Copy of `Nature Direct 2U - Medical Terms`

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Nature Direct 2U - Medical Terms Category: Health and Medicine > Medical Terms Date & country: 08/01/2008, UK Words: 241

Digestive
An agent that promotes digestion.

Discutient
An agent that dissolves or causes something, such as a tumor, to disappear. Also called discussive.

Disinfectant
Kills infections and disease producing microorganisms.

Diuretic
An agent that increases the secretion and elimination of urine.

Drastic
A violent purgative.

Dropsy
Generalized edema (swelling).

Dyskinesia
Defect in voluntary movement.

Dyspepsia
Indigestion.

Dyspnea
Sense of difficulty in breathing, often associated with lung or heart disease.

Ecbolic
See abortifacient.

Emetic
An agent that induces vomiting.

Emmenagogue
A substance that promotes or assists the flow of menstrual fluid.

Emollient
An agent that softens the skin, and soothes inflamed and irritated tissues, when applied locally.

Enteritis
Inflammation of the small intestine.

Enterorrhagia
Hemorrhage from the intestine.

Enuresis
Involuntary urination.

Ephidrosis
Abnormal amount of sweating.

Epigastric
Upper middle region of the abdomen.

Eructation
Belching.

Erysipelis
An acute disease of skin and subcutaneous tissue with spreading inflammation and swelling.

Esculent
Edible or fit for eating.

Estrogenic
A substance, similar to estrogen, that induces female hormonal activity.

Euphoriant
Brings on an exaggerated sense of physical and emotional well-being.

Exanthematous
Refers to any eruptive disease or fever. An herbal remedy for skin eruptions such as measles, scarlet fever etc.

Exophthalmic
Protrusion of the eyeball.

Expectorant
An agent that induces the discharge of mucous secretions from the lungs and bronchial tubes.

Farinaceous
Of the nature of flour or meal. Starchy or containing starch.

Febrifuge
That which reduces or prevents fever. Same as antipyretic or refrigerant.

Fistula
Abnormal tube like passage from a normal cavity or tube to a free surface or to another cavity.

Flux
Excessive flow or discharge. For example, in dysentery or excessive menstruation.

Fungicidal
An agent that kills fungi.

Galactagogue
Promotes or increases the secretion of milk in nursing mothers.

Gastralgia
Pain in the stomach.

Gastroenteritis
Inflammation of the stomach and intestinal tract.

Gastroptosis
Condition in which the stomach occupies an abnormally low position in the abdomen.

Germicide
Kills germs.

Gleet
A urethral discharge, either of mucus or pus; commonly seen in the chronic form of gonorrheal urethritis.

Hallucinogen
Induces hallucinations - an imagined or false sense of perception.

Hemiplegia
Paralysis of one half of the body.

Hemostatic
An agent that stops bleeding.

Hepatic
An herb that promotes the well-being of the liver and increases the secretion of bile.

Herpatic
A remedy for skin eruptions, ringworm etc.

Homeopathic
Relating to homeopathy, a system of medicine founded in the late 1700's by Samuel Hahnemann. The system is based on the principle that 'like cures like'. Practitioners believe that a substance that produces a set of symptoms in a well person will, in minute, 'potentised' doses, cure those same symptoms in a diseased individual.

Homeostasis
Equilibrium of internal environment.

Hydrogogue
Promotes watery evacuation of bowels.

Hydrophobia
Rabies.

Hyperchlorhydria
Excess of hydrochloric acid in gastric secretion.

Hypertensive
Causing or marking a rise in blood pressure.

Hypertensor
Raises the blood pressure.

Hypnotic
Induces sleep.

Hypoglycemic
Causing a deficiency of blood sugar.

Hypotensive
Causing or marking a lowering of blood pressure.

Hypotensor
Lowers the blood pressure.

Immunostimulant
Stimulating various functions or activities of the immune system.

Infusion
A preparation made by soaking a plant part in hot water (or cold water, for a cold infusion); in essence, a 'tea'. Compare Decoction.

Insecticide
Kills insects.

Intercostal
Between the ribs.

Larvicide
Kills the larvae of insects.

Laxative
A mild purgative. An herb that acts to promote evacuation of the bowels.

Leukorrhea
A whitish, viscid discharge from the vagina.

Lithotriptic
Causing the dissolution or destruction of stones in the bladder or kidneys.

Lung fever
A severe lung infection, as pneumonia.

Maturating
An agent that promotes the maturing or bringing to a head of boils, carbuncles etc.

Menorrhagia
Excessive bleeding during menstruation.

Mitogenic
An agent that affects cell division.

Monoplegia
Paralysis of a single limb or a single group of muscles.

Mortification
Gangrene.

Moxa
A dried herb substance burned on or above the skin to stimulate an acupuncture point or serve as a counterirritant. A famous technique of traditional Chinese medicine, using dried, pressed leaves of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris).

Mucilaginous
Pertaining to or resembling or containing mucilage: slimy. Herbs that have a soothing effect on inflamed mucous membranes.

Mydriatic
Dilates the pupil.

Narcotic
An addicting substance that reduces pain and produces sleep.

Nauseant
An herb that causes nausea and vomiting. Somewhat similar to an emetic.

Nervine
An agent that affects, strengthens, or calms & soothes the nerves.

Neurasthenia
Severe nerve weakness; nervous exhaustion.

Neurodermatitis
Inflammation of skin with itching that is associated with emotional disturbance.

Nutrient or Nutritive
Nourishing, increases weight and density.

Ophthalmic
Healing for disorders and diseases of the eye.

Ophthalmicum
A remedy for diseases of the eye.

Osteomyelitis
Inflammation of the bone, especially the marrow.

Oxyuris
Genus of nematode intestinal worms which includes pinworms (also called threadworm and seatworm).

Panacea
An agent good for what ails you, or what doesn't ail you. A 'cure-all'.

Parasiticide
Kills parasites.

Parturient
A substance that induces and promotes labour.

Pectoral
Relieves disorders of the chest and lungs, as an expectorant.

Phagocytosis
Ingestion and digestion of bacteria and particles by phagocytes.

Plethora
Overfullness of blood vessels or of the total quantity of any fluid in the body.

Portal
Concerning entrance to an organ, especially that through which blood is carried to liver.

Poultice
A moist, usually warm or hot mass of plant material applied to the skin, or with cloth between the skin and plant material, to effect a medicinal action.

Prophylactic
Agent which wards off disease.

Pruritis
Severe itching.

Pterygium
Opaque triangular thickening of tissue extending from inner canthus to border or cornea with apex toward the pupil of the eye.

Puerperal
Period following childbirth.

Pungent
Irritating or shapely painful. Producing a sharp sensation of taste or smell.

Purgative
An agent that causes cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with griping (painful cramps).

Pyelitis
Inflammation of the pelvis of the kidney and its calices.

Quicksilver
An old term for mercury.

Quinsy
Peritonsillar abscess or tonsillitis.

Refrigerant
Relieves fever and thirst. A cooling remedy. Lowers body temperature.

Regenerator
Promotes new growth or repair of structures or tissues.

Rejuvenator
Assists in promoting a youthful appearance.