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GLOSSARY
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Abortifacient --
Induces abortions (miscarriages).
Absorption -- Process by which nutrients are absorbed through the lining of the
intestinal tract into capillaries and into the bloodstream. Nutrients must be absorbed to
affect the body.
Acids -- Compounds often found in plant tissues, especially fruits, that shrink
tissues and prevent secretion of fluids.
They taste sour or tart.
Active principle -- Chemical component of a plant or compound that has a
therapeutic effect.
Acute -- Short, relatively severe. Usually referred to in connection with an
illness. Opposite of acute is CHRONIC.
Addiction -- Psychological or physiological dependence on a drug. With true
addictions, severe symptoms appear when the addicted
person stops taking the drug on which he is dependent.
Adrenal gland -- Gland located immediately adjacent to the kidney that produces
epinephrine (adrenaline) and several steroid hormones, including cortisone and
hydrocortisone.
Adulterant -- Substance that makes another substance impure when the two are mixed
together.
Allergen -- Capable of producing an allergic response.
Allergy -- Excessive sensitivity to a substance.
Alumina -- Another term for aluminum oxide or hydrated aluminum oxide.
Amenorrhea -- Absence of menstruation.
Amino acid -- Chemical building blocks that help produce proteins in the body.
Anabolic -- Building up of tissues in the body. It is a destructive metabolism.
Anaphylaxis -- Severe allergic response to a substance. Symptoms include wheezing,
itching, nasal congestion, hives, immediate intense burning of hands and feet, collapse
with severe drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest. Symptoms of
anaphylaxis appear within a few seconds or minutes after exposure to substance causing
reaction -- this can be medication or herbs taken by injection, by mouth, vaginally,
rectally, through a breathing apparatus or applied to skin. Anaphylaxis is an uncommon
occurrence, but when it occurs, it is a SEVERE MEDICAL EMERGENCY! Without appropriate
immediate treatment, it can cause death. Yell for help. Don't leave victim. Begin CPR
(cardiopulmonary resuscitation), mouth-to-mouth breathing and external cardiac massage.
Have someone dial "0" or 911. Don't stop CPR until help arrives.
Anemia -- Too few healthy red-blood cells in the bloodstream or too little
hemoglobin in the red blood cells. Anemia is usually caused by excessive blood loss, such
as excessive bleeding or menstruation, increased blood destruction, such as hemolytic
anemia or leukemia, or decreased blood production, such as iron-deficiency anemia.
Anemia, pernicious -- Anemia caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency. Symptoms include
easy fatigue, weakness, lemon-colored skin, numbness and tingling of hands and feet, and
symptoms of degeneration of the central nervous system, such as irritability, emotional
problems, personality changes and paralysis ofextremities.
Anesthetic -- Used to abolish pain.
Angina (angina pectoris) -- Chest pain, with sensation of impending death. Pain may
radiate into jaw, ear lobes, between shoulder blades or down shoulder and arm on either
side, most frequently the left side. Pain is caused by a temporary reduction in the amount
of oxygen to the heart muscle through narrowed, diseased coronary arteries.
Antacid -- Neutralizes acid. In medical terms, the neutralized acid is located in
the stomach, esophagus or first part of the duodenum.
Anti-bacterial -- Destroys bacteria (germs) or suppresses their growth or
reproduction.
Antibiotic -- Inhibits growth of germs or kills germs. When it inhibits growth, it
is called BACTERIOSTATIC. When it kills, it is called BACTERIOCIDAL.
Anti-cholinergic -- Reduces nerve impulses through the part of the autonomic
nervous system called PARASYMPATHETIC.
Anti-coagulant -- Delays or stops blood clotting.
Anti-emetic -- Prevents or stops nausea and vomiting.
Anti-helmintic -- Destroys intestinal worms.
Antihistamine -- Prevents histamine, the chemical in body tissues that dilates
smallest blood vessels, constricts smooth muscle surrounding bronchial tubes and
stimulates stomach secretions, from acting on tissues of the body.
Anti-hypertensive -- Reduces blood pressure.
Anti-mitotic -- Inhibits or prevents cell division.
Anti-neoplastic -- Inhibits or prevents growth of neoplasms (cancers).
Anti-oxidant -- Prevents oxidation (combining with oxygen). Anti-oxidant substances
include superoxide dismutase, selenium, vitamin C and E, and zinc.
Anti-pyretic -- Reduces fevers.
Antiseptic -- Prevents or retards growth of germs.
Anti-spasmodic -- Relieves spasm in skeletal or smooth muscle.
Apertive -- Stimulates the appetite.
Aphrodisiac -- Arouses or enhances instinctive sexual desire.
Aromatic -- Chemical with a spicy fragrance and stimulant
characteristics used to relieve various symptoms.
Artery -- Blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
Asthma -- Disease with recurrent attacks of breathing difficulty characterized by
wheezing. It is caused by spasms of the bronchial tubes, which can be caused by many
factors including adverse reactions to drugs, vitamins, minerals or medicinal herbs.
Astringent -- Shrinks tissues and prevents secretion of fluids.
Bacteria -- Microscopic germs. Some bacteria contribute to health; others cause
disease.
Bitters -- Medicine with a bitter taste. Used as a tonic or appetizer.
Blepharitis -- Inflammation of eyelid.
Blood sugar (blood glucose) -- Necessary element in blood to sustain life. The
blood level of glucose is determined by insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas. When
the pancreas no longer satisfies this function, the disease DIABETES MELLITUS results.
Bronchitis -- Inflammation of the breathing tubes.
Bulb -- Modified plant bulb with scaly leaves that grows beneath the soil.
Carcinogen -- Chemical or substance that can cause cancer.
Cardiac arrhythmias -- Abnormal heart rate or rhythm.
Cardiac -- Pertaining to the heart.
Carminative -- Aids in expelling gas from the intestinal tract.
Cathartic -- Very strong laxative that produces explosive, watery bowel movements.
Cell -- Unit of protoplasm, the essential living matter of all plants and animals.
Central nervous system -- Brain, spinal cord and their nerve endings.
Central-nervous-system depressant -- Causes changes in the body, including changes
in consciousness, lethargy, loss of judgment or coma.
Chronic -- Disease of long standing. Opposite of ACUTE.
Co-enzyme -- Heat-stable molecule that must be loosely associated with an enzyme
for the enzyme to perform its function.
Colic -- Abdominal pain that recurs in a pattern every few seconds or minutes.
Collagen -- Gelatinous protein used to make body tissues.
Congestive -- Excess accumulation of blood. In congestive heart failure, blood
congregates in lungs, liver, kidney and other parts to cause shortness of breath, swelling
of ankles, sleep disturbances, rapid heartbeat and easy fatigue.
Conjunctivitis -- Inflammation of the outer membrane of the eye.
Constriction -- Tightness or pressure.
Contraceptive -- Prevents pregnancy.
Contraindication -- Inadvisability of using a substance that may cause harm under
specific circumstances. For example, high- caloric intake in someone who is overweight is
contraindicated.
Convulsion -- Violent, uncontrollable contraction of the voluntary muscles.
Corticosteroid (adrenocorticosteroid) -- Hormones produced by the body or
manufactured synthetically.
Counterirritant -- Process of applying an irritating substance to the skin to
produce increased blood circulation to the area. Classic example (now considered an
outdated treatment) is mustard plaster applied to the chest to relieve bronchial
congestion or cough.
Cyanogenic glycoside(s) -- Sugars that have the capacity to be used in the
production of cyanide.
Cystitis -- Inflammation of the urinary bladder.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) -- Complex protein chemical in genes that determines
the type of life form into which a cell will develop.
Decoction -- Extract of a crude drug obtained by boiling the substance in water.
Dehiscent -- Fruit that splits open when ripe.
Delirium -- Temporary mental disturbance accompanied by hallucinations, agitation,
incoherence.
Demonic -- Destroys or repels demons.
Demulcent -- Mucilagenous or oily substance capable of protecting scraped tissues.
Dermatitis -- Skin inflammation or irritation.
Diaphoretic -- Increases perspiration.
Diuretic -- Increases urine flow. Most diuretics force kidneys to excrete more than
the usual amount of sodium. Sodium forces more water and urine to be excreted.
Dosage -- The amount of medicine to be taken for a specific problem. Dosages may be
listed as liquids (ml or milliliters, cc or cubic centimeters, teaspoons, tablespoons) dry
weight (kg or kilograms, mg or milligrams, g or grams) or by biological assay (Retinol
Units, International Units).
Drupe -- Fleshy fruit with a hard stone, such as an apricot or peach.
Duodenum -- First 12 inches of small intestine.
Dysentery -- Disorder with inflammation of the intestines,
especially the colon, accompanied by pain, a feeling of urgent need to have bowel
movements and frequent stools containing blood or mucus.
Dysmenorrhea -- Painful or difficult menstruation.
Dyspepsia -- Digestion impairment causing uncomfortable feeling of indigestion.
Eczema -- Non-contagious disease of the skin characterized by redness, itching,
scaling and lesions with discharge. Frequently becomes encrusted. Eczema primarily affects
young children. The underlying cause is usually an allergy to many things, including
foods, wool, skin lotions. The disorder may begin in month-old babies. It usually subisdes
by age 3 but may flare again at age 10 to 12 and last through puberty.
Electrolyte -- Chemical substance with an available electron in its atomic
structure that can transmit electrical impulses when dissolved in fluids.
Emetic -- Causes vomiting.
Emmenagogue -- Triggers onset of menstrual period.
Emollient -- Softens or soothes.
Emphysema -- Lung disease characterized by loss of elasticity of muscles
surrounding air sacs. Lungs cannot supply adequate oxygen to body cells for normal
function.
Endometriosis -- Medical condition in which uterine tissue is found outside the
uterus. Symptoms include pain, abnormal menstruation, infertility.
Enzyme -- Protein chemical that accelerates a chemical reaction in the body without
being consumed in the process.
Epilepsy -- Symptom or disease characterized by episodes of brain disturbance that
cause convulsions and loss of consciousness.
Essential oils -- Same as volatile oils. Oils evaporate at room temperature.
Estrogens -- Female sex hormones that must be present for secondary sexual
characteristics of the female to develop. Estrogens serve many functions in the body,
including preparation of the uterus to receive a fertilized egg.
Eupeptic -- Promotes optimum digestion.
Expectorant -- Decreases thickness and increases fluidity of mucus from the lungs
and bronchial tubes.
Extract -- Solution prepared by soaking plant in solvent, then allowing solution to
evaporate.
Extremity -- Arm, hand, leg, foot.
Fat-soluble -- Dissolves in fat.
Fatty acids -- Nutritional substances found in nature that are fats or lipids.
These include triglycerides, cholesterol, fatty acids and prostaglandins. FATTY ACIDS
include stearic, palmitic, linoleic, linolenic, eicosapentaenoic (EPA), decosahexanoic
acid. Other lipids of nutritional importance include lecithin, choline, gamma-linoleic
acid and inositol.
Fixed oils -- Lipids, fats or waxes often made from seeds of plants.
Flatulence -- Distention of the stomach or other parts of the intestinal tract with
air or other gases.
Fluid extract -- Alcoholic solution of a chemical or drug of plant origin. Fluid
extracts usually contain 1g of dry drug in each milliliter.
Free radicals -- Highly reactive molecules with an unpaired free electron that
combines with any other molecule that accepts it. Free radicals are usually toxic oxygen
molecules that damage cell membranes and fat molecules. To protect against possible damage
from free radicals, the body has several defenses. The most important appears at present
to be anti-oxidant substances, such as superoxide dismutase, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin
E, zinc and others.
G6PD -- Deficiency of glucose 6-phosphate, a chemical necessary for glucose
metabolism. Some people have inherited deficiencies of this substance and have added risks
when taking some drugs.
Gastritis -- Inflammation of the lining of the stomach.
Gastroenteritis -- Inflammation of stomach and intestines characterized by pain,
nausea and diarrhea.
Gastrointestinal -- Pertaining to stomach, small intestine, large intestine, colon,
rectum and sometimes the liver, pancreas and gallbladder.
Generic -- Relating to or descriptive of an entire group or class.
Gingivitis -- Inflammation of the gums surrounding teeth.
Gland -- Cells that manufacture and excrete materials not required for their own
metabolic needs.
Glossitis -- Inflammation of the tongue.
Gluten -- Mixture of plant proteins occurring in grains, chiefly corn and wheat.
People who are sensitive to gluten develop gastrointestinal symptoms that can be
controlled only by eating a gluten-free diet.
Glycoside(s) -- Plant substance that produces a sugar and other substances when
combined with oxygen and hydrogen.
Griping -- Intestinal cramps.
Gums -- Translucent substances without form. Usually a decomposition product of
cellulose. Gums dissolve in water.
Hallucinogen--Produces hallucinations -- apparent sights, sounds or other sensual
experiences that do not actually exist or do not exist for other people.
Heart block -- An electrical disturbance in the controlling system of the
heartbeat. Heart block can cause unconsciousness and in its worst form can lead to cardiac
arrest.
Hematuria -- Blood in the urine.
Hemoglobin -- Pigment necessary for red cells to transport oxygen. Iron is a
necessary component of hemoglobin.
Hemolysis -- Breaking a membranous covering or destroying red blood cells.
Hemorrhage -- Extensive bleeding.
Hemostatic -- Prevents bleeding and promotes clotting of blood.
Hepatitis -- Inflammation of liver cells, usually accompanied by JAUNDICE.
Herb -- Plant or plant part valued for its medicinal qualities, pleasant aroma or
pleasing taste.
Histamine -- Chemical in the body tissues that constricts the smooth muscle
surrounding bronchial tubes, dilates small blood vessels, allows leakage of fluid to form
itching skin and hives and increases secretion of acid in stomach.
Hives -- Elevated patches on skin usually caused by an allergic reaction
accompanied by a release of histamine into the body tissues. Patches are redder or paler
than the surrounding skin and itch intensely.
Homeopathy -- Practice of using extremely small doses of medicines and herbs to
cause the same symptoms the disease causes. Homeopaths (practitioners of homeopathy)
acknowledge no diseases, only symptoms.
Hormone -- Chemical substance produced by endocrine glands--thymus, pituitary,
thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, ovaries, testicles, pancreas--that regulates many body
functions to maintain homeostasis (a steady state).
Humectant -- Moistens or dilutes.
Hypercalcemia -- Abnormally high level of calcium in the blood.
Hypertension -- High blood pressure.
Hypocalcemia -- Abnormally low level of calcium in the blood.
Hypoglycemia -- Abnormally low blood sugar.
Impotence -- Inability of a male to achieve and maintain an erection of the penis
to allow satisfying sexual intercourse.
Indehiscent -- Fruit that remains closed upon reaching maturity.
Inflorescence -- Flowerhead of a plant.
Infusion -- Product that results when a drug or herb is steeped to extract its
medicinal properties.
Insomnia -- Inability to sleep.
Interaction -- Change in body's response to one substance when another is taken.
Interactions may increase the response, decrease the response, cause toxicity or
completely change the response expected from either substance. Interactions may occur
between drugs and drugs, drugs and vitamins, drugs and herbs, drugs and foods, vitamins
and vitamins, minerals and minerals, vitamins and foods, minerals and foods, vitamins and
herbs, herbs and herbs.
International units -- Measurement of biological activity. In the case of vitamin
E, 1 International Unit (IU) equals 1 milligram (mg)(1IU = 1mg).
I.U. or IU -- International units.
Jaundice -- Symptom of liver damage, bile obstruction or excessive red-blood-cell
destruction. Jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the whites of the eyes, yellow
skin, dark urine and light stool.
Kidney stones -- Small, solid stones made from calcium, cysteine, cholesterol and
other chemicals circulating in the bloodstream. They are produced in the kidneys.
Lactagogue -- Increases the flow of breast milk in a woman.
Lactase -- Enzyme that helps body convert lactose to glucose and galactose.
Lactase deficiency -- Lack of adequate supply of enzyme LACTASE. People with
lactase deficiency have difficulty digesting milk and milk products.
Larvacide -- Kills larvae.
Latex -- Milky juice produced by plants.
Laxative -- Stimulates bowel movements.
LDH -- Abbreviation for lactic dehydrogenase, a blood test to measure liver
function and to detect damage to the heart muscle.
Libido -- Sex drive.
Lipid -- Fat or fatty substance.
Lymph glands -- Glands located in the lymph vessels of the body that trap foreign
material, including infectious material, and protect the bloodstream from becoming
infected.
Maceration -- Softening of a plant by soaking.
Magnesia -- Another term for magnesium hydroxide.
Malabsorption -- Poor absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract into the
bloodstream.
Mcg -- Abbreviation for microgram, which is 1/1,000,000th (1/1-millionth) of a gram
or 1/1,000th of a milligram.
Megadose -- Very large dose. In terms of recommended dietary allowance (RDA),
anything 10 or more times the RDA is considered megadose. Nutritionists urge no one take
megadoses of ANY substance because these doses may be toxic, cause an imbalance of other
nutrients, cause damage to an unborn child and do not provide benefits beyond rational
doses.
Menopause -- End of menstruation in the female caused by decreased production of
female hormones. Symptoms include hot flushes, irritability, vaginal dryness, changes in
the skin and bones.
Metabolism -- Chemical and physical processes in the maintenance of life.
Mg -- Abbreviation for milligram, which is 1/1,000th of a gram.
Migraine -- Periodic headaches caused by constriction of arteries in the skull.
Symptoms include visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity and severe pain.
Milk sickness -- Intolerance to milk and milk products due to a deficiency of an
enzyme called LACTASE.
Mitogen -- Causes nucleus of cell to divide; leads to a new cell.
Mucilage -- Gelatinous substance that contains proteins and polysaccharides.
Narcotic -- Depresses the central nervous system, reduces pain and causes
drowsiness and euphoria. Narcotics are addicting substances.
Naturopathy -- Medical practice that uses herbs and various methods to return body
to healthy state by stimulating innate defenses--never supplanting them--with drugs. In
early years, many naturopathic physicians were ill-prepared to practice a healing
profession. Many received mail-order degrees and had little training. However by the
1950s, some degree of academic acceptability returned. Several accredited schools award
degrees for training, and many states now require examinations and licensure to ensure
competence.
Neuropathy -- Group of symptoms caused by abnormalities in sensory> or motor
nerves. Symptoms include tingling and numbness in hands or feet, followed by gradually
progressive muscular weakness.
Oleoresin -- Resins and volatile oils in a homogenous mixture.
Osteoporosis -- Softening of bones.
Oxidation -- Combining a substance with oxygen.
Parasympathetic -- Division of the autonomic (also called AUTOMATIC) nervous
system. Parasympathetic nerves control functions of digestion, heart and lung activity,
constriction of eye pupils and many other normal functions of the body.
Parkinson's disease -- Disease of the central nervous system characterized by a
fixed, emotionless expression of the face, slower-than-normal muscle movements, tremor
(particularly when attempting to reach or hold objects), weakness, changed gait and a
forward-leaning posture.
Paronychia -- Infection around a fingernail bed.
Peduncle -- Stalk attached to a flower.
Pellagra -- Disease caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B-l). Symptoms
include diarrhea, skin inflammation and dementia (brain disturbance).
Peristalsis -- Wave of contractions of the intestinal tract.
Pernicious anemia -- See Anemia, pernicious.
Pharyngitis -- Inflammation of the throat.
Phenylketonuria -- Inherited disease caused by lack of an enzyme necessary for
converting phenylalanine into a form the body can use. Accummulation of too much
phenylalanine can cause poor mental and physical development in a newborn. Most states
require a test at birth to detect the disease. When detected early and treated,
phenylketonuria symptoms can be prevented by dietary control.
Phosphates -- Salts of phosphoric acid. Important part of the body system that
controls acid-base balance. Other chemicals involved in acid-base balance include sodium,
potassium, bicarbonate and proteins.
Photosensitization -- Process by which a substance or organism becomes sensitive to
light.
Photosensitizing pigment -- Pigment that makes a substance sensitive to light.
Potassium -- Important element found in body tissue that plays a critical role in
electrolyte and fluid balance in the body.
Poultice -- Applied to a body surface to provide heat and moisture. Material is
held between layers of muslin or other cloth. Poultices contain an active substance and a
base. They are placed on any part of the body and changed when cool. Purpose is to relieve
pain and reduce congestion or inflammation.
Prostate -- Gland in the male that surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra.
In older men, it may become infected (prostatitis) or obstructed (prostatic hypertrophy),
cause urinary difficulties or become cancerous.
Psoriasis -- Chronic, recurrent skin disease characterized by patches of flaking
skin with discoloration.
Psychosis -- Mental disorder characterized by deranged personality, loss of contact
with reality, delusions and hallucinations.
Purgative -- Powerful laxative usually leading to explosive, watery diarrhea.
Purine foods -- Foods metabolized into uric acid; these include anchovies, brains,
liver, sweetbreads, sardines, meat extracts, oysters, lobster and other shellfish.
RDA -- See RECOMMENDED DIETARY ALLOWANCE.
Recommended dietary allowance -- Recommendations based on data> derived from
different population groups and ages. The quoted RDA figures represent the AVERAGE amount
of a particular nutrient needed per day to maintain good health in the average healthy
person. Data for these recommendations have been collected and analyzed by the Food and
Nutritional Board of the National Research Council. These figures serve as a reference
point for comparison. The latest revised amounts were published in 1980, with a new
revision promised soon. It is only within the framework of statistical probability that
RDA can be used legitimately and meaningfully.
RNA (ribonucleic acid) -- Complex protein chemical in genes that determines the
type of life form into which a cell will develop.
Renal -- Pertaining to the kidneys.
Resin -- Complex chemicals, usually hard, transparent or translucent that
frequently cause adverse effects in the body.
Retina -- Inner covering of the eyeball on which images form to be perceived in the
brain via the optic nerve.
Rhizome -- Root-like, horizontal-growing stem growing just below the surface of the
soil.
Rickets -- Bone disease caused by vitamin-D deficiency. Bones become bent and
distorted during infancy or childhood if there is insufficient vitamin D for normal growth
and development.
Rubefacient -- Reddens skin by increasing blood supply to it.
Saponin(s) -- Chemicals from plants, frequently associated with adverse or toxic
reactions. They uniformly produce soapy lathers.
Sedative -- Reduces excitement or anxiety.
SGOT -- Abbreviation for serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, a blood test to
measure liver function or detect damage to the heart muscle.
Spasmolytic -- Decreases spasm of smooth muscle or skeletal (striated) muscle.
Steroidal chemicals -- Group of chemicals with same properties as steroids.
Steroids are fat-soluble compounds with carbon and acid components. They are found in
nature in the form of hormones and bile acids, and in plants as naturally occurring drugs,
such as digitalis.
Stimulant -- Stimulates (temporarily arouses or accelerates) physiological activity
of an organ or organ system.
Stomachic -- Promotes increased contraction of stomach muscles.
Stomatitis -- Inflammation of the mouth.
Stroke -- Sudden, severe attack that results in brain damage. Usually sudden
paralysis or speech difficulty results from injury to the brain or spinal cord by a blood
clot, hemorrhage or occlusion of blood supply to the brain from a narrowed or blocked
artery.
Tannins -- Complex acidic mixtures of chemicals.
Tenesmus -- Urgent feeling of having to have a bowel movement or to urinate.
Terpenes -- Complex hydrocarbons (C10H16). Most volatile oils are mostly terpenes.
Thrombophlebitis -- Inflammation of a vein, usually caused by a blood clot. If the
clot becomes detached and travels to the lung, the condition is called THROMBOEMBOLISM.
Tincture -- Solution of chemicals in a highly alcoholic solvent made by simple
solution or by methods described in the UNITED STATES PHARMACOPEIA or the NATIONAL
FORMULARY.
Tonic -- Medicinal preparations used to restore normal tone to tissues or to
stimulate the appetite.
Toxicity -- Poisonous reaction that impairs body functions or damages cells.
Toxin -- Poison in dead or live organism.
Tranquilizer -- Calms a person without clouding mental function.
Tremor -- Involuntary trembling.
Tyramine -- Chemical component of the body. In normal quantities, without
interference from other chemicals, tyramine helps sustain normal blood pressure. In the
presence of some drugs--monamine-oxidase inhibitors and some rauwolfia compunds--tyramine
levels can rise and cause toxic or fatal levels in the blood.
Urethra -- Hollow tube through which urine (and semen in men) is transported from
the bladder to outside the body.
Uterus -- Hollow, muscular organ in the female in which an embryo develops into a
fetus. Menstruation occurs when the lining sloughs
periodically.
Vein -- Blood vessel that returns blood to the heart.
Virus -- Infectious organism that reproduces in the cells of an infected host.
Volatile oils -- Chemicals that evaporate at room temperature.
Water-soluble -- Dissolves in water.
Wax -- High-molecular-weight hydrocarbons; they are insoluble in water.
Yeast -- Single-cell organism that can cause infection of the skin, mouth, vagina,
rectum and other parts of the gastrointestinal system. The terms YEAST, FUNGUS and MONILIA
are used interchangeably. |
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From Complete Guide to Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements by H. Winter Griffith, M.D. Copyright by Putnam Publishing
Group. Electronic rights by Medical Data Exchange.
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