Herbal Medicine Glossary

A category of herbs proposed to increase resistance to physical, chemical, and biological stressors while normalizing body functions.

A class of naturally occurring nitrogen-containing organic compounds produced by plants, often with significant pharmacological activity.

The proportion of a substance that enters systemic circulation when introduced into the body and is available to exert its biological effect.

The use of whole plants, plant parts, or plant extracts to prevent or treat illness. Synonymous with herbal medicine or phytotherapy.

A German regulatory body that published influential monographs evaluating the safety and efficacy of over 300 herbal medicines.

The dried, unprocessed plant material (or animal or mineral substance) used as the starting material for herbal preparations or pharmaceutical extraction.

An herbal preparation made by boiling plant material (typically roots, bark, or woody parts) in water for an extended period to extract active constituents.

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, a U.S. law that defines herbal products as dietary supplements and establishes their regulatory framework.

The scientific study of the relationships between plants and people, including how various cultures use plants for medicinal, nutritional, and ceremonial purposes.

The process of separating bioactive compounds from raw plant material using solvents such as water, ethanol, or supercritical CO2.

A class of polyphenolic compounds found widely in plants, known for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilatory activities.

A compound formed from a sugar molecule bonded to a non-sugar molecule (aglycone). Important types include cardiac glycosides, saponins, and anthraquinone glycosides.

A system of quality assurance ensuring that herbal products are consistently produced and controlled according to established quality standards.

A clinically significant change in the effects of a pharmaceutical drug caused by the concurrent use of an herbal product.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, an analytical technique widely used to separate, identify, and quantify phytochemicals in herbal products.

An herbal preparation made by steeping plant material (typically leaves, flowers, or aerial parts) in hot water, similar to making tea.

A historical term for the body of collected knowledge about the therapeutic properties of substances used in medicine, especially plants.

A detailed scientific document describing an herbal substance's identity, chemical composition, pharmacological actions, clinical evidence, dosing, and safety profile.

The scientific study of drugs and bioactive substances derived from natural sources, encompassing their biological, chemical, and physical properties.

An official publication containing a list of medicinal drugs and their standards of purity, strength, and composition. Examples include the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and European Pharmacopoeia.

The use of plant-derived preparations for the prevention and treatment of disease, emphasizing evidence-based application of herbal medicines.

A class of plant glycosides that produce foam when shaken with water. Some saponins have adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, or immune-modulating properties.

A group of astringent polyphenolic compounds found in many plants that can bind and precipitate proteins. Used traditionally for their astringent and antimicrobial properties.

A large class of organic compounds produced by plants, built from isoprene units. They include essential oil components, carotenoids, and many pharmacologically active molecules.

A concentrated liquid herbal extract typically made by soaking plant material in a mixture of alcohol and water, which serves as the solvent to extract bioactive compounds.