Glossary

Month: September 2020

  • Blood purifier

    A substance that causes the removal of impurities from the bloodstream (outdated term). A term used by herbalists to refer to an antibiotic action of certain botanical medicines.  

  • Bitterness value

    That concentration at which a bitter substance can still be tasted (bitterness value of 100 000: when one part of the substance in 100 000 parts of water still tastes bitter).  

  • Biomembrane

    Permeation barrier around every cell or cellular compartments consisting of phospholipids, cholesterol and membrane proteins.  

  • Biliary dyskinesia

    Inability to secrete bile. Symptoms of recurrent biliary colic in patients without gallstones, who nonetheless have an abnormal gallbladder ejection fraction on cholecystokinin-stimulated studies of the gallbladder.  

  • Ayurvedic medicine

    Traditional Indian medicine. A traditional Hindu system of healing that reviews a person’s state of health and lifestyle and recommends treatment based on herbal products, dietary control and spiritual practices. The traditional natural system of medicine of India based on lifestyle interventions and natural therapies. Mental techniques such as meditation are employed for prevention and…

  • Aromatic bitter

    A partly volatile substance that promotes appetite and digestion by stimulating the secretion of digestive juices.  

  • Aqueous extract

    Soluble fraction of plant material obtained after extraction with water.  

  • Antiparasitic

    A substance that kills parasites; Fights parasites. Destructive to parasites.  

  • Anti-oedema

    A substance that prevents swelling.  

  • Antihydrotic

    A substance that reduces perspiration.