General Glossary

cachexia

weight loss due to chronic disease or prolonged emotional stress

calyx

external leafy portion of flower consisting of sepals

cancer

refers to the various types of malignant neoplasms which contain cells growing out of control and invading adjacent tissues, which can metastasize to distant tissues

candidiasis

infection with Candida, especially Candida albicans, usually resulting from debilitation (AIDS, prolonged administration of antibiotics)

canker sore

a small, painful ulcer that occurs on the inside of the cheek, lip or underside of the tongue

carbon clearance test

method of measuring the activity of the immune system

carcinogenicity

tendency to cause cancer

carcinoma

malignant growth of epithelial cells tending to infiltrate the surrounding tissue and giving rise to metastasis

cardiac

pertaining to the heart, also, pertaining to the stomach area adjacent to the esophagus

cardiac asthma

sudden intensification of impaired breathing associated with heart disease such as left ventricular failure; cardiasthma

cardiac dysrhythmia

any irregularity of heart beat

cardiac glycoside

compound consisting of a plant steroid with one or more sugars that exerts an effect on the contraction and conduction of the heart muscle

cardiac neurasthenia

general fatigue originating from dysfunction of the heart

cardiac neurosis

heart irregularity of psychogenic origin

cardiomegaly

enlargement of the heart

carminative

agent relieving flatulence or gas

carpo-

in botany, pertaining to fruit

caryo-

in botany, nutlike

cataplasm

poultice

catarrh

mucous membrane inflammation

celery-carrot-mugwort syndrome

skin photosensitivity caused by massive consumption of vegetables containing psoralens, chemicals which can cause toxic effets when exposed to sunlight

cepa

in botany, Latin name for onion

cephalalgia

headache

cephalic

pertaining to the head

cervical syndrome

syndrome involving neck pain

cheilitis

inflammation affecting the lips

chloralized

anesthetized using chloral hydrate

cholagogue

agent that stimulates bile flow from the gallbladder into the duodenum

cholangitis

bile duct inflammation

cholecystitis

gallbladder inflammation

cholecystokinetic

increasing secretion of the gastrointestinal hormone cholecystokinin, which promotes emptying of the gallbladder

cholelithiasis

presence of gallstones in the gallbladder or bile duct

choleretic

agent stimulating the liver to increase bile production

cholestasis

cessation or suppression of bile flow

cholestatic liver disorder

an arrest in the flow of bile from the liver

choline absorption

intake of choline in free form or as lecithin (phosphatidylcholine), acetate (acetylcholine) from the vitamin B complex, or cytidine diphosphate

chologenic

producing bile

chondrosis

formation of cartilaginous tissue; term used in the past for a cartilaginous tumor

chronic illness

illness extending over a long period of time

chronotropic

affecting time or rate, especially heart rate

chryso-

in botany, golden

cicatricial keloid

nodular, firm, movable, nonencapsulated mass of scar tissue, tender and frequently painful

ciliary activity

activity of the eyelashes or any hairlike processes (cilia)

cinnamomeus

in botany, light reddish-brown

cirrhosis

disease of liver characterized by loss of normal microscopic lobular structure

claudication (intermittent)

condition caused by interruptions of blood supply to the muscles, characterized by limping and pain chiefly in the calf muscles

cleansing the blood

see blood purification

climacteric

period of transition from fertility to menopause

clonic

form of movement marked by contractions and relaxations of a muscle, occurring in rapid succession

coelo-

in botany, pertaining to a hollow

colitis ulcerosa (ulcerative colitis)

ulceration of the colon and rectum, usually chrinic, characterized by rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and diarrhea

collagen

primary protein within white fibers of connective tissue, cartilage, and bone

collagenosis

a disease affecting collagen

collateral circulation

blood flow through a side branch of a blood vessel

comminuted

crushed, pulverized

Composite

in botany, annual or perennial herb of the family Asteraceae (aka Compositae), with watery or milky sap, often with fleshy roots, simple leaves, flower corolla with five petals

condyloma

viral warts of the anal-genital region

congestive

pertaining to accumulation of blood or fluid within a vessel or organ

conjunctiva

mucous membrane covering the posterior surface of the eyelids and the anterior surface of the eyeball

constipation

infrequent or incomplete bowel movements

convulsant poison

a substance causing violent spasms of the face, trunk, and/or extremities

cornea

transparent structure forming the anterior part of the eye

coronary infarction

sudden lack of blood supply to the heart that results an area of dead cardiac tissue

coronary/myocardial perfusion

flow of blood to the heart and/or blood vessels surrounding the heart

cor pulmonale

hypertrophy of the right ventricle of the heart resulting from excessive pressure in the pulmonary artery

corpus luteum

yellow endocrine body formed in the ovary that secretes estrogen

corrigent

modifying or correcting

cortex

in botany, bark

corticosteroid

steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex

Crohn's disease

chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract

cross reaction

reaction between an antibody and antigen, separate from the reaction which initially evoked formation of the antibody

crypto-

in botany, hidden

cteno-

in botany, pertaining to a term

curare-like effect

paralysis of skeletal muscle

cuti-visceral reflex

reaction of the digestive, respiratory, urogenital, or endocrine system to sensation on the skin

cyath-

in botany, cuplike

cystitis

inflammation of the urinary bladder

cytoplasmic

pertaining to the contents of a cell outside the nucleus

cytostatic

characterized by the slowing of movement and accumulation of blood cells

dasy-

in botany, shaggy, hairy

decoction

liquid prepared by boiling plant material in water for a period of time

decubitus ulcer

bed sore

demulcent

an agent which soothes and relieves irritation, especially of the mucous membranes

dermatitis

inflammatory skin condition

diabetes insipidus

excessive production of urine, usually due to insufficient production of antidiuretic hormone

diabetes mellitus

a disease with increased blood glucose levels due to lack or ineffectiveness of insulin

diaphoretic

sudorific, an agent promoting sweating

diarrhea

excessive discharge of contents of bowel

diastole

relaxation phase of the heart beat

diathesis

constitutional state of increased susceptibility to disease

disorders of kidney secretions

insufficient kidney flow

diuresis

excretion of urine

diuretic

agent increasing urine output

dopamine

a neurohormone; precursor to norepinephrine which acts as a stimulant to the nervous system

dosage

amount of therapeutic substance

dose

amount of a therapeutic substance to be taken during a specified time period

drage

pill or capsule with a sugar coating

dromotropic

affecting conductivity of nerve fibers

dropsy

edema, abnormal accumulation of water in the body, usually associated with weak heart performance

duodenum

first portion of the small intestine

between the pylorus and jejunum

dyscrasia

abnormal or pathological imbalance due to excessive material in the blood

dyskinesia

a condition characterized by spasmodic, uncoordinated, or other abnormal movements; i.e., those which result from a reaction to phenothiazines

dysmenorrhea

difficult or painful menstruation

dyspepsia

indigestion

dysplasia

abnormal development of tissue

dyspnea

difficult breathing

dystonia

impaired muscle tonus

dystrophic nervous disturbance

progressive changes that may result from defective nutrition of nervous tissue

dysuria

painful urination

ecchymosis

small, flat hemorrhagic spots on the skin or mucous membranes

eclampsia

convulsions, unrelated to other cerebral conditions, in pregnant or puerperal women (women who have just given birth)

ectopic

located outside normal position, e.g., location of fetus in pregnancy

eczema

inflammatory skin condition

edema

abnormal accumulation of fluids within tissues

edematous dermatitis

skin irritation marked by an accumulation of watery fluid

ejaculatio praecox

premature ejaculation during sexual intercourse

electrolyte

substance in solution that conducts an electrical current

-ellus

in botany, diminutive, e.g., echinellus, minutely spiny

embolism

obstruction of a vessel by an abnormal body, usually a detached blood clot

embrocation

liniment; external application of a liniment

embryotoxic

poisonous to the developing embryo

emetic

substance causing vomiting

empyema

pus located in a body cavity

emulsion

system containing two unmixable liquids in which one is dispersed in the form of small globules throughout the other

endangiitis obliterans

inflammation of the inner blood vessel membrane leading to vessel occlusion

endogenous depression

depressive mental state not resulting from life events

endplate

termination, referring to a motor nerve fiber that enervates to a skeletal muscle fiber

-ensis

in botany, origin, country, or place of growth; e.g., texensis, found in Texas

enteral

referring to the inside of the intestinal tract

enteral absorption

absorption by means of the intestine

enteritis regionalis

localized inflammation of the intestine

enuresis nocturna

bed-wetting

epicondylitis

infection or inflammation of a projection from a long bone near the extremity

epidermis

superficial epithelial layers of the skin

epigastric

relating to the area immediately above the stomach

epilemma

interstitial sheath-like connective tissue in a peripheral nerve that separates the individual nerve fibers

epilepsy

chronic brain disorder associated with some seizures and, typically, alteration of consciousness

epileptiform convulsion

violent spasms; similar to those of epilepsy

erythema nodosum

acute inflammation of skin with red nodules

erythro-

in botany, reddish

-escens

in botany, process of becoming; e.g., florescens, blooming

essential oil

volatile terpene derivatives responsible for the odor or taste of a plant

-estris

in botany, place of growth; e.g., campestris, growing in the field

estrogen receptor site binding

site on the surface of a cell receiving estrogen from circulation

estrogen-like

exerting biological effects similar to the effect of estrogen

exanthem

rash, symptomatic of viral or bacterial diseases

exocrine pancreas insufficiency

inability of the pancreas to secrete enzymes into the gastrointestinal tract for the digestion of proteins and fat

expectorant

promoting mucous secretion of the bronchi or facilitating its expulsion

extrapyramidal

referring to brain structures other than those needed for motor activities

extrasystole

an ectopic or asynchronous beat from any source in the heart

exudative diathesis

a constitutional or inborn predisposition to loss of fluids

familial Mediterranean fever

transient, recurrent attacks of fever with or without abdominal or joint pain, found usually among persons of Armenian or Sephardic (Jewish) descent

fatty liver

accumulation of triglycerides in the liver

febrifuge

antipyretic, agent fighting fever

febrile

having to do with a fever

fenestrated

anatomical, window-like opening

fermentative dyspepsia, fermentative digestive disturbances

impaired digestion associated with fermented foods

fibrinolytic activity

clot removal

fili-

in botany, threadlike

first-degree burn

burn involving only the epidermis and causing irritation and edema without blisters

fistula

an abnormal passageway, allowing movement between organs

flatulence

abnormal amount of gas in the stomach and intestines

flavor corrigent

agent accenting the flavors of components in a mixture

flower

reproductive structure of flowering plants with or without protective envelopes, the calyx and corolla

fluidextract

concentrated hydroalcoholic extract in which 1 ml is equivalent to 1 g of the original botanical

fluor albus

see leukorrhea

flux

profuse discharge from a body cavity

Foehn Illness

syndrome including sleep and mood disturbances accompanying strong warm winds in the Alps

folium

in botany, leaf

frostbite

damage to local tissue from exposure to extreme cold

fruit

matured ovary of flowering plants, with or without accessory parts

fruticosus

in botany, bushy

fungistatic

inhibiting the growth of fungi

furunculosis

localized skin infection

galactogogue

stimulating secretion of milk

galenical preparations

preparations of botanical drugs

gallstone

a gallbladder or bileduct concretion composed of cholesterol, occasionally mixed with calcium

ganglions

nerve cell bodies grouped in the peripheral nervous system

gargle

fluid used therapeutically as a throat wash

gastroenteritis

gastrointestinal tract inflammation; characterized by abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting; which may be caused by bacteria, parasites or a virus

gingivitis

inflammation of the fibrous tissues that surround the teeth

gland-stimulating remedy

expectorant

glaucoma

eye disease with increased ocular pressure

glaucoma, narrow-angle

form of glaucoma in which contact of the iris with the peripheral cornea prevents normal drainage of aqueous humor

glosso-

in botany, tongue-like

glucocorticoid

any steroid-like compound capable of significantly influencing intermediary metabolism, such as promotion of deposition of glycogen in the liver, and of exerting a useful antiinflammatory effect

glucosuria

glucose in the urine

glycine

the simplest amino acid which is a contituent of normal protein and an inhibitory transmitter; used as a dietary supplement

glycogenolytic

breaking down glycogen to glucose

glycoside

a molecule which upon hydrolysis produces at least one simple sugar and non-sugar component

goiter

chronic thyroid gland enlargement, not due to cancerous growth

gout

a disease characterized by an increased blood uric acid level and sudden onset of episodes of acute arthritis

grandi-

in botany, large

granulation

pink, fleshy overgrowth of capillaries and collagen within a wound

granulatory

encouraging granulation

granulocyte

a mature white blood cell with cytoplasm containing granules