Agents which tend gradually to alter a condition. Alternatives are often combined with botanicals listed under "Aromatics", "Bitter Tonics", and "Demulcents". Among botanicals that may be classed as Alternatives are:
American Spikenard (root or berries)
Bittersweet (twigs)
Black Cohosh (root)
Blue Flag (root)
Blue Nettle (root)
Burdock (root)
Condurango (root)
Echinacea (root)
Guaiac (raspings)
Oregon Grape (root)
Pipsissewa (leaves)
Poke (root)
Prickly Ash (bark)
Red Clover (flowers)
Sarsaparilla (root)
Sassafras (root)
Stillingia (root)
Wild Sarsaparilla (root)
Yellow Dock (root)
Yellow Parilla (root)
Temporarily tighten, contract or increase the firmness of the skin or mucous membrane. They are often of value to check excessive secretions. They are used as external washes, gargles, lotions, mouthwashes, etc. Astringents may be made very strong, using more of the herb and boiling longer. They may be "watered down" to the strength desired.
Strong Astringents:
Agrimony (herb)
Alum (root)
Barberry (bark)
Bayberry (bark)
Beech Drops (herb)
Bearberry (leaves)
Beth (root)
Black Alder (bark)
Black Cherries
Black Oak (bark)
Black Willow (bark)
Butternut (bark)
Buttonsnake (root)
Catechu Gum
Chocolate (root)
Cinquefoil
Congo (root)
Cranesbill (root)
Fleabane (herb)
Goldenrod (herb)
Hardhack (herb)
Hawthorne (berries)
Heal-all (herb)
Hemlock (bark)
Hickory (bark)
Jambul (seed)
Kola (nuts)
Logwood
Lycopus virginicus
Maiden Hair Fern
Mountain Ash (bark)
Pilewort (herb)
Potentilla (herb)
Purple Loosestrife (herb)
Queen of the Meadow (herb)
Rattlesnake (root)
Red (root)
Rhatany (root)
Sage (herb)
Sanicle (root)
Sampson Snake (root)
Shepherd's Purse (herb)
Sumbul (root)
Sumach (bark or root)
Tormentil (root)
Wafer Ash (bark)
Water Avens (root)
Water Lily (root)
White Ash (bark)
White Oak (bark)
Wild Indigo (bark)
Witch Hazel (twigs)
Mild Astringents:
Blackberry (root)
Black Birch (leaves)
Celandine
German Rue
Rosa Gallica Petals
St. John's Wort
Sweet Fern (herb)
Substances of a fragrant smell that produce a peculiar sensation of warmth and pungency on the taste buds. When swallowed, there is a corresponding impulse in the stomach which is communicated to other parts of the body. Aromatics are useful to expel gas from the stomach and intestines. They are chiefly used to make other medicinal formulae more palatable:
Agents which promote evacuation from the bowels by their action on the alimentary canal. Cathartics can be divided into two groups: (1) LAXATIVES, or APERIENTS, are agents which are mild or feeble in their action. (2) PURGATIVES, are agents which induce copious evacuation. They are generally used for more stubborn conditions in adults, or used with other ingredients to modify or increase their action. Neither laxatives or purgatives should be used when appendicitis is suspected or during pregnancy. Cathartics should only be used for occasional constipation:
Agar-Agar
Aloes
Barberry (bark)
Blue Flag (root)
Buckthorn (bark)
Butternut (inner bark)
Cascara (bark)
Cassia fistula
Castor oil
Culver's (root)
Jalap (root)
Karaya (gum)
Manna
May Apple or Mandrake (root)
Pysllium (seed)
Rhubarb (root)
Senna [Egyptian] (leaves)
Senna [American]
Senna (pods)
Tamarind (pulp)
Substances usually of a mucilaginous and bland nature, taken internally for their soothing and protective-coating properties (for external use, see EMOLLIENTS). May be used to allay irritation of membranes. They have been used for coughs due to common colds and to relieve minor irritations of the throat. The mildest and most soothing demulcents are marked with **:
Agents which tend to increase perspiration. They are commonly used as an aid in the relief of common colds. Diaphoretics act most favorably when administered hot, before bed. Botanicals marked with ** are often referred to as SUDORIFICS--agents which cause copious perspiration:
A term used for medicines or beverages which tend to increase the secretion of urine. The fastest action is generally obtained by liquid diuretics taken on an empty stomach, during the day. Physical exertion retards the effects of diuretics. They are often used with demulcents, such as Marsh mallow rt., Couch Grass, etc., for their soothing qualities when irritation is present.
Agents used to induce expulsion or loosen phlegm of the mucous membranes of the bronchial and nasal passages. Expectorants often are combined with demulcents as ingredients in cough (due to cold) medicines. Strong acting expectorants are marked with **.
To quicken or increase various functional actions of the system. Stimulants refuse to act in the presence of an excess of animal foods and never act as quickly on persons who consume a lot of alcohol.
An application for minor external wounds. Almost any green plant that does not have irritating constituents is useful for minor wounds, because of its chlorophyll content. Applications are generally most effective when the fresh herb is applied.
All Heal (herb)
Blood Staunch or Fleabane (herb)
Calendual (herb)
Centauria (herb)
Clown's Woundwort (herb)
Heal-All (Herb) (Srophularia marilandica)
Healing Herb or Comfrey (herb and root)
Horse Tail Grass
Live Forever (leaves)
Marsh mallow (herb or root)
Plantian (leaves)
Self Heal or Heal All (herb) (Prunella vulgaris)
Misc. Information
