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Glossary of Terms
The following is a list of terms, used throughout our website, with which many readers may not be familiar. We have provide this list as a quick reference. Adaptogen: The name given to substances that help the body adapt to environmental stressors. Ginseng is a good example. They are often pleiotropic in their action. Allopathy: The common approach to treating disease which isolates and attempts to treat the disease itself using a modality that opposes (allo) the disease or pathogen; commonly views the mechanical aspects of the body. Amines: Nitrogen containing substances. Analgesic: Having the property to relieve pain. Androgen: A steroid hormone that induces male characteristics; e.g., facial hair. Anthocyanidin: A pigment in plants that gives them their color. Anthocyanidins range in color from red to blue. They have anti-oxidant, and other medicinal properties. Antibody: A protein manufactured by the body that attaches to an antigen so as to neutralize or destroy it. Antigen: A substance that causes the body to manufacture antibodies. Antihypertensive: Having the property to reduce blood pressure. Aphrodisiac: Having the property to induce sexual arousal. Astringent: Having the property to cause cellular contraction in tissues. Coenzyme / CoEnzyme: A necessary non-protein component of an enzyme; usually a vitamin or mineral. Collagen: The protein that is the main component of your body's connective tissues. This remarkable substance has greater tensile strength than a comparable strand of steel. Double-blind study: A study that ensures impartiality by not disclosing to either the subject or the researcher when the substance being administered is placebo or active. Edema: Swelling of tissue due to fluid build-up. Enzyme: A substance that speeds chemical reactions; catalyst. Estrogen: A steroid hormone that induces female characteristics, e.g., breasts. Flavonoid: A group of chemicals found throughout nature in plants, they often possess some drug effect. Flocculate: A reaction whereby a substance leaves suspension in a solution and aggregates into a coarse suspension or precipitate. Free Radical: A negatively charged molecule (often oxygen) that will attach itself to an electron from a tissue in your body, damaging it much like metals rust. Galenic: Prepared from plants. Glucose: A primary source of energy in the body; it is a monosaccharide. Homeopathy: This approach to medicine theorizes that one may cure the body of illness by introducing substances that induce reactions in the body similar (homo) to those of the disease being treated. Hormone: A chemical produced by the body in order to regulate various functions. Hyperglycemia: High blood sugar. Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar. Hypoxia: Having low levels of oxygen. Iatrogenic: Physician produced. Insulin: A hormone secreted by the pancreas to lower blood sugar levels. Lactase: Breaks down lactose into the monosaccharides glucose and galactose. Lactose: A disaccharide (sugar) found in milk. Lipid: A family of fats that includes phospholipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, steroids and prostaglandins. Lipophilic: A substance that has the property of attracting (philia) lipids. Leukocyte: A white blood cell. Leukotriene: An inflammatory compound produced when oxygen reacts with polyunsaturated fatty acids. Often responsible for allergic reactions. Monosaccharide: A single unit sugar. Naturopathy: The approach to healing that utilizes naturally occurring, non-toxic substances. Phytoestrogen: A plant-based (phyto) substance that binds to estrogen receptors. Phytoestrogens (so far) are very mild in action. Soy isoflavones are phytoestrogens. Pleiotropic: Having multiple (pleio) actions. Garlic is a good example of a phytomedicine that has many different modes of action that all add up to a significant medical benefit; it is pleiotropic. Polysaccharide: A many unit sugar. ROS: Reactive Oxygen Species. This group of molecules encompasses free radicals and includes others. Saccharide: A sugar molecule. Saponins: Non-nitrogenous glycosides (sugar-bearing compounds) that are responsible for the long-term beneficial effects of Ginseng. Saponins foam when agitated. Saturated Fat: A fat whose carbon atoms are completely bound to hydrogen atoms. Bad news. Steroids: A group of compounds with a common structure consisting of three six-membered carbon rings and one five-membered carbon ring. They include, among others, adrenal and sexual hormones. Trans-fatty acid: A fat whose carbon atoms are partially bound to hydrogen atoms. Bad news. We hope you enjoy your visit at our site, and find the information provided both useful and interesting. Email us at:  or call us (toll-free) 1-866-381-7693 with any suggestions! |
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