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APPENDIX


Many of the terms and measurements used in herbology
are confusing and downright puzzling.
Older texts will often use outdated medical terms or folk names for afflictions,
and the newer texts lean toward medically technical definitions.
This is a guide to help you "translate" these texts and make them easier to use.


Old Fasioned Medical Terms
       
Ague
An intermittent fever, sometimes with chills as, as in malaria
Apoplexy
The result of a stroke
Black Smallpox
The hemmoragic form of smallpox
Catarrh
An inflamation of the mucous membranes with a free discharge. This has special reference to the air passages of the head and throat. For example: hayfever, rhinitis, influenza, bronchitis, pharyngitis, asthma.
Cholera Infantum
A common, noncontagious diarrhea seen in young children; found most commonly during the summer
Cholera Morbus
A once popular name for an acute gastroenteritis with diarrhea, cramps, and vomiting, occuring in the summer or autumn. Also called summer cholera or summer complaint.
Dropsy
The retention of fluids by the body, commonly seen in persons with heart failure or kidney disease
Farinaceous
Of the nature of flour or meal. Starchy or containing starch.
Flux
Excessive flow or discharge, for example, in dysentery or excessive mensturation.
Gleet
A urethral discharge, either of mucus or pus; commonly seen in the chronic form of gonnorrheal urethritis.
Hydrophobia
Rabies
Leukorrhea
A whitish, viscid discharge from the vagina
Lung Fever
A severe lung infection, as pneumonia
Mortification
Gangrene
Quicksilver
An old term for mercury
Quincy
Peritonsillar abcess or tonsillitis
Scald head
Ringworm, or some similar affliction of the scalp. May also referr to a disease of the hair follicles with formation of small yellow crusts and a very offensive odor; usually affects the scalp.
Scrofula
Tuberculosis involving the lymph nodes of the neck, usually ocurrs early in life. Now very rarely seen
Sleeping Disease
Sleeping sickness; commonly found in Africa. Also viral encephalitis in which lethargy is a prominent feature.
Strangury
A slow and painful passage of the urine due to spasam of the urethra and urinary bladder.
Tetters
A once popular name for various eczematous skin diseases. May also refer to a skin disease of animals communicable to man with intense itching.
Whites
see Leukorrhea
Zymotic
Caused by or pretaining to any infectious or contagious disease.




Glossary of Herbal Properties

Alterative
Producing a healthful change without perception
Anodyne
Relieves pain
Anthelmintic
A medicine that expells worms
Antibilious
Acts on the bile, relieves biliousness
Antiemetic
Stops vomiting
Antihilitic
Prevents the formation of stones in the urinary system
Antileptic
Relieves fits
Antiperiodic
Arrests morbid periodic movements
Antirheumatic
Relieves or cures rheumatism
Antiscorbutic
Cures or prevents scurvy
Antiseptic
A medicine that aims at stopping putrification
Antispasmodic
Relieves or stops spasams
Antisyphilitic
Having affect on or curing venereal diseases
Aperient
Gently laxative without purging
Aromatic
A stimulant, spicy
Astringent
Causes contraction and arrests discharges
Carminative
Expels wind from the bowels
Cathartic
Evacuating from the bowels
Caphalic
Remidies used in diseases of the head
Cholagogue
Increases the flow of bile
Condiment
Improves the flavor of foods
Demulcent
Soothing, relieves inflammation
Deobstruent
Removes obstruction
Depurative
Purifies the blood
Detergent
Cleansing to boils, ulcers, and wounds
Diaphoretic
Produces perspiration
Discutient
Dissolves and heals tumors
Diuretic
Increases the flow and secretion of urine
Emetic
Produces vomiting
Emmenagogue
Promotes menstruation
Emollient
Softens and soothes inflamed parts
Esculent
Edible
Exanthematous
Remedy for skin eruptions and diseases
Expectorant
Facilitates expectoration
Febrifuge
Abates and reduces fever
Hepatic
A remedy for diseases of the liver
Herpetic
A remedy for skin diseases of all types
Laxative
Promotes bowel action
Lithotriptic
Disolves calculi in the urinary organs
Maturating
Ripens or brings to a head
Mucilaginous
Soothing to all inflammation
Nauseant
Produces vomiting
Nervine
Acts specifically on the nervous system, stops nervous excitement
Ophthalmicum
A remedy for eye diseases
Parturient
Induces and promotes labor at childbirth
Pectoral
A remedy for chest affections
Refrigerant
Cooling
Resolvent
Dissolves boils and tumors
Rubefacient
Increases circulation and promotes red skin
Sedative
A nerve tonic, promotes sleep
Sialagogue
Increases the secretion of saliva
Stomachic
Strengthens the stomach. Relieves indigestion
Styptic
Arrests bleeding
Sudorifilc
Produces profuse perspiration
Tonic
A remedy that is invigorating and strengthening
Vermifuge
Expels worms from the system




FORMULA PREPARATION



Compress
made by soaking a cloth in hot infusion, decoction, or diluted tincture

Decoctions
Simmering herb for at least 15 min. then straining
must be taken the same day

Fluid extract
one part herb to one part alcohol

Infusion
pouring near boiling water over herb and letting stand 5-10 min. works best for leaves and flowers, must be taken the same day

Juicing
large quantities of herb are needed and can either be put through a juicer or finley cut and pressed

Maceration
steeping the herb in room temperature water for 12 hours and straining or pressing

Oils

Made by heating 9 oz of dried herb or 27 oz of fresh herb in 17 fl. oz. of oil in a double boiler for 2-3 hours
-or-
by filling a jar with herb and topping up with oil, covering for 2-3 weeks and renewing herb another 2-3 weeks
-or-
by adding 25-50 drops of essential oil to 100 ml. 5 tbsp. of oil

Ointments
made by heating herbs in petroleum jelly or other solid fat in a double boiler for about 2 hours then straining while still hot
2 1/2 oz of dried herb to 18 oz of fat

Poultices
heating herbs with water and then applying under a wrap

Powders
ground dried herbs. can be mixed with milk or water or mixed with oil or honey

Teas
same as infusions, may be sweetened, but do not add milk

Tinctures
made in the same way as macerations but using an alcohol/water mix. Either ethyl alcohol or diluted vodka stores well  

Syrup
concentrated sugar solutions to make herbs more palatable and help to preserve infusions and decoctions. liquid is heated before adding sugar or honey
17 fluid ounces of liquid to 18 ounces of sweetener  




VOLUME AND MEASUREMENT
CONVERSION GUIDE




Apothecaries Weight (Dry Measure)

US and Metric Equivalent
1 grain =

0.06 grams
1 scruple = 20 grains = .33 dram = 1.20 grams
1 dram = 3 scruples = 60 grains = 3.89 grams
1 ounce = 8 drams = 480 grains = 31.1 grams
1 pound = 12 ounces = 5760 grains= 373.2 grams


Liquid Capacity

US and Metric Equivalent
minim =

0.062 milliliter
fluid dram = 60 minims =
3.69 milliliters
fluid ounce = 8 fluid drams =
29.57 milliliters
gill = 4 fluid ounces = 1/2 cup = 118.29 milliliters
32 fluid drams =

0.24 liter
pint = 16 fluid ounces = 4 gills = 0.47 liter
quart = 32 fluid ounces = 2 pints = 0.95 liter
gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 3.79 liters
teaspoon =

5 milliliters
tablespoon = 3 teaspoons =
15 milliliters





BIBLIOGRAPHY



Bown, Deni. American Herb Society of America, Encylopedia of Herbs and their Uses.

New York: Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc., 1995.



Enquist, Marshall. Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country.

Austin, Texas: Lone Star Botanical, 1987.



Hutchens, Alma R. A Handbook of Native American Herbs.

Boston, Mass.: Shambhala Publications Inc., 1992.



Millspaugh, Charles F. American Medicinal Plants.

New York: Dover Publications, 1974.



Tull, Delena. Edible and Useful Plants of Texas and the Southwest.

Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 1987.



Tull, Delena and George Oxford Miller. A Field Guide to Wildflowers, Trees, and Shrubs of Texas.

Houston, Texas: Gulf Publishing Co., 1991.



Vines, Robert A. Trees of East Texas.

Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 1977.



Vines, Robert A. Trees of Central Texas.

Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 1977.



Vines, Robert A. Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of the Southwest.

Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 1960.



Williams, Kim. Eating Wild Plants.

Missoula, Montana: Mountain Press Publishing Co., 1984.