旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� 쿛harmacology Glossary� 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� Abortifacient : an Agent that induces abortion. Abortion : The expulsion of a human fetus during the first twelve weeks of development. Absorbent : A substance (such as a sponge) capable of absorbing another element; a drug that promotes the absorption of diseased tissues. Acetum : A solution of aromatic substances in vinegar. Ague : A fever of the malarial type characterized by chills, fever, and sweating at regular intervals. Alternative : An agent capable of favorably altering or changing unhealthy conditions of the body and tending to restore normal bodily function (a Vague term). Analgesic : An agent that allays pain without causing loss of consciousness. Anaphrodisiac : An agent that lessons sexual function and desire. Anesthetic : An agent that produces loss of sensation without loss of vital functions. Annual : In botany, a plant that completes its life cycle and dies within one year. Must be replanted every year. (From the Latin meaning of the word). Anodyne : An agent that allays or kills pain. Anthelmintic : An agent used to eliminate or destroy parasitic intestinal worms. Anticoagulant : An agent that prevents the formation of a clot in blood. Antidote : An agent that counteracts the effects of a poison. Antiemetic : An agent that relieves nausea and vomiting. Antihydrotic : An agent that checks perspiration by reducing the action of the sweat glands (the opposite of diaphoretic) Antiperiodic : An agent that prevents the periodic return of paroxysms of certain diseases. Antipyretic : An agent that reduces or prevents fever. Antiscorbutic : A remedy for scurvy, usually a substance that supplies Vitamin C. Antiseptic : An agent that inhibits the growth of microorganisms on living tissue. Antispasmodic : An agent used to prevent or ease muscular spasms or convulsions. Aphrodisiac : An agent that provokes or excites sexual function and desire. Appetizer : An agent that stimulates the appetite. Aromatic : A plant or medicine with a fragrant smell and often a warm pungent taste usually used to mask less pleasant drugs. Aromatic Water: A clear solution of distilled water saturated with an aromatic, such as orange flower water or rose water. Ascarid : A roundworm (nematode) parasitic in the intestines of vertebrates. Astringent : 1. a cosmetic for skin cleansing and for contracting the pores. 2. A substance that causes contraction of tissues, checking the discharge of mucus and fluid from the body. Avicenna : Persian physician and philosopher (AD 980-1037) whose most famous medical work was a systematic encyclopedia based on the achievements of Greek physicians and his own experience. Bactericide : An agent that destroys bacteria Balsam : 1. The resinous aromatic exudations of certain plants or trees. 2. An agent, especially an ointment, that heals and sooths. Biennial : In botany, a plant that produces seed in its second year of life and then dies. Must be replanted every other year. (From the Latin meaning a two-year period). Binding : Having the ability to constipate. Bruise : 1. An injury, especially produced by a blow or collision that does not break the surface of the skin but by the rupturing of small blood vessels near the surface to cause the blood to flow into the tissues, which results in discoloration. 2. Crushing or mangling the tissues of a plant to release its properties. Calmative : An agent having a mild sedative action. Capsule : Various-sized hollow soluble transparent tubes used to contain and administer medicines. Cardiac : A substance that acts on the heart. Caries : Tooth decay. Carminative : An agent used to relieve colic, griping, or flatulence or to expel gas from the intestine. Castile : A fine, hard, bland, odorless soap made either partly or completely with olive oil and sodium hydroxide, sometimes with the addition of coconut oil. Catarrh : An inflammation of a mucous membrane (Usually the nasal and air passages) characterized by congestion and the secretion of mucus. Cathartic : An agent used to encourage the evacuation of the bowels (A laxative or purgative). Cerate : Any unctuous preparation of oils, sometimes with medicinals, that is made firm by the addition of wax. Used purely externally. Cerebral Depressant : An agent used to lower the vital activity of the brain. Cerebral Excitant : An agent used to increase the vital activity of the brain. A Stimulant. Colic : Paroxysmal pain in the abdomen or bowel due to over distention, toxemia, inflammation or obstruction. Cordial : An invigorating and stimulating medicine, food or drink. Counterirritant : An agent used to produce superficial inflammation of the skin in order to relieve deeper inflammation. Decoction : A liquid preparation made by boiling a medicinal plant with water, usually one part plant to twenty parts water, boiled in a covered nonmetal conatiner for about fifteen minutes. Demulcent : A medicinal liquid of a bland nature taken internally to soothe infamed mucous surfaces and to protect them from irritation. Deodorant : An agent used to inhibit or mask unpleasant odors. Depressant : An agent that reduces exaggerated functional activity of the tissues. Diaphoretic : A substance that increases perspiration (the opposite of antihydrotic). Diarrhea : An abnormal increase in frequency of intestinal evacuations characterized by their fluid consistency. Dioscorides : A Greek medical man of the first century AD (CE) whose 'De Materia Medica' was the leading text on pharmacology for sixteen centuries. The treatise details the properties of about 600 medicinally valuable plants and animal products. Disinfectant : An agent used to free another substance or area of the body from infection by destroying the microorganisms that cause disease. Diuretic : An agent that increases the volume and flow of urine, thereby cleansing the excretory system. Dropsy : An abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body : edema. Dysentery : An inflammation of the colon marked by intense diarrhea with the passage of small amounts of mucus and blood, usually caused by pathogenic bacteria or protozoans. Ecbolic : A drug that accelerates uterine contractions, primarily used to facilitate delivery (Childbirth). Elixir : A sweetened aromatic preparation, about 25% alchol, used as a vehicle for medicinal substances for its flavoring or medicinal qualities. Embrocation : A liniment. Emetic : An agent used to bring on vomiting. Emmenagogue : An agent that stimulates menstrual flow. Emollient : A substance of bland nature used externally to soothe or protect. Emulsion : A preparation composed of totally unhomogenous substances that are intimately mixed, causing one to be suspended in the other. Example : The oil and egg in mayonnaise. Enema : A rectal injection of liquid, often used to encourage evacuation of the bowels. Errhine : An agent that induces sneezing - sternutatory. Essence : 1. The volatile matter constituting perfume. 2. an alchol or water-alchol solution of medicinal substances, usually ten-to-twenty per cent alchol. Excretory : Concerned with the process of elimination of waste products through urine and sweat. Expectorant : A substance used to expel mucus from the respiratory tract. Extract : A solution representing four to six times the strength of the crude drug. Exudate : The liquid that oozes from an inflamed area; the products, such as gums, resins, and mucilages, formed in the metabolical processes of a number of plants. Febrifuge : A substance that reduces or prevents fever: antipyretic. Felon : A painful, deep infection of the finger or toe. Fixative : A substance added to a perfume to prevent the more volitile ingredients from evaporating too quickly. Fomentation : Application of heat and moisture to the body to ease pain or reduce inflammation. Galactagogue : An agent that promotes or increases the secretion of milk. Germicide : A substance that destroys germs. Gleet : A chronic inflammation characterized by an abnormal mucus discharge from the orifice or wound; the mucus discharge of gonorrhea. Griping : Causing a clutching, painful, or grasping feeling in the bowels. Hemostatic : An agent that arrests bleeding and hemorrhages. Homeopathy : A system of healing advocating the administration of small doses of a drug that would, in healthy persons, produce symptoms of the disease being treated. Hydragogue : A cathartic that causes copious watery discharge from the bowels. Hydrating : Having the capacity to maintain or restore the normal proportion of fluid in the body or skin. Hydrating agents are used in cosmetics to keep the skin moist, firm, and young looking. Hypnotic : A drug or other agent that produces or tends to produce sleep without disturbing alertness and receptiveness to others. Infusion : The extraction of the active properties of a substance by steeping or soaking it, usually in water. Inhalation : 1. The act of drawing air into the lungs. 2. A method of treating illness by inhaling medicinals rather than injecting or drinking them. Insecticide : An agent that kills insects. Irritant : A substance that produces irritation or inflammation of the skin or internal tissue. Laxative : A substance used to produce bowel movement and relieve constipation; a mild purgative. Liniment : A medical substance, thinner than an ointment, that is gently rubbed into the skin for relief from the pain of sprains and bruises. Liquor : A solution of medicinal substances in water as distinguished from a tincture, which is a solution in alchol. Lotion : A liquid applied externally, usually to face and hands, for skin disorders or for its cleansing, softening, or astringent qualities. Lozenge or Troche : A small flat candy, variously flavored and sometimes medicated. Lumbricoid : A parasitic worm, usually the roundworm Ascaris. Malignant Fever : A severely deteriorating or deadly Fever. Medicinal : Any substance used for treating disease. Mellita : Any liquid medicine mixed with honey instead of syrup. Morphew : A skin disease marked by patches of discoloration. Mucilage : A gelatinous substance that swells in water without dissolving and forms a slimy mass. Used as an adhesive or demulcent. Mucilaginous : Resembling a mucilage; slimy, sticky. Mydriatic : A substance that dilates the pupil of the eye. Narcotic : A drug that in moderate doses allays sensibility, relieves pain, and produces sleep but if misused, or taken in large doses, is poisonous to the system. Nervine : A substance that soothes nervous excitement. Neuralgia : A severe recurrent pain along one or more nerves, usually nolt associated with changes in the nerve structure. Oxymel : A preparation containing honey, water, and vinegar, used as an expectorant, usually five parts honey, one part water, and one part vinegar. Oxytocic : A drug that hastens childbirth by inducing the contractions of the uterine muscles.