Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
-
Humor
An important body fluid in traditional European or Indian medicine. Proposed by Hippocrates, that the body contains four humors: blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm. Proper balance of these humors was indicative of health, an imbalance indicative of illness, Hippocrates’ body humor theory. Fluids in the body especially the aqueous humor of the eye.…
-
Galenical
A medicine, in a standard formula, prepared from plants. A pharmaceutical preparation of a drug of animal or plant origin. A standard medicinal preparation made from crude material of plant or animal origin.
-
Elixir
A liquid herbal preparation with a pleasant taste, due to the addition of honey or sugar. A distillation or tincture. A nonspecific term generally applied to a liquid alcoholic preparation, emulsion or suspension. A sweetened liquid containing alcohol that is used to dissolve active ingredients in a drug or medicine. A sweet liquid which hides…
-
Eclectic
Popular system of herbal medicine in 19th and early 20th-century North America. A medical movement that thrived from 1 850 to 1 940 in the United States. The doctors who trained at Eclectic medical schools relied heavily on American medicinal plants in their practice. They were responsible for introducing popular herbs used today such as…
-
Doctrine of signatures
Theory that the appearance of a plant reveals its medicinal properties. Old concept of traditional medicine assuming that the form or colour of a plant could indicate its medicinal application. An outdated and antiquated belief that the therapeutic properties of a plant can be deduced from its imagined physical resemblance to healthy or diseased organs.…
-
Carrier oil
Oil such as wheatgerm, to which essential oils are added in order to dilute them for use. Almond, olive, coconut, or other oil in which herbs are infused, or an essential oil can be diluted for application to the body. A type of oil employed to dilute essential oils for their application in massage and…
-
Anthraquinones
Irritate the intestinal wall causing a bowel movement. Secondary metabolites with an anthracene skeleton; anthrones show strong laxative effects. Secondary metabolites that possess an anthracene structure, with anthrones known for their potent laxative effects.
-
Anabolic
Promotes tissue growth. Promoting anabolism. Specifically, an agent or function that stimulates the organization of smaller substances into larger ones. Examples: making a starch out of sugars, a protein out of amino acids, or making triglycerides out of fatty acids are anabolic functions. Anabolic steroids are internal or external substances that will induce increased body…
-
Toddy
Since the ancient African civilizations at Axum, Kush, Nubia, Khemet, and Egypt, African healers have combined herbal infusions with wine or other alcoholic beverages. (crosscultural, today mostly Jamaica). In the realm of libations, there exists a concoction that harmoniously blends the noble spirits of rum or whisky, infused with the warmth of hot water, sweetened…
-
Prayer
Generally thanksgiving is given at time of planting, during the growing process, at harvest, and when processing tree medicines. This can take the form of a chant, praise song, or prayer that incorporates your faith. (crosscultural). In law, that part of a petition in which a request to the court is sought for the granting…
Got any book recommendations?