Herbal Medicine Terms

Herbal actions are terms practitioners use to describe how medicinal herbs influence the body and contribute to health. They highlight the unique therapeutic effects of herbs or physiological responses on the body, making it easier for practitioners to understand and recommend the right plant for specific conditions. It describes how the herb supports or improves health by interacting with different systems in the body, referring to their effects as herbal ‘actions’. Herbal actions are typically categorised based on their effects, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain-relieving), or diuretic (promoting urine production). For example, Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) has a carminative action, which helps relieve the digestive system's flatulence and bloating. Each herb’s unique combination of active compounds determines its specific herbal actions, but it is crucial to remember that a single herb can have multiple actions. Each herb shouldn’t be pigeon-holed into only treating one ailment; their actions can be harmonised and work together to benefit the body holistically.

Below is a list of Herbal Actions categorised alphabetically. Click on the ones you’d like to learn more about.