A
Abortifacient: a substance that induces abortion.
Analgesic: a substance that relieves pain.
Anesthetic: a substance that produces anesthesia (loss of sensation and/or consciousness) subdivided into local and general.
Anti-arrhythmia: a substance which acts to stabilize an irregular heart-beat.
Anti-coagulant: a substance that delays or prevents blood coagulation.
Anti-convulsive: a substance that prevents or relieves convulsions. In addition to epilepsy, convulsionscan be caused by eclampsia (a disorder found in pregnancy, characterized by very high blood pressure); meningitis(an infection of the membranes of brain and spinal cord); tetanus(an acute bacterial infection), uremia(a toxic condition caused by too little activity of the kidneys resulting in waste products remaining in the blood), poisoning from camphor, strychnine; fever etc.
Anti-depressant: these substances work by stimulating the brain's natural activity. There are three main classes of anti-depressant drug. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) which block the breakdown of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline, increasing its level in the brain. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). These acted the same way as MAOIs, to increase levels of noradrenaline, but don't have the same dangerous side effects. The newest type of anti-depressant drug includes the drug Prozac It works by correcting the balance of a neurotransmitter called serotonin.
Anti-hypertensive: an substance or treatment which reduces hypertension.
Anti-inflammatory analgesic: a substance that reduces inflammation as well as the accompanying localized pain.
Anti-Rheumatic: a substance which reduces the effect of rheumatism, an acute or chronic condition characterized by inflammation, soreness, stiffness of muscles and pain in the joints.
Arrhythmia: irregular heart-beat caused by pathological or physiological disturbances.
Arteriosclerosis: a term applied to a number of pathological conditions in which there is a thickening, hardening and loss of elasticity in the wall of the arteries (arteries carry blood from the heart to the tissues).

C
Cardiac: associated with the heart and circulatory system.
Cathartic: a substance that produces bowel movements.
Chilblain: inflammation, swelling and itching of the feet, toes and fingers caused by mild frostbite.
Cholera: an acute bacterial infection involving the entire small intestine. If untreated it leads to severe loss of fluids, electrolyte imbalance, muscles cramps, dehydration and collapse.
Coagulant: a substance that promotes blood coagulation.
Cytostatic: preventing the growth and proliferation of cells.
Cytotoxic: destructive to cells.

D
Dermatological: associated with the skin.
Diuretic: a substance that increases the secretion of urine by acting directly on the kidneys.

E
Emetic: a substance that produces vomiting.
Extract: a concentrated water, alcohol or glycerin based herbal preparation.

F
Flavanoids: brightly colored compounds that make many fruits and vegetables yellow, red or purple. They are said to strengthen and aid capillary (minute blood vessels averaging 0.008 mm. in diameter) and blood vessel integrity. They are sometimes called bioflavanoids.

G
Gastrointestinal: associated with the digestive tract.

H
Hemostat: device or substance which stops the flow of blood.
Hypertension: high blood pressure; can be caused by excess stress, arterial blockage, kidney disease etc.
Hypotensive: low blood pressure; occurs in shock, fever, hemorrhages, infection, cancer, anemia, etc.

I
Immunosuppressant: a substance which suppresses the body's natural immune response to an antigen (bacteria, virus, fungi).
Infusion: a strong water based medicinal tea that is steeped for several hours or overnight.

L
Lectin: proteins or glycoprotien (protein with a sugar group attached). Different lectins bind with different sugars. When normal cells mutate to become cancer cells their surface sugars change, the mistletoe lectin attaches itself to these cells and cause apoptosis, a natural process of self-destruction that occurs in mutated cells. In cancerous cells this process is blocked, the cells keep dividing to form tumors.
Lithium: lithium carbonate; a drug that is useful in treating the manic phase of manic-depressive illness.

M
Macrophage: a mature form of immune system cells released from the bone marrow. In simple terms they are the garbage collectors of the body, they also carry signal of infection to the T-cells and B-cells which then produce the appropriate antigen (a substance, usually a protein that induces the formation of defending antibodies) they are the intermediary between the innate and acquired immunity.

N
Nevine: a substance that has a soothing effect on the nervous system.

P
Panacea: a remedy for all ills, a cure-all.
Polypeptides: A union of two or more amino acids: a protein.
Polysaccharides: complex carbohydrates such as starch and cellulose.
Pulmonary Aid: having a beneficial effect on the lungs.

S
Saponins: unabsorbable glucosides (a class of sugar found in plants) contained in the roots of some plants forming a lather in water. Some saponins are toxic and can lead to degradation of red blood cells.
Stimulant: a substance temporarily increasing functional activity. Stimulants are classes according to which organ or system they affect; cardiac stimulant, digestive stimulant, respiratory stimulant, etc.

T
Tannins: an acidic substance found in the barks of some plants and trees as well as nuts (acorns). Tannins act as astringents, shrinking tissues and contracting structural proteins in the skin and mucus membranes.
Thymus: a two lobed gland located in the chest cavity near the heart. An important factor in the immune system; the source of thymic lymphoid cells, T-cells which are a large part of the body's defense against viruses, fungi and certain bacteria.
Tincture: an alcohol or glycerin based herbal extract. More potent than an infusion, though not always the best way to take an herbal preparation.
Tri-terpine: any of a group of hydrocarbons (compounds composed of molecules of hydrogen and carbon). They form the primary constituents in the aromatic fractions of scented plants
Tuberculosis: an infectious disease caused by the bacteria turbercle bacillus. It most commonly affect the respiratory system though it may infect the gastrointestinal tract, urinary system, the joints, bones, nervous system, skin and lymph nodes.

V
Vagus nerve: also called the 10th cranial nerve, it is composed of both motor and sensory fibers. It supplies the organs of voice and respiration with motor and sensory fibers and the pharynx, esophagus, stomach and heart with motor fibers.
Vasodilator: a substance that causes the relaxation and dilation of the blood vessels.
Viscotoxin: a protein specific to Mistletoe whose main action is to slow the heart rate.
 
Notes

1.Sandaric, may be Sandarac, Tetraclinis articulata, an evergreen growing in Spain and Africa from which a resin is extracted. Return to text
2.Orpiment; the main raw material for extracting arsenic. It has been used as pigment, enamel and in making medicine. Return to text
3. The sediment that settles at the bottom of the wine barrel. Return to text
4. Could be epilepsy. Retrurn to text
5. Peri Andrea Mattioli (Matthiolus) (1501-1577) Commentarii, in libris sex Pedacii Dioscoridis Anazabei, de medica materia. Born in Siena, son of a physician, became a physician himself. His work was translated into many languages and has seen 60 editions, of which the first was printed in 32,000 copies. Return to text
6. Another reason for this name tells that originally Mistletoe had been a tree, but that its wood was used as the cross for Christ and out of shame it shriveled up and became a parasite. Return to text
7. Stroke, leading unconsciousness and paralysis. Return to text
8. Temporary or permanent loss of sensation or loss of ability to move or to control movement. Return to text
9. A 15th century herbalist.Return to text
10. Any adverse mental or physical condition induced by effects of treatment. Return to text
11. All italicized medical terms a can be found in the glossary. Return to text
12. Hawthorn Berries; Crataegus oxyacanthoides. One of the best tonic remedies for the heart and circulatory system. Hawthorn acts in a normalizing way on the heart by either speeding it up or slowing it down depending on the need. Return to text
 
References

Print:

A Social History of Ancient Ireland

P. W. Joyce, Benjamin Blom, 1913/1968

Breast Cancer? Breast Health

Susun Weed, Ash Tree publishing, 1996

Eastern and Central Medicinal Plants

Foster and Duke, 1990

Irish Druids and the Old Irish religion

James Bonwick, Dorset press, 1986 reprint of the 1894 edition

Planetary Herbology

Michael Tierra, Lotus press, 1988

Southwestern and Texas Wildflowers

Neihaus, Ripper and Savage, 1984

Standard Dictionary of Mythology and Folklore

Funk and Wagnall, 1950

The Book of Herbs

Sybil Leek, Cornerstone Library, 1973

The Celtic Druid's Year

John King, Blandford, 1994

The Druids

Stuart Piggot, Thames and Hudson, 1968

The Herb Book

John Lust, Bantam Books, 1974

The Herbal Handbook

David Hoffman, Healing Arts, 1988.

On-Line: unhighlighted items are no longer available on-line.

Mistletoe; its folklore and present day uses

Nutrition Science News: Mistletoe: Beyond Magic and Mysticism

National Diabetes Education Initiative; NewsWatch February 1999

Recombinant Mistletoe Lectins; A potent inhibitor of tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo.

Center for Alternative Medicine in Cancer Mistletoe Summary

Medicinal Plant Native American Data Base Taxon Phoradendron sp

BC Cancer Agency; Unconventional Cancer Therapies Manual for Patients Iscador/Mistletoe/Viscumalbum/Helixor/Iscucin

The Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative; Iscador

Loranthaceae Description

Viscaceae Description