Glossary
Balm:
Salve containing relatively high amount of volatile oils.
Bolus: A rounded mass -large pill or tablet. A suppository.
Constituent: “Active Ingredients” of the plant. i.e. Alkaloids; Balsams; Bitters; Camphors; Essential/Volatile Oils; Enzymes; Flavanoids; Glycosides; Gums; Gum-resins; Mucilages; Oils and Fats; Oleoresins; Proteins; Resins; Saponins; Startches and Sugars.
Decant: Separating fluids from solids.
Decoction: Decoct- to boil down. For HERBS that will not yield their constituents at lower temperatures, and which will not lose their quality by prolonged heat. Usually referring to hard and woody HERBS of dense texture: Roots, Barks, and Seeds.
Electuary: Confection of unpleasant tasting, finely powdered HERB mixed with Honey, Fruit or Nut paste – creating a molded “marble” of medication.
Extract: Concentrated plant preparation containing a high percentage of active constituents and a low percentage of inactive constituents. Tincture.
Fomentation: Compress; A form of poultice comprised of (usually hot) HERBAL liquids and woolen or cotton cloths- applied to the skin.
Glycerin: Liquid obtained by hydrolysis of vegetable or animal fats or fixed oils.
Glycerite: Mixtures of medicinal substances with Glycerin.
(HERBAL) Honey: Thick liquid preparations using Honey as the base instead of sugar. Honey mixed with medicinals: Tinctures, Glycerites, Powders and are normally prepared on the spot.
Hydrolysis: Chemical reaction of a plant constituent with water resulting in one or more other substances; such as starch into glucose or natural fats into glycerin and fatty acids.
Infusion: Solvent action of boiled water, (sometimes cold water) on HERBS for a given period of time. HERB itself is not boiled; boiling water is poured over it. Suitable for delicate/ light HERBS such as flowers, leaves, soft stems, and some roots. Also for those volatile HERBAL constituents that would (evaporate) if boiled: Chamomile, Red Clover blossoms, Peppermint leaves, or Valerian.
Lozenge: (Troches; Pastilles) Small, flat, solid, cakes of finely powdered therapeutic herbal substances prepared from a mass made with a base of sugar. Placed on the tongue and allowed to dissolve slowly. For mucous membranes.
Liniment: Thinner than salve; to be rubbed or massaged onto the skin. To draw, to warm, to dry; or to disinfect an area on the skin. Prepared exactly like a tincture- using vinegar, ethyl alcohol, or denatured rubbing alcohol. Mark “FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY” on the bottle.
Macerate: Soak in solution
Marc: Plant parts left after HERBAL extraction.
Menstruum: Solvents used to extract HERBAL properties from plant forms. i.e. Water; Alcohol; Wine and Vinegar; Mixture of Water and Alcohol; Oil; and Glycerin.
Oil (Fixed): Derived from both animal and vegetable sources; often called “fatty” oils. Smooth and greasy- leave a grease spot when dropped on paper. i.e. Olive; Almond; Coconut; Grapefruit Seed; Apricot; and Flaxseed.
Oil (Essential): Volatile, fragile, expensive [Oil] derived from the distillation of aromatic plants. Not to be confused with synthetically manufactured Fragrant Oils, fatty or fixed oils. Used in Aromatherapy and HERBALLY as an adjunct.
Oxymel: A specialized sweet and sour HERBAL Honey. Used as a carrier for HERBAL Infusions, Decoctions, concentrates, and tinctures. Used as a gargle or as a medium for intense HERBS such as Garlic, Cayenne, and Lobelia.
Poultice: Soft paste composed of HERBS and liquid. Applied directly to skin or onto cloths that are then applied to skin. Can be emollient; medicated; or counter-irritative.
Pressing: Expression of HERBS; separating liquids from solids- using force.
Salve : (Ointment; Unguent) Semi-solid fatty HERBAL mixtures used on the skin. Provide healing, emollient, protective, nourishing, or counter-irritant effect.
Succus: Expressed Plant Juice
Syrup: Saturated solutions of sugar in pure water or other aqueous liquids; sugar is the preservative component. Sometimes contain vinegar, honey, glycerin, and alcohol.
Tincture: Alcoholic or water-based solutions prepared from fresh or dried botanicals. Alcohol is the better extractor and is preservative.
Volatile: Evaporates when exposed to air.
The above terms can be found in:
THE HERBAL MEDICINE-MAKER’S HANDBOOK James Green
HANDBOOK FOR HERBAL HEALING Christopher Hobbs
MEDICINAL HERBS A Beginner’s Guide Rosemary Gladstar
Bolus: A rounded mass -large pill or tablet. A suppository.
Constituent: “Active Ingredients” of the plant. i.e. Alkaloids; Balsams; Bitters; Camphors; Essential/Volatile Oils; Enzymes; Flavanoids; Glycosides; Gums; Gum-resins; Mucilages; Oils and Fats; Oleoresins; Proteins; Resins; Saponins; Startches and Sugars.
Decant: Separating fluids from solids.
Decoction: Decoct- to boil down. For HERBS that will not yield their constituents at lower temperatures, and which will not lose their quality by prolonged heat. Usually referring to hard and woody HERBS of dense texture: Roots, Barks, and Seeds.
Electuary: Confection of unpleasant tasting, finely powdered HERB mixed with Honey, Fruit or Nut paste – creating a molded “marble” of medication.
Extract: Concentrated plant preparation containing a high percentage of active constituents and a low percentage of inactive constituents. Tincture.
Fomentation: Compress; A form of poultice comprised of (usually hot) HERBAL liquids and woolen or cotton cloths- applied to the skin.
Glycerin: Liquid obtained by hydrolysis of vegetable or animal fats or fixed oils.
Glycerite: Mixtures of medicinal substances with Glycerin.
(HERBAL) Honey: Thick liquid preparations using Honey as the base instead of sugar. Honey mixed with medicinals: Tinctures, Glycerites, Powders and are normally prepared on the spot.
Hydrolysis: Chemical reaction of a plant constituent with water resulting in one or more other substances; such as starch into glucose or natural fats into glycerin and fatty acids.
Infusion: Solvent action of boiled water, (sometimes cold water) on HERBS for a given period of time. HERB itself is not boiled; boiling water is poured over it. Suitable for delicate/ light HERBS such as flowers, leaves, soft stems, and some roots. Also for those volatile HERBAL constituents that would (evaporate) if boiled: Chamomile, Red Clover blossoms, Peppermint leaves, or Valerian.
Lozenge: (Troches; Pastilles) Small, flat, solid, cakes of finely powdered therapeutic herbal substances prepared from a mass made with a base of sugar. Placed on the tongue and allowed to dissolve slowly. For mucous membranes.
Liniment: Thinner than salve; to be rubbed or massaged onto the skin. To draw, to warm, to dry; or to disinfect an area on the skin. Prepared exactly like a tincture- using vinegar, ethyl alcohol, or denatured rubbing alcohol. Mark “FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY” on the bottle.
Macerate: Soak in solution
Marc: Plant parts left after HERBAL extraction.
Menstruum: Solvents used to extract HERBAL properties from plant forms. i.e. Water; Alcohol; Wine and Vinegar; Mixture of Water and Alcohol; Oil; and Glycerin.
Oil (Fixed): Derived from both animal and vegetable sources; often called “fatty” oils. Smooth and greasy- leave a grease spot when dropped on paper. i.e. Olive; Almond; Coconut; Grapefruit Seed; Apricot; and Flaxseed.
Oil (Essential): Volatile, fragile, expensive [Oil] derived from the distillation of aromatic plants. Not to be confused with synthetically manufactured Fragrant Oils, fatty or fixed oils. Used in Aromatherapy and HERBALLY as an adjunct.
Oxymel: A specialized sweet and sour HERBAL Honey. Used as a carrier for HERBAL Infusions, Decoctions, concentrates, and tinctures. Used as a gargle or as a medium for intense HERBS such as Garlic, Cayenne, and Lobelia.
Poultice: Soft paste composed of HERBS and liquid. Applied directly to skin or onto cloths that are then applied to skin. Can be emollient; medicated; or counter-irritative.
Pressing: Expression of HERBS; separating liquids from solids- using force.
Salve : (Ointment; Unguent) Semi-solid fatty HERBAL mixtures used on the skin. Provide healing, emollient, protective, nourishing, or counter-irritant effect.
Succus: Expressed Plant Juice
Syrup: Saturated solutions of sugar in pure water or other aqueous liquids; sugar is the preservative component. Sometimes contain vinegar, honey, glycerin, and alcohol.
Tincture: Alcoholic or water-based solutions prepared from fresh or dried botanicals. Alcohol is the better extractor and is preservative.
Volatile: Evaporates when exposed to air.
The above terms can be found in:
THE HERBAL MEDICINE-MAKER’S HANDBOOK James Green
HANDBOOK FOR HERBAL HEALING Christopher Hobbs
MEDICINAL HERBS A Beginner’s Guide Rosemary Gladstar