through the sweat glands, thus facilitation elimination of  toxic and accumulative waste matter.
DIURETICS:	Herbal agents that promote secretions of the urinary system,  increasing toxic elimination and accumulative matter along  with excess water.
EMETICS:	Herbal agents that cause evacuation of the stomach contents via induced vomiting and are usually anti-poisonous.
EMMENAGOGUES:	Herbal agents that act upon the reproductive     system by strengthening and balancing the cellular   tissues by regulating the body's hormonal flow.
EMOLLIENTS:	Herbal agents that soothe and soften the external skin surfaces and promote healing by removing foreign toxic matter through absorption.
ERRHINE:	Substances which, when applied to the lining membrane of nostrils, creates a discharge of mucous.
EPISPASTICS:	Causes blisters, when applied to the surface of the body, and causes sloughing.
EXPECTORANTS:	Herbal agents that act upon the mucosal membranes  of the respiratory tract, facilitating catarrhal discharge, by rendering them less viscid.
FEBRIFUGE:	Reduces fever.
GALACTAGOGUE:	Promotes the secretion of milk from the nursing breast.
GERMICIDE:	Destructive to germs.
HAEMOSTATIC:	Capable of slowing down or stopping hemorrhage.
HYPNOTIC:	Capable of inducing sleep.
INVIGORANT:	A strengthening agent.
IRRITANT:	Capable of producing local inflammatory reaction.
LAXATIVE:	Causes the bowels to act.
MUCILAGINOUS:	Emits a soothing quality to inflamed parts.
NARCOTICS:	Herbal agents that have a sedative effect by diminishing the action of the nervous system and vascular system.
NERVINES:	Herbal agents that regenerate the entire nervous system, having a calming effect, by altering deranged nervous tissues and neutralizing toxins, that cause irritation of the nerve fibers.
NUTRIENT or NUTRITIVE:	Nourishing.
OXYTOCIC:	Capable of producing uterine contractions.
PECTORAL:	Relieves affections of the chest and lungs.
PURGATIVE:	Causes copious evacuations from the bowels.  More drastic  than laxatives or aperient, and are generally combined with other agents to control or modify their actions.  Used only by adults.
REACTIVATOR:	Restores to a state of activity.
REJUVENATOR:	An agent which imparts renewed vigor.
RUBEFACIENT:	A substance used externally which causes redness and increased blood supply when rubbed into the skin.
SEDATIVE:	Calms the nerves.
SIALAGOGUES:	Increases the flow of saliva.
SOPORIFIC:	Induces sleep.
SPECIFIC:	Agent or remedy that has a special effect on a particular disease.
STIMULANTS:	Equalizes circulation and regenerates the tissues of the arterial system.
SUDORIFICS:	Increases perspiration, thus facilitating the elimination of toxic waste through the skin.
STOMACHIC:	Stimulate the flow of digestive secretions and increases  the volume.
TENIAFUGE:	Expels tapeworm.
TONICS:	Tones the ailmentive tract, thus correcting problems of the digestive system.   Promotes regeneration of tissues throughout  the body.
TOPICAL:	Applied to the skin only.
VERMIFUGES:	Kills and/or expels parasites or worms.
VESICANT:	Raises blisters.
VULNERARY:	Tone and heal the muscular and skeletal systems and are  often employed along with emollients as a poultice for  external wounds.