Append below is a Glossary of Medical Terms:

Abscess: A localized collection of pus caused by suppuration in a tissue.

Acne: A term denoting an inflammatory disease occurring in or around the sebecaceous glands.

Acrid: Biting, pungent.

Acute: Short, sharp and quickly over. Acute conditions usually start abruptly, last a few days and either settle or become persistent and long-lasting ( see chronic)

Albuminuria: The presence of serum albumin and serum globulin in the urine.

Alexipharmic: Antidote to poison.

Alexiteric: Protective to infectious diseases

Alopecia: Loss of hair- a malady in which the hair falls from one or more circumscribed round or oval areas, leaving the skin smooth and white.

Alterative: Causing a favorable change in the disordered functions of the body or metabolism.

Amenorrhoea: Failure of menstruation.

Amentia: An arrest of the development of the mind from birth to early age.

Anaemia: Lack of enough blood causing paleness.

Anaesthetic: An agent that numbs sensation and so reduces pain.

Analgesic: An anodyne, a pain killer/effect of relieving pain.

Anaphrodisiac: Having the power to lessen or inhibit sexual feeling

Anasarca: Diffused dropsy in the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

Anorexia: A condition of having lost the appetite for food.

Anthelmintic: Destroying or expelling worms.

Antidote: An agent which neutralizes or opposes the action of a poison.

Antiemetic: An agent that relieves vomiting.

Antiperiodic: Preventing the regular recurrence of a disease.

Antipruritic: Preventing or relieving itching.

Antipyretic: Counteracting fever.

Anti-inflammatory: Reduces inflammation

Antiscorbutic: Acting against scurvy.

Antiseptic: A chemical sterilizing substance to kill or control pathogencis microbes.

Antispasmodic: Opposing/relieving spasms or convulsions

Anuria: Complete cessation of the secretion and excretion of urine.

Aperient: a laxative or mild cathartic.

Aphrodisiac: A drug which stimulates sexual desire

Arthralgia: Pain in a joint.

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint.

Astringent: Drying and contracting, reducing secretions.

Atrophy: Wasting of a tissue or organ.

Balanitis: A condition of inflammation of the glans penis or of the glans of clitoris.

Beriberi: A deficiency disease caused by imbalance of carbohydrate and Vitamin B.

Cachexia: Depressed habit of mind.

Calculus: A concretion formed in any part of the body usually compounds of salts of organic or inorganic acids.

Carbuncle: An infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue by Staphylococcus aureus.

Cardiopathy: A morbid condition of the heart.

Carminative:Relaxes digestive tension and spasm. Reduces wind/flatulence.

Cataract: Opacity in the crystalline lens of the eye which may be partial or complete.

Catarrh: Inflammation of a mucous membrance, usually associated with an increase in the amount of normal secretion of mucus.

Cathartic: Having the power of cleansing the bowels-purgative.

Cephalic: A remedy for disorders of the head.

Cerebropathy: Any disorder of the brain.

Cholera: A severe infectious epidemic disease due to Vibrio cholerae.

Chronic: Long-lasting and persistent. Used in relation to a condition, illness or pain which the patient has for a period of months or years.

Cirrhosis: A general term meaning progressive fibrous tissue overgrowth in an organ.

Colic: A severe spasmodic griping pain.

Colitis: Inflammation of the colon.

Collyrium: An eye-salve or eye-wash.

Coma: The state of complete loss of consciousness.

Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the conjunctiva.

Consumption: Pulmonary tuberculosis.

Contraceptive: Any agent or device used to prevent conception.

Convulsion: A violent involuntary contraction of the skeletal musculature.

Corn: A small circumscribed painful horny growth.

Cystitis: Inflammation of a bladder, especially the urinary bladder.

Dandruff: Dead scarf-skin separating in small scales and entangled in the hair.

Decongestant: Relieves congestion.

Demulcent: Soothing/soothes irritated tissues, particularly mucous membrances.

Dental carries: Decay of teeth.

Deodorant: Removing the odor.

Depurative: An agent that purifies/cleanses blood.

Diaphoresis: Sweating.

Diaphoretic: A drug which induces/promotes perspiration.

Diaphteria: A specific infectious disease caused by virulent strains of a bacillus.

Digestive: Aid digestion.

Disinfectant: Having a lethal effect upon germs.

Diuretic: Promoting the flow of urine.

Dizziness: Any sensation of imbalance of a stable relationship with the immediate environment.

Dropsy: An excessive accumulation of clear or watery fluid in any of the tissue or cavities of the body.

Drug interaction: When one drug or medicine changes the effectiveness of another or when the combined dosage increases the toxicity of the medicines taken.

Dysmenorrhoea: Difficult or painful menstruation.

Dyspnoea: Difficulty in breathing.

Dyspepsia: Indigestion.

Dystocia: Difficult parturition (birth)

Dysuria: Difficulty or pain while passing urine.

Eclampsia: An attack of convulsion associated with hypertension in pregnancy.

Eczema: A non-contagious inflammatory disease of the skin with much itching and burning.

Elephantiasis:Gross lymphatic oedema of the limbs leading to hypertrophy.

Emetic: Causing vomiting.

Emmenagogue: Medicine intended to restore the menses ( menstrual flow)

Emphysema: A pathologic accumulation of air in tissues or organs.

Empyema: Accumulation of pus in a body cavity.

Encephatlitis: Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord due to infection.

Encephalopathy: Any degnerative brain disease.

Enuresis: Involuntary voiding of urine.

Epilepsy: An infection of the nervous system resulting from excessive or disordered discharge of cerebral neurons.

Epistaxis: Bleeding from the nose.

Erysipelas: An inflammatory disease generally affecting the face marked by a bright redness of the skin.

Expectorant: Aiding the secretion/expulsion of the mucous membrance of the air passages and the removal of fluid by spitting.

Febrifuge: Anything which reduces fever.

Filariasis: Infelction with filarial nematode worms.

Fistula in ano: An open channel from the anus or rectum to the skin near the anus.

Flatulence: Presence of excessive gas in the stomach or intestine.

Galactagogue: Medicine that promotes the secretion of milk.

Galactorrhoea: Excessive or spontaneous flow of milk.

Gangrene: Necrosis and putrefaction of tissue due to lack of blood supply.

Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the mucous coat of the stomach and intestine due to bacterial infection.

Germicidal: Causing destruction of micro-organisms.

Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gingival margins around the teeth accompanied by welling and bleeding.

Glycorsuria: Excretion of sugar in the urine.

Goitre: Enlargement of the thyroid gland.

Gonorrhoea: An inflammatory disease of the genitourinary passages characterized by pain and discharge.

Haematemesis: Vomiting of blood.

Haematuria: The presence of blood in the urine.

Haemoptysis: Spitting of blood.

Haemorrhoid: A bleeding pile.

Halitosis: Offensive odour of the breath.

Helminthiasis: Morbid state due to infestation with worms.

Hematorrhoea: Copious haemorrhage.

Hemicrania: Headache confined to one side.

Hemiplegia: Paralysis of one side of the body.

Hepatitis (viral): Inflammation of the liver; jaundice.

Hepatic: Strengthens the liver.

Hepatomegaly: Enlargement of the liver.

Hernia: The protrusion of an internal organ through a defect in the wall of the anatomical cavity in which it lies.

Herpes: Inflammationof the skin or mucuous membrane with clusters of deep seated vesicles.

Hydrocele: A circumscribed collection of fluid in the tunica vaginalis testis

Hydrophobia: Exaggerated fear of water as in rabies.

Hypertension: High arterial blood pressure.

Hyperthermia: A very high body temperature.

Hypotension: A fall in blood pressure below the normal level.

Hypotermia: A very high body temperature.

Hysteria: A neurotic disorder with varying symptoms.

Impetigo: An inflammation of the skin associated with discrete vesicles due to streptococcal infection.

Impotence: Inability to perform the sexual act due to failure of the reflex mechanism.

Immuno-suppressant: Drugs which act on any part of the immune system so as to interfere with the normal reactions to external bacteria or viruses are described as immuno-suppressant drugs.

Insanity: Mental disease of a grave kind.

Insommia: The condition of being unable to sleep.

Intoxication: General condition which results following the absorption and diffusion in the body of a soluble poison.

Laryngitis: Inflammation of the larynx.

Laxative: Having the action of loosening the bowel.

Leucoderma: Any white area on the skin.

Leucorrhoea: An abnormal mucous discharge from the vagina.

Leukaemia: Blood cancer.

Lumbago: Pain in mid or lower back.

Malignant: Threatening life or tending to cause death.

Melancholia: A mental illness in which the predominant symptom is melancholy, depression of spirits, unhappiness and misery.

Menorrhagia: Excessive or prolonged menstruation.

Metrorrhagia: Uterine bleeding, usually of normal amount occuring at completely irregular intervals, the period of flow sometimes being prolonged.

Micturition: The act of passing urine.

Migraine: A periodic condition with localized headaches, frequently associated with vomiting and sensory disturbances.

Morbid: Belonging or relating to disease.

Mumps: Epidemic parotitis, an acute infectious disease cause by a virus.

Muscuo-skeletal system: The complex arrangement of muscles and bones in the human body.

Myalgia: Muscular pain.

Mydriasis: Dilation of the pupil.

Narcotic: A drug that induces sleep.

Nephritis: Inflammation of the kidneys.

Neuralgia: A painful affection of the nerves due to functional disturbances or neuritis.

Notalgia: Pain in the back.

Obesity: An excessive accumulation of fat in the body.

Odontalgia: Toothache.

Olfactory: Concerned with smelling.

Oncology: The study of the causes, characteristics and treatment of cancer.

Opacity: An opaque or non-transparent area.

Orchitis: Inflammation of the testis characterised by hypertrophy and pain.

Otalgia: Pain in the ear.

Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas.

Paraplegia: Stroke affecting one side.

Parkinsonism: Parkinson’s diseas- a disease characterised by rigidity of muscles and tremor of the hands.

Pectoral: Effective in diseases of the chest.

Pertussis: Whooping cough.

Pharyngitis: Inflammation of the mucuous membrance and underlying part of the pharynx.

Placebo: An inert substance often used in comparison studies with new drugs; a substance that is medically inactive. The placebo effect refers to an improvement deemed to be due to non-specific aspects of treatment rather than as a result of a direct cause-effect relationships

Post-operative: The period of time following a surgical intervention.

Phthisis: Any wasting disease in which the whole body or part of the body is involved.

Pneumonia: A general disease in which the essential lesion is an inflammation of the spongy tissue of the lung with consolidation of the alveolar exudate.

Pneumonitis: Inflammation of lung tissue.

Poliomyelitis: An acute inflammation of the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord due to an enterovirus infection.

Poultice: A soft much prepared by various substance with oily or watery fluids.

Proctitis: Inflammation of the rectum.

Prophylactic: Pertaining to the prevention of the development of a disease.

Prurigo: An eruption of the skin causing serious itching.

Pruritis: Itching.

Psoriasis: A condition characterised by the eruption of circumscribed discrete and confluent reddish, silvery scaled lesions.

Pyrexia: A condition characterised by the presence of pus.

Pyorrhoea: A discharge of pus.

Rachilagia: Pain in the vertebral column.

Refrigerant: Cooling.

Remission: A period of time in which the patient shows no or fewer symptoms of a disease or illness which they were previously suffering from.

Renal calculi: Calculi relating to kidney.

Retinitis: Inflammation of the retina.

Rheumatalgia: Rheumatic pain.

Rhinitis: Inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane.

Rickets: A disturbance of the calcium/phosphorus metabolism which occurs in the growing child as a result of Vitamin D deficiency.

Roborant: A strengthening agent.

Rubefacient: A local irritant that causes reddening of the skin

Scabies: Sarcoptic infestation of the human skin particularly a contagious skin disease caused by invasion of the epidermis.

Scald: The lesion caused by contact with a hot liquid or vapor.

Scleritis: Inflammation of the sclera.

Soft tissue: Internal body parts other than muscle and bone.

Scrofula: Tuberculous cervical adenitis with or without ulceration.

Scurvy: A deficiency disease due to lack of Vitamin C.

Sedative: Calms the nerves

Sialogogue: An agent that increases the flow of saliva.

Synovitis: Inflammationof the synovial membrance of a joint.

Sinusitis: Inflammation affecting the mural epithelium of a sinus.

Splenomegaly: Enlargement of the spleen.

Stomatitis: Generalized inflammation of the oral mucosa.

Styptic: Having the power to arrest bleeding.

Stimulant: Increases activity.

Suppurative: Pus forming.

Syphilis: A contagious veneral disease.

Tetanus: An infective disease due to the toxins of Clostridium tetani.

Tonsilitis: Inflammation of the tonsil.

Toxaemia: The condition of general poisoning caused by the entrance of soluble bacterial toxins into the blood

Trichogenous: Stimulating the growth of hair.

Ureteritis: Inflammation of the ureter.

Urethritis: Inflammation of the urethra.

Urethrorrhea: Abnormal discharge from the urethra.

Urolithiasis: Urinary calculi

Uteritis: Inflammation of the uterus.

Vaginitis: Inflammation of the vagina.

Vermifuge: A drug that expels worms.

Vertigo: Dizziness

Wart: A circumscribed cutaneous excrescence.