H – Definition of Ailments

H – Definition of Ailments

Note:

“A” to “Z” Therapeutic Properties & Flower Remedies

Generated on 9/18/2008

Updated on 2/18/2009

Updated on 2/22/23

As all of you know I am done working on my Master Herbalist degree and moving on to my Doctor of Naturopath (ND). As I'm working along it seem to me that I was always looking up words to understand this foreign language, lol, so I decide to bring this to you, now all of us can understand together. 

Click on the hyper-link below to find what you are looking for (to move around this growing document or just scroll).

If you find a word that is not in this document please email the word to me at melody@melodyanns.com I will be happy to add it.

H

–   Hair Analysis – A method of determining the levels of minerals, including both toxic metals and essential minerals, in the body by measuring the concentrations of those minerals in the hair.  Unlike mineral levels in the blood, those in the hair reflect the person's status over several preceding months.

–   Half-life – The time required for the decay of half a sample of a radioactive substance; may also apply to pharmacologic agents.

–  – is an oral health problem where the main symptom is bad smelling breath. In most cases, finding the cause of the bad breath is the first step.

–   Hallucinogenic – Causes visions or delusions.

–   Hay fever – Common, usually seasonal allergy to plant pollen that causes sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes.

–   HDL – See High-density lipoprotein.

–   HDL cholesterol – A type of lipoprotein (protein Molecule that transports cholesterol in the blood stream) that is commonly referred to as “good cholesterol” because high levels normally indicate a low risk for heart disease. (LDL Cholesterol; VLDL Cholesterol).

–   Headache – Pain within the skull, commonly due to stress or fatigue; cephalagia. (Return to Cephalalgia).

–   Heartburn – A painful and burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the breastbone usually associated with regurgitation of gastric acid.  The pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw.  Heartburn is also identified as one of the causes of chronic cough, and may even mimic .  Despite its name, heartburn actually has nothing to do with the heart.  It is so called because of a burning sensation of the breastbone where the heart is located although some heart problems do have a similar sensation to heartburn.  Compounding the confusion is the fact that hydrochloric acid from the stomach comes back up the esophagus because of a problem with the cardiac sphincter, a valve which misleadingly contains the word “cardiac,” referring to the cardiac as part of the stomach and not, as might be thought., to the heart.  (Return to Pyrosis)

–   Heart Failure – Inadequate pumping of the heart ventricles due to coronary thrombosis, hypertension, or arrhythmia, congestive heart failure. (Return to Cardiomyopathy).

–   Heart Muscle – A type of muscle with unique features only found in the heart. The heart muscle, or cardiac muscle, is medically called the myocardium (“myo-” being the prefix denoting muscle). (Return to Cardiomyopathy).

–   Heart murmur – Blowing or swishing noise produced by blood passing through a defective heart valve.

–   Heartburn – Pain rising from abdomen to throat, often accompanied by bitter fluid in the mouth; pyrosis.

–   Heartwood – The central portion of a tree trunk.

–   Heather (Flower Remedies) – For those who are obsessed with their own problems and experiences and constantly relate these to others.  These types drain the vitality of others and are poor listeners.

–   Heavy metal – A metallic element whose specific gravity (a measurement of mass as compared with the mass of water or hydrogen) is greater than 5.0. Some heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, are extremely toxic.

–   Helper T cell – White blood cell that helps in the immune response.

–   Hematocrit – The percentage of packed red blood cells in a given volume of blood. Normal ranges: women 37 – 43%, men 43 – 49%.

–   Hematoma – A bulge or swelling that is filled with blood.  Hematomas are usually the result of a blunt injury or other trauma that causes a blood vessel under the skin to break.

–   Hematuria – Blood in the urine.

–   Hemicellulose – An indigestible carbohydrate resembling cellulose, found in plant cell walls, that absorbs water.

–   Hemiplegia – Equilibrium of internal environment.

–   Hemolytic – A substance which destroys red blood cells. 

–   Hemorrhage – Profuse or abnormal bleeding. Outflow of blood from a ruptured blood vessel, especially internal bleeding. (Return to Apoplexy)

–   Hemorrhoid – An enlarged vein in the anus wall, especially due to prolonged constipation or diarrhea, characterized by fissure, painful swelling and bleeding; piles.

–   Hemostat – A substances that arrests the flow of blood.

–   Hemostatic – Stops the flow of blood; type of astringent that stops internal bleeding or hemorrhaging. A substance that checks bleeding.

–   Hemostatics – Remedies which arrest hemorrhages.  Acting to arrest bleeding or hemorrhage.

–   Heparin – Natural anticoagulant produced by liver cells as a polysaccharide.

–   Hepatic – Pertaining to the liver.

–    – A general term for inflammation of the liver.  It can result from infection or exposure to toxins. Inflammation of the liver, due to a virus transmitted by food or drink (infectious hepatitis), blood on a needle, or transfusion (serum hepatitis), causing fever and .

–   Hepatomegaly – Enlargement of the liver.

–   Herbaceous – Nonwoody.

–   Herbal therapy – The use of herbal combination for healing or cleansing purposes.  Herbs can be used in tablet, capsule, tincture, or extract form, as well as in baths and poultices.

–   Hernia – A condition in which part of an internal organ protrudes, inappropriately, through an opening in the tissues that are supposed to contain it. Protrusion of tissue or an organ outside the cavity it normally occupies, especially in the lower abdomen, due to physical strain or coughing.

–   Herniated disk – Slipped disk.

–   Herpes – An acute skin inflammation consisting of patches of small blisters. (See Cold sore). Herpes simplex; small viral blisters on the skin.

–   Herpes simplex – Virus in the herpes family; non-venereal blisters on mucous membranes that can cause , vaginal inflammation, or Cold sores; herpes.

–   Herpes Zoster – Shingles. Virus in the herpes family' family characterized by vesicles, often with severe pain along distribution of nerve.

–   Hiccup – Characteristic sound made by abrupt involuntary lowering of the diaphragm and closing of the upper end of the trachea.

– High Cholesterol – High amounts of cholesterol in the blood. High cholesterol can limit blood flow, increasing risk of heart attack or stroke. It's detected by a blood test. High cholesterol has no symptoms. Treatments include medications, a healthy diet, and exercise.

–   High-density lipoprotein (HDL) – See HDL: Lipid-protein aggregate with a low proportion of lipid or cholesterol that removes cholesterol from arteries.

–   Histamine – A chemical released by the immune system that acts on various body tissues.  It has the effect of constricting the smooth bronchial tube muscles, dilating small blood vessels, allowing to leak from various tissues, and increasing the secretion of stomach acid. A chemical released by the immune system that acts on various body tissues.  It has the effect of constricting the smooth bronchial tube muscles, dilating small blood vessels, allowing fluid to leak from various tissues, and increasing the secretion of stomach acid. Amine derived from the amino acid histidine that is released in allergic reaction, causing dilation of the blood vessels. (Go back to Antihistamine)

–    – Human immunodeficiency virus.  The virus that causes AIDS. (Return to Antiretroviral)

–   Hodgkin's disease – A type of lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system). (Return to Prednisone; Leukemia)

–   Holly (Flower Remedies) – Use for those who are jealous, revengeful, envious, and suspicious.  For those who are hateful.

–   Homeopathy – A medical system based on the belief that “like cures like” – this is, that illness can be cured by taking a minute dose of a substance that, if taken by a healthy person would produce symptoms like those being treated.  Homeopathy employs a variety of plant, animal, and mineral substances in very small doses to stimulate the body's natural healing powers and to bring the body back into balance.

–   Homeostasis – Equilibrium of internal environment. Maintenance of constant internal environment.

–   Honeysuckle (Flower Remedies) – For those who are nostalgic and constantly dwell in the past.  Also for feelings of homesickness.

–   Hormone – One of numerous essential substances produced by the endocrine glands that regulate many bodily functions. A secretion of an endocrine gland that controls and regulates functions in other parts of the body. (Return to Thyroxine)

–   Hornbeam (Flower Remedies) – This remedy is good for those who need strength to deal with their daily duties (though they usually succeed in fulfilling their task). For that “Monday morning” feeling.

–   Host – An organism in or on which another organism lives and from which the invading organism obtains nourishment.

–   Human papillomavirus (HPV) – Is a papillomavirus that infects the skin and mucous membranes of humans.   Approximately 130 HPV types have been identified. Some HPV types can cause (verruca) or some types of cancer, while others have no symptom. (Return to Wart)

–   Humoral – Immunity defense against disease by antibodies in body fluids.

–   Hyaluronic acid – An organic acid known as the most effective natural skin moisturizer.  It is present in human skin and is able to hold five hundred times its own weight in water.

–   Hybrid – A plant originating by fertilization of one species or subspecies by another.

–   Hydragogue – Promotes watery evacuation of bowels.

–   Hydragogues – Purgatives which case large watery discharges.

–   Hydrocarbon – Compound containing only hydrogen and carbon.

–   Hydrocele – Accumulation of watery fluid, especially about the testis.

–   Hydrochloric acid – A strong, corrosive inorganic acid that is produced in the stomach to aid in .

–   Hydrogenation – A chemical process used to turn liquid oils into more solid form by bombarding the oil molecules with hydrogen atoms.  Hydrogenation destroys the nutritional value of the oil and also results in the formation of potentially acids—and trans-fatty acids, strangely altered fatty acid molecules that do not occur in nature. Acid secreted by stomach during digestion.

–   Hypercalcemia – The presence of abnormally high amounts of calcium in the blood.

–   Hyperchlorhydria – Excess of hydrochloric acid in gastric secretion.

–   Hyperglycemia – High blood sugar.

–   Hypergonadotropic – Increased production of gonad-stimulating hormone from the anterior pituitary gland.

–   Hyperlipidemic – Elevation of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.

–   Hyperpigmentation – Abnormally increased pigmentation.

–   Hypersecretion – Excessive secretion.

–   Hypersensitivity – Allergic reaction.

–   Hypertension – High blood pressure.  Generally, hypertension is defined as a regular resting pressure over 140/90.  Used to increase blood pressure.

–   Hypertensive – A substance that causes a rise in blood pressure.

–   Hyperthermia – Exceptionally high body temperature of 105 degrees F or above; fever induced as treatment.

–   Hyperthyroidism – Overactivity of the thyroid gland that causes rapid heartbeats sweating, tremors, weight loss, and anxiety.

–   Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is usually a genetic condition that tends to run in families. It is characterized by a thickening of the ventricular muscle that results in muscle “stiffness.” This stiffness can lead to episodes of extreme shortness of breath in some patients, especially during exercise. The thickening of the heart muscle can also cause an obstruction in the left ventricle similar to that seen with aortic stenosis. And some patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can develop ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and some thus require insertion of an implantable defibrillator. (Return to Cardiomyopathy)

–   Hypertrophy – Increase in size of tissue or organ due to enlargement of cells.

–   Hyperventilation – Abnormally rapid breathing that lowers carbon dioxide concentration in the blood.

–   Hypnotic – Powerful relaxant and sedative that induces sleep.

–   Hypnotics – Remedies which cause sleep.

–   Hypoallergenic – Having a low capacity for inducing hypersensitive (allergic) reactions.

–   Hypocalcemia – The presence of abnormally low amounts of calcium in the blood.

–   Hypochlorhydria – Insufficient gastric acid output.

–   Hypochondria – Obsession with real and imagined physical ailments.

–   Hypochondriac – Upper lateral region on each side of the body and below the thorax; beneath the ribs.

–   Hypoglycemia – Low blood sugar. A substance that causes a reduction in blood sugar level.

–   Hypoglycemic – Plant remedy that lowers abnormally elevated blood sugar.

–   Hypogonadism – Below normal gonad (sex gland) function.

–   Hypokalemia – Low potassium levels in the blood.

–   Hypotension – Low blood pressure. Used to reduce blood pressure.

–    – Plant remedy that lowers abnormally elevated blood pressure.

–   Hypothalamus – A portion of the brain that regulates many aspects of metabolism including body temperature and the hunger response.

–   Hypothyroidism – Subnormal thyroid gland activity that can lead to cretinism if present at birth.

–   Hypoxia – An inadequate supply of oxygen.

—References— “Advanced Treatise in Herbology” by – Edward E. Shook, N.D., D.C.  Copyright by Wendell W. Whitman 302 E. Winona Avenue, Warsaw, IN  46580.

—References— Business Dictionary.com http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/anaerobic.html

—References— “Dicitionary.com” http://www.dictionary.com

—References— “From the Shepherd's Purse” by – Max G. Barlow, Copyright 1990, ISBN 0-9602812-0-7.

—References— Medicine Net.com http://www.medterms.com

—References— Medical Herbalism The Science and practice of herbal medicine by David Hoffman, FNIMH, AHG, Copyright 2003, ISBN – 0-89281-749-6 

—References— “Nutritional Herbology” by – Mark Pedersen, Copyright 2008, ISBN – 10: 1-885653-07-7; ISBN – 13: 978-1-885653-07-9

—References—  Planetary Herbology by – Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., Copyright 1988, ISBN – 0-941524-27-2

—References— “Prescription for Nutrition Healing” by – Phyllis A. Balch,  CNC,    Copyright 2006,  ISBN: 1-58333-236-7.

—References— “The Ultimate Healing System – The Illustrated Guide to Muscle Testing & Nutrition” by – Donald Lepore, N.D.

 Copyright 1985, ISBN: 0-94717-11560-7.

—References— WebMD http://www.webmd.com/default.htm

—References—  Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

—References— A Modern Herbal – https://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/comindx.html

—References— Henriette's Herbal Home – https://www.henriettes-herb.com/faqs/index.html

—References—

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