THE ROOTED LIBRARY
Herbal Actions
Herbal actions describe the ways herbs have traditionally been understood to interact with the body — from calming nervines and soothing demulcents to stimulating bitters and warming circulatory herbs.
Learning these terms makes it easier to understand why certain herbs appear again and again for similar needs, and how different plants can offer different kinds of support.
What Is an Herbal Action?
An herbal action is a descriptive term used in herbalism to explain a characteristic effect or role associated with an herb. A single plant can have several actions, which is why the same herb may appear in very different preparations or traditions.
Actions are useful as a way of organizing herbal knowledge, but they are not diagnoses, guarantees, or exact predictions of what an herb will do in every person.
A Simple Example
Chamomile may be described as a:
Nervine — traditionally used to calm and support the nervous system
Carminative — traditionally used to ease digestive discomfort associated with gas
Antispasmodic — associated with relaxing smooth-muscle spasm
One herb. Several actions. Different reasons you might encounter it.
Start with 8 Useful Actions
New to herbal terminology? Begin here. These eight actions appear frequently in herbalism and offer a useful foundation for understanding how different herbs are traditionally described.
Nervine
Traditionally used to calm, nourish, or support the nervous system. Different nervines may be relaxing, gently uplifting, or better suited to particular kinds of tension.
Carminative
Aromatic herbs traditionally used to ease digestive discomfort associated with gas and bloating and to support comfortable digestion.
Bitter
Herbs with a distinctly bitter taste traditionally used to stimulate digestive processes and support appetite and digestion.
Demulcent
Herbs rich in soothing, mucilaginous compounds that can coat and calm irritated or dry tissues.
Astringent
Herbs traditionally described as tightening or toning tissues, often because of their tannin content.
Vulnerary
A traditional herbal term for plants used externally to support the care and recovery of minor skin injuries.
Antispasmodic
Herbs associated with relaxing or easing involuntary smooth-muscle spasm or tension.
Adaptogen
A modern herbal category used for certain herbs associated with supporting the body’s ability to adapt to physical or mental stress.
Browse All Herbal Actions A–Z
Looking for a specific term? Browse herbal actions alphabetically to explore the language used throughout herbalism and the Rooted Library.
A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W · X · Y · Z
B
F
Febrifuge
G
Galactagogue
H
Hemostatic
Hepatic