Bioassay terminology

[Auxin]

I was just reading through some bioassay reports again and I had the idea to make a page with appropriate descriptive terms to use in these reports.

We've all heard the ubiquitous term 'mild marijuana like high' used incorrectly a hundred times, then you get stuff like 'kinda sorta divinorumesque but not really' ( gee- that helps doesnt it ).

So I'm trying to remember appropriate medical terminology to define on the page- but my memory gets foggy with medical words. The ones I can think of at the moment are:

Anxiolytic

Anxiogenic

Aperitive (gives you the munchies)

Apsychosis (loss of the function of thought)

Depressant

Euphoriant

Laxative

Stimulant

Hallucinogenic (definitions for auditory, tactile, olfactory, and visual hallucinations)

Emetic

Convulsant

Antitussive (releives or prevents coughing)

Antipyretic (reduces fever)

Psychotomimetic

So what are some of them that I'm missing?

[mescalito]

Heya Auxin ,

Alteratives-agents that gradually alter a condition.

Anthelmintics/Vermifuges-Expel worms.

Astringents-firm the skin or mucous membrane.

Bitter Tonics-stimulate gastric/saliva production.

Bland Dietetics-non-stimulating,non-irritating,easily digested nutritive botanicals.

Calmatives-mild calming effect.

Carminatives/Aromatics-fragrants.

Cathartics-Cause bowel evacuation.

Demulcents-mucilaginous and blandnature,for internal protective coating-like properties.

Diaphoretics-Cause sweating.

Diuretics-Psssssssssss!

Emollients-Skin softening.

Expectorants-Loosen phlegm.

Nervines-Relaxes temporarily.

Refrigerants-Cool the body temp.

Vulnerary's-Applied to minor external wounds(mainly for the chlorophyll)

That's all I can find

[MrBumpy]

I'll just copy the list from one of my Herbal Medicine Text books

Abortifacient: - bye bye little fetus

Adaptogen : helps the body deal with stress

Analgesic : pain relief

Anaphrodisiac : kesseb sexual functions and desires (PURE EVIL!!)

Anodyne : ease pain

Antacid : neutralise stomach acid

anthelmintic : expel or destroy parasitic worms in the GI

Antiarthritic : relieve and heal arithitic conditions

anticatarrhal : reduces catarrh or excessive mucus secretion

Anti-coagulant : slows or prevents blood clotting

antidote : counteracts or neutralises a poison

ANti-lithic : prevent formation of calculi or gravel in Urinary system

Anti-mitotic : inhibits division of cells

anti-neoplastic : inhibits or destroys tumous

Antipyretic : prevents or reduces fever

Antiscorbutic : prevents or cures scurvy

Antiseptic : prevent, resist and counteract infection

Antispasmodic: reduce or prevent excessive involuntary muscular contractions or spasms

Anti-sudorific :stops or prevents sweating

antitussive : relieves or reduces coughing

Aperient : mild laxative on the bowels

Astringent : contracts tissues...making htem firmer and reduces discharges

Aphrodisiac : the one we know and love

Bitter : bitter taste..promotes digestive function

Bronchodilator : increases diameter of pulmonary air passages

Cardio-active : acts on the heart

Cardiotonic : beneficial action on the heart

Carminative : improves digestion and relieves the discomfort of flatulence and colic

Cathartic : causes evacuation of the bowels

Cholagogue : stimulates or aids the release of bile form hte gall bladder

Choleretic : stimulates production of bile in liver

Counterirritant : increases local circulation when applied topically

Demulcent : soothing an protective internally to irritated tissues and surfaces

De-obstruent : removes obstructions from the body by improving hte normal channels of elimination

Depurative : promotes the natural channels of elimination

Diaphoretic : produces perspiration and increases elimination through the skin

Diuretic : increases the secretion and flow of urine

Emetic : induces vomiting

Emmenagogue : promotes menstruation

Emollient : softens, soothes and protects the skin

Expectorant : promotes removal of excess mucus from lungs and air passages

Febrifuge : reduces fever

Galactagogue : increases or promotes flow of milk

Haemostatic : reduces or stops bleeding

Hepatic : strengthen, tone and stimulate bile secretions, improving liver function

Hypolipidaemic : lowers blood lipid levels

Hypotensive : lowers blood pressure

Hypnotic : induces sleep

Nervine : tones and strengthens the nervous system

Nutritive : nourishes the body

Orexigenic : stimulates the appetite

Oxytocic : stimulates uterine contraction

Parasiticide : destroys parasites

Parturient : used to facilitate childbirth

Pectroal : strengthens and improves the function of respiratory tract

Refrigerant : lowers body temperature and relieves thirst

Rubefacient : stimulates local capillary dilation and causes reddening of the skin..thus relieves congestion and inflammation of deeper tissues

Sedative : relaxes and reduces nerve conduction

Sialagogue : promotes secretion and flow of saliva

Soporific : promotes sleep

Spasmolytic : counteracts or relieves convulsions or spasmodic pains

Sternutatory : promotes sneezing by irritating the mucous membrane in the nasal passages

Stimulant : increases functional activity and energy in the body

Stomachic : relieves stomach pain

styptic : stops bleeding when applied externally

sudorific : induces sweating

Thymoleptic : acts as a tonic or restorative to the nervous system and at the same time is stimulating, engendering a feeling of well-being

Trophorestorative : nourishes and restroes the function to particular tissues

Tonic : improves the function of, energises and tones the body or particular tissues or organs

Vasoconstrictor : causes contriction of blood bessels

Vasodilator : causes dilation of blood vessels

Vermifuge : expels or destroys worms

Vulnerary : used to hasten the healing of wounds

hope this helps

-bumpy

[Auxin]

DAMN! Thanks guys, that helped allot.

So what do ya think, if I compiled a bioassay writing and terminology FAQ do you think it would be used or do ya think people would still report everything from alfalfa to zinnias as producing 'a mild marijuana like high'?

I'm not saying we should use excessively complex language that you need a university library to translate to english- just reports that are more descriptive and less misleading. Like you can still call munchies munchies (or hunger), but if something causes euphoria and mild visual distortions with an anti-anxiety effect it should be stated as such rather than comparing it to the last hour of this or that.

[Darklight]

I'd use it, if it were kept simple enough

[theobromos]

Algesic

Dysphoric

Lacrymogenic

Toxic

Lethal?

Oh, and oneirogenic, sensory sensitiser and antidepressant.

Perhaps if you provided "cannabinomimetic" people would say they had a mild cannabinomimetic effect.

I once smoked something that totally prevented me from feeling the effects of cannabis for three days. What would you call that, antidote? Or annoying?

[Auxin]

"I once smoked something that totally prevented me from feeling the effects of cannabis for three days. What would you call that, antidote? Or annoying?"

A 'cannabinoid blocker'?

Or 'a good prank'

What was it? It'd be funny to put some in a dime bag and leave it where the stoners congregate at a local highschool

[nabraxas]

yes, it would be very usefull- i hate those non-sense reviews too, but i second that it must be kept simple--- i know i'm dim, but there's already half a dozen undefined words above that i have no idea about, like Anxiolytic or Lacrymogenic. i could hazard a guess- but that would probably only make things more confusing.

[t st tantra]

yep,i know what you mean,but when you try a totally new plant with a new chemical comparing it to the plant its effects most resembles can seem the best option.for instance my best discription of the effects of alchornea ilicifolia is yohimbie like,though i realise this definition would also include ibogaine as yohimbie like.i would like to have done better but couldn't.i gather your thrust is to a discription of effects rather than a comparison with another plant.the more plants one has experienced the better any comprison would be.

what is the scientific term for having your head space fill up with white light?

are you asking to have the irrational described in scientific terms?

isnt there a concensus that the effects of lsd cannot be properly defined.[it's peyote like!LOL]

i will keep your point in mind for my next bioassay.

i read a reveiw of sab recently saying we were the most scientifically rigourous ethno forum around!

t s t .

[Auxin]

"i read a reveiw of sab recently saying we were the most scientifically rigourous ethno forum around!"

COOL

I love it when our work is appreciated :D

Everyone give yourself a big pat on the back.

Do you still have the link to that review?

"when you try a totally new plant with a new chemical comparing it to the plant its effects most resembles can seem the best option."

Correct, its the reflexive nature of the human mind to interpret new experiences by their relation to past experiences. But that doesnt have to be the end point of a persons analysis of the experience, rather it should be the starting point. If you smoke somethin' and say to yourself 'this is kinda like mild weed' the very next thing you should do is go through all the effects and define them one by one.

I just did an assay that would commonly be called a 'mild marijuana like high'. When I smoked the stuff my mind first reacted by saying 'kinda like pot' so I went through the effects:

Marijuana like symptoms:

Sedation- yes

Euphoria- yes

Reduction of coordination- only mild

Munchies- no

Reduction of mental faculties- no

Symptoms unlike marijuana:

Slight visual/auditory distortions

Improved perception of sensory detail

So instead of saying 'kinda sorta marijuanaesque' I would list the specific effects noted.

"what is the scientific term for having your head space fill up with white light?"

Iucundus? (Latin for pleasant. When in doubt talk in latin )

"there's already half a dozen undefined words above that i have no idea about, like Anxiolytic or Lacrymogenic"

Anxiolytic = anti-anxiety

Lacrymogenic = causes crying (from latin: lacrymo- to weep, genic- to cause)

"it must be kept simple"

I agree, if we want bioassays to be useful we should avoid advanced medical terminology. Some terms are well known enough to use (sedative, stimulant, etc.) others can be translated to plain english (munchies or hunger rather than aperitive, for instance). The main thing I want to promote is accuracy. Like relevant things usually left out- for instance age, weight, gender (yes it makes a difference), race (yes it makes a difference in effects and side effects- its proven beyond any medical doubt so dont y'all get all PC on me), quantity used, relevant preexisting medical conditions, etc.

"i read a reveiw of sab recently saying we were the most scientifically rigourous ethno forum around!"

I just had to repeat it again

Makes me all warm and fuzzy, it probably helps that the stuff I'm assaying causes euphoria

[theobromos]

I am not sure there is any source for the herb which avoids the possibility of overharvesting. It was Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium sp) root extract. Made according to Mrs Grieve's Modern Herbal, which calls the extract cypripedin, then smoked.

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/v/...v/valame02.html

[Darklight]

nabraxas:

t there's already half a dozen undefined words above that i have no idea about, like .

And when I'm in the middle of a bioassay- esp an intense one- the LAST thing I can pronounce is Anxiolytic or Lacrymogenic. Let alone say it or write it

[Auxin]

Well in that case you write down what you can and refine it later.

[Auxin]

Well, its going out of the hypothetical and into the practical. I started typing up the page yesterday, so it should be up within a few days.

Just thought I'd give an update.

"sab... the most scientifically rigourous ethno forum around!"

I just had to repeat it yet again

Maby I should make it into a T-shirt

[planthelper]

but,i only come here to look at your ever growing collection of smileys.

[Auxin]

"but,i only come here to look at your ever growing collection of smileys."

What, you mean this collection:

http://members.aol.com/polyploid2/icon/smilies.html

Dont worry, its gonna keep growing.

[Auxin]

OK, My http://www.shaman-australis.com/~auxin/bioassay.htmlBioassay FAQ is online. Check it out, see if it provides usefull guidelines.