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There is no real difference between a parturient and an abortifacient other than in the dosage given and the time at which it is taken.

It is used in lip salves.

Pure water, at pH 7.0, is considered neutral. Acidity increases as the number decreases, while alkalinity increases as the numbers increase.

They are found in berries, parsley, and all flowering plants.

One such member is salicylic acid, the natural forerunner of aspirin. Another is thymol, a constiuent of thyme. Phenols are antiseptic and reduce inflammation when taken internally; but when applied to the skin, they have an irritant effect.

Using many herbs, these practitioners sought to harmonize “the organic tissues with the vital force,” with the aim of restoring equilibrium within the body. The key therapeutic treatment involved the use of herbs in relaxing or tightening tissues and then stimulating or sedating nerves. Also believing that the stomach was the source of disease, Physiomedicalists used herbs to induce vomiting to cleanse the organ. Such herbs, as echinacea and goldenseal, which are now recognized as being excellent immune stimulants and tonics, were then prescribed to aid recovery. By the late 1830s, Thomson claimed three million followers. The second half of the 19th century was an extraordinary time for North American natural medicine. In addition to engendering osteopathy and chiropractic at the turn of the century, it also reinvigorated herbal medicine in Britain to such a degree that Physiomedicalism became an Anglo-American herbal tradition. To this day, British herbalists still use a far wider variety of North American medicinal herbs than do their European counterparts.

These include a very broad class of substances that have a beneficial effect on human health. In a broad sense, phytochemicals include vitamin C and such compounds as beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A. However, they also include thousands of other substances. Some are not well characterized or understood and many remain to be identified. Inadequate consumption is thought to be a significant contributing factor in the progression of chronic diseases so prevelent in Western societies. Much research and attention has recently focused on their possible effects in reducing the risk of developing major diseases. However, conclusions are often based upon isolated cells or laboratory animals and their application to humans is still not clear. Therefore, it is always best to obtain nutrients from food which contains the whole of factors necessary for health benefit rather than isolating certain phytochemicals in the belief that they will have the same effect.

Research has focused on several important classes of phytochemicals found in a wide range of foods including fruits, vegetables, seeds, legumes, medicinal plants, spices, culinary herbs, and edible mushrooms. Some of these nutrients are effective against cancers or are antioxidants. Others lower cholesterol, decrease plaque in the arteries, stimulate the immune system, or stimulate enzyme production.

The following are only a few classes of the several thousand known phytochemicals found in plants:

• Alkaloids are found in a number of plants including goldenseal. They prevent the overgrowth of yeast in the body, maintaining healthy levels of bacteria in the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts, and support immune function.
• Anthocyanidins are a class of phytochemicals found in bilberries, black currants, and raspberries. They fight free radicals (a by-product of metabolic reactions in the body that can lead to such degenerative illnesses as cardiovascular disease and cancer). They also reduce blood-vessel plaque formation, maintain blood flow, and reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease. In addition, they are known to inhibit edema, fight inflammation, and improve vision.
• Carotenoids include such carotenes as alpha and beta carotene from carrots, yams, cantaloupe, and butternut squash. Carotenoids are antioxidants that protects against heart disease and stroke.
• Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in all green plants. It fights bacteria, helps in the healing of burns and wounds, and fights cancer. It is also an excellent source of vitamin K, necessary for blood clotting in wound healing.
• Coumarins, from citrus fruits and tomatoes, help prevent blood clotting and may stimulate detoxification enzymes in the liver.
• Diterpenes are found in many herbs, including rosemary. They are a potent antioxidant, anticancer agent, and anti-liver-toxin agent.
• Eleutherosides are found in Siberian ginseng. They increase stamina, stimulate the appetite, and increase physical and mental vigor. They also stimulate metabolism, the immune system, and the central nervous system. Eleutherosides are also helpful in combating some of the problems of menopause, including irregular periods and hot flashes.
• Essential fatty acids (omega 3s and 6s that cannot be manufactured in the body) maintain the intergrity of cell membranes and of myelin sheaths, stimulate the production of prostaglandins, lower blood cholesterol, and strengthen immunity. They can be found in many herbs, including saw palmetto.
• Flavonglycosides are potent antioxidants. They also dilate the blood vessels, thereby improving blood flow and mental clarity, improve vision and hearing, and help to alleviate depression. They are found in such herbs as ginkgo biloba. The more commonly known flavonoids include polyphenols like quercetin, kaempferol, and anthocyanin, which are found in fruits, berries, vegetables, kale, and bark stems. They stimulate detoxification enzymes, protect the liver, strengthen capillaries, block inflammation, and inhibit tumor formation.
• Gingerols are antioxidants which improve digestion of proteins and fats. They also soothe the stomach and fight liver toxicity and inflammation. They are the active constituents of ginger.
• Ginkolic acid is found in ginkgo biloba and is yet another antioxidant. It improves circulation and mental clarity, treats depression, and fights cancer.
• Glycyrrhizins are the protective phytochemicals found in licorice. They also have antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor formation, and skin protective qualities.
• Hesperidin, found in milk thistle seeds, is an antioxidant that protects capillaries and strengthens cell membranes. It works well against liver disease and protects against ultraviolet rays.
• Hypericin is the active component of St. John’s Wort and helps to improve mood, possibly by regulating neurotransmitters in the brain.
• Isoflavones, as genistein found in soybeans, lentils, and peas, may inhibit estrogen-promoted cancers and lower high blood cholesterol.
• Isothiocyanates (sulforaphane and others) are found in cruciferous vegetables. They induce the production of protective enzymes and inhibits DNA damage, thereby reducing such risks as breast cancer while also stimulating detoxifying enzymes into speeding up the disposal of potentially harmful compounds from the body.
• Lactones are found in kava kava and protect the body against cancer by eliminating carcinogens.
• Lipoic acid, found in many plant foods, is a potent antioxidant that eliminates heavy metals from the body, protects against cancer and heart disease, normalizes blood sugar levels, and slows ageing. Lipoic acid is a key factor in energy production.
• Organosulfur compounds (eg. diallyl disulfide, S-allylcysteine, and others) from garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, and chives, may block carcinogens and suppress carcinogenic changes in cells, as well as stimulating detoxification enzymes.
• Phenolic acids are antioxidants that inhibit the formation of nitrosamines, cancer-causing agents. They are found in berries, parsley, and all flowering plants.
• Phthalides, found in parsley, detoxify carcinogens while stimulating the production of beneficial enzymes.
• Polyacetylenes are also found in parsley and help regulate the production of prostaglandins while protecting against carcinogens.
• Proanthocyanidins, found in elderberry and bilberry, are another class of antioxidants. They protect against cancer, high blood-cholesterol levels, and the flu virus. They also strengthen blood vessel walls.
• Quercetin is a flavonoid that is widely distributed in the plant kingdom. Flavonoids are naturally occurring antioxidants found in many fruits, vegetables, and other plants. Quercetin has antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. It also stabilizes cell membranes and reduces capillary fragility.
• Rosemarinic acid is the active constituent of rosemary. It fights nausea, intestinal gas, and indigestion. It is also effective against headaches.
• Salin, or salicin, is found in white willow bark. It fights inflammation, relieves pain and fever, and fights the flu virus.
• Saponins are found in soybeans, many vegetables, and such herbs as ginseng root, licorice, black cohosh, yucca, and many others. They have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Saponins enhance wound-healing and reduce cholesterol levels. They also possess a very weak estrogen activity to mimic the real hormone enough to lower the risk of certain cancers.
• Silymarin is the active component of milk thistle. It is an antioxidant and protects the liver.
• Tannins are widely distributed in plants. They are antioxidants that have antiviral properties and strengthen capillaries. They also protect against cancer, heart disease, and asthma.
• Terpenes is the common name for monoterpenes. They are antioxidants found in such herbs as ginkgo biloba and licorice root – not the candy – as well as citrus fruits and caraway seeds. Terpenes may block the action of carcinogens and may lower high blood cholesterol.
• Triterpenoids prevent dental decay, as well as fighting ulcers, cancer, and liver toxicity. They are found in licorice root and gotu kola.

Compresses are different as they are soaked in an herbal solution and then applied to the skin. Poultices use the whole herb rather than a solution.

They strengthen blood vessel walls and protect against cancer, high blood-cholesterol levels, and the flu virus.