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Adaptogen - A
chemical substance (such a herb) that allows the body to resist
physical, biological and chemical "attacks". It also enhances the
body's endurance and stabilizes body function by acting on hormones.
Animal Studies
- Research studies done in animals such as mice, rats, dogs, cats,
rabbits or monkeys. These studies are cheaper to carry out than studies
done on human subjects. However, the results may match the results done
on human subjects. Be very careful to extrapolate the results (no
matter how positive) to human subject. Just because it worked in rats,
doesn't mean it will work in humans.
Antioxidants - Chemical substances that can protect against oxidation damage caused by free radicals which can harm or kill human cells. Click here to get the facts on antioxidants.
Astringent - A chemical substance that causes tissues to shrink, contract, reduce its secretion or stop bleeding.
Benign
- Not cancerous or non-spreading tumour (opposite of malignant or
spreading tumour). It is also used to describe something that is gentle
(as in a benign herb).
Carminative - A chemical substance that helps to remove gas from the stomach or intestine.
Clinical
Studies / Clinical Trials / Clinical Research
- Research studies done on human subjects based treating a disease or
health condition with the medication or natural remedy. This type of
research study give the most reliable evidence of benefits for treating
the health condition claimed.
Compress
- A cloth bandage applied to the affected area of the skin. It is
designed to provide compression, heat, cold or moisture to the area to
treat the skin ailment.
Decoction
- A solution that contains the herbal plant that has been placed in
boiling water to
draw out the chemical substance in the plant. The solution is then
filtered and the solution is taken by mouth.
Double-blind
- A research study designed such that the subject taking the
pill and the researcher
giving the pill to the person doesn't know whether the pill contains
the active ingredient or just a placebo.
Double Blind Randomized
Placebo-Controlled - This is the ultimate
super well-designed research studies that will give the best
results.Why? Because it eliminates biases caused by the researchers,
the subjects involved in the study, the placebo
effect.
These studies are the most expensive to carry out but give the most
reliable and meaningful results. This is the "gold standard" in the
design of research studies.
Essential Amino Acid
- An amino acid that the human body requires that cannot be
made inside the body. This amino acid must come from food sources
in the diet. A difficiency of this amino acid in the diet will cause
serious health problems and possibly death of the human body.
Essential Oils
- Volatile oils extracted from herbs that carries their odour and
chemical properties. Essential oils are used extensively for the
treatment of ailments, the manufacturing of perfumes, and as a
flavouring agent.
any
amino acid that is required by an animal for growth but that cannot be
synthesized by the animal's cells and must be supplied in the diet.
Extract - A
concentrated solution that contains chemicals taken out of herbs, drugs
or chemicals.
Folk Medicine (Folkloric Medicine)
- The use of natural remedies to treat varies health conditions that
are based on culture, superstition or are information passed down from
one generation to the next. The remedies or treatment methods used
usually do not have much scientific basis or research studies to
provide evidence of effectiveness.
Free radicals
- Free radicals are created as a by-product of energy production by our
body. They can damage and cause cell death. Antioxidants can inactivate
free radicals. Click here to read the article on antixoidants.
Infusion
/ Tea - A liquid extract (usually as tea) that is made by steeping the plant
parts in a solution of water. The liquid is then taken by mouth.
Interferon
- A type of protein made by cells that can block viral reproduction and
stop the spread of the virus. It modulate cell function and is
involved in the immune system.
Interleukin
- A group of cytokines produced by defense cells (such as macrophages)
that work to regulate, modulate or stimulate the actions of white blood
cells. One class, interleukin-2 are being researched for the treatment
of cancer.
Any of a group of glycoproteins that are produced by different cell
types in response to various stimuli, such as exposure to viruses, and
that block viral replication in newly infected cells and, in some
cases, modulate specific cellular functions.
Lab Studies
- These are research studies that scientists carry out on cells and
tissue samples in their laboratory. Results on tissue samples do not
always work out when tested in animals and humans. The results, no
matter how positive, may not translate to the same benefit when used in
animals or humans.
Patch Test
- Apply a substance (allergen or any chemical substance) to a small
area of the skin to see if an allergic reaction develops. Redness or
swelling is a sign of an allergic skin reaction to that substance.
Placebo
- A sugar pill. It is a pill that looks identical to the pill that
actually contains the active ingredient. The placebo effect can make
the drug or natural remedy appear to be more effective than it actually
it. Well designed studies always are placebo controlled. Half the
subject gets the actual active ingredient and the other half gets a
placebo.
Placebo Effect
- When a subject sees a positive benefit or experience a negative side
effect because he believes it even though the pill he took is a placebo (sugar pill).
Population
Studies - These
are research studies done on a group of people that share a common
characteristics. For example, a study could look at how much vitamin C
people get daily and compare it to the risk of them getting gout. The
study might discover that those taking higher doses of vitamin C had
less risk of getting gout. These study are not as good as those that
are double-blinded
randomized and placebo-controlled.
These studies may not allow you to link a cause and effect directly. In
the above example, it is possible that those people who take more
vitamin C also take other vitamins and minerals as well. Perhaps, those
taking vitamin C are more health-conscious and look after themselves
better. Population studies don't allow you to randomize the
subjects easily so the results can be biased.Prodrome - A premonitory symptom. Symptoms that occur prior to the health problem appearing.
Randomized
- This term means that the subjects involved in the research study are
randomly assigned to either take the active ingredient or the placebo.
This will ensure that the results are not biased by the way the
researchers
assigned the subjects to either the treatment or placebo group.
Salt
- Any compound attached to another molecule such that when placed in
water, it will separate into its positive and negative ionic forms.
This is to allow it to dissolve so that it can be absorbed properly.
Many chemical ingredients such as those found in herbs, vitamins and
minerals are found attached to hydrochloride, chloride, succinate,
gluconate. For example, table salt is sodium chloride.
Significant
- This term means that the results from the experiment shows a positive
result that is meaningful (and that the result did happen to turn out
to be
positive or negative by accident). So if a study showed that taken a
herb did
not significantly lower blood pressure, it means that herb was
no
better at lowering blood pressure than taking a placebo.
Steep - To soak the plant parts in (usually) hot or boiling water.
Tincture - A
solution made of alcohol and water that contains herbal
extracts, active chemical ingredients or drugs.
Tonic - A substance that increases the strengthens and invigorates the body. See also the definition on adaptogen.
Trace Mineral
- Any mineral that your body needs in only very small amounts. For
example, zinc is a trace mineral as your body can function with 15
mg daily. On the other hand, calcium is not a trace mineral as your
body needs upwards of one or two grams (1,000 to 2,000 mg) daily.
Well-Designed - We
use this term to refer to clinical studies that are double-blind,
randomized and placebo-controlled.
This is the "gold" standard in design for clinical studies. Of course,
the study have to have enough test subjects as well. A study involving
2 to 10 subjects is no where as good as one that recruited 500
or even
10,000 subjects. Why don't all clinical research studies recruit 10,000
subjects?
Cost!
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Medical Terms and Definition Revised: Febuary 10, 2011

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