What these words mean
The library is written in plain language, but a few terms can't always be avoided. Here's what they mean, along with the labels used on every herb page.
Kinds of evidence
- Traditional use
- These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.
- Laboratory & animal research
- Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.
- Research in people
- Studies in people. Look at how many people took part and whether the herb was compared with a placebo.
Source labels
Each citation number on an herb page has a label showing what kind of source it is.
- Health agency
- The source is a government health agency, such as the NIH or the European Medicines Agency.
- Review or trial
- The source pools the results of many studies, or is a clinical trial in people.
- Study
- The source is a single study published in a scientific journal. It may be in people, animals or the lab.
- Traditional text
- The source is a historical herbal or traditional medicine text.
- General reference
- The source is a general reference, such as a health website, encyclopedia or herb school.
Terms
- adaptogen
- A plant traditionally used to help the body respond to physical or mental stress. Research on these effects varies depending on the plant and the specific use.
- anaphylaxis
- A severe, whole-body allergic reaction that needs emergency treatment.
- antioxidant
- A substance that helps protect cells from certain types of damage.
- astringent
- Something that tightens or firms body tissues, such as skin or the lining of the mouth.
- atherosclerosis
- A buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) inside the arteries that narrows and hardens them.
- bile
- A digestive fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It helps the body digest fats.
- Commission E
- An expert panel set up by the German government to assess the safety and use of herbal medicines.
- enteric-coated
- A capsule coating designed to open in the intestine rather than the stomach.
- essential oil
- A concentrated oil containing the aromatic compounds from a plant.
- infusion
- A preparation made by pouring hot water over plant material and letting it steep.
- LDL
- Low-density lipoprotein, often called "bad" cholesterol because high levels can build up in the arteries.
- liver enzymes
- Substances measured in a liver blood test, such as ALT and AST. Higher levels can be a sign that liver cells are being damaged.
- meta-analysis
- A study that combines the results of several trials to get a clearer overall answer.
- mm Hg
- Millimeters of mercury, the unit blood pressure is measured in.
- placebo
- A dummy treatment with no active ingredient, used to compare results in a study.
- randomized controlled trial
- A study where people are assigned by chance to get the treatment or a comparison, such as a placebo. It's one of the most reliable ways to test a treatment.
- rhizome
- An underground stem that grows sideways and sends out roots, like ginger or turmeric.
- systematic review
- A study that gathers and assesses all the good-quality research on a question, rather than relying on a single trial.
- tincture
- A concentrated herbal preparation made by soaking plant material in alcohol, glycerin or another liquid.