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Herbal vs Medicine - What's the difference?

herbal | medicine |

As nouns the difference between herbal and medicine

is that herbal is a manual of herbs and their medical uses while medicine is a substance which specifically promotes healing when ingested or consumed in some way.

As an adjective herbal

is made from or with herbs.

As a verb medicine is

(rare|obsolete) to treat with medicine.

herbal

English

Alternative forms

* herball (obsolete)

Adjective

(head)
  • Made from or with herbs.
    • Herbal tea has a nice aroma and is good for a stuffy head.
  • Made from natural herbs specifically as opposed to from synthetic materials.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-03
    • , author=David S. Senchina , title=Athletics and Herbal Supplements , volume=101, issue=2, page=134 , magazine= citation , passage=Athletes' use of herbal supplements has skyrocketed in the past two decades. At the top of the list of popular herbs are echinacea and ginseng, whereas garlic, St. John's wort, soybean, ephedra and others are also surging in popularity or have been historically prevalent.}}
    People think herbal supplements are safer because they are natural.

    Derived terms

    * herbal body wrap * herbal medicine * herbal tea * herbal wrap

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A manual of herbs and their medical uses
  • * {{quote-news, year=2005, date=January 7, author=Cecil Adams, title=The Straight Dope, work=Chicago Reader citation
    • , passage=It can still be found in herbals and such, which describe it as a sedative and cough suppressant. }}
  • An herbal supplement
  • * {{quote-news, year=2003, date=March 7, author=Jeffrey Felshman, title=The Killer Inside Me, work=Chicago Reader citation
    • , passage=I took a ride to the shopping strip at Belmont and Central and stocked up on herbals at three Polish New Age health stores. }}

    medicine

    English

    (wikipedia medicine)

    Alternative forms

    * medicin (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A substance which specifically promotes healing when ingested or consumed in some way.
  • A treatment or cure.
  • The study of the cause, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of disease or illness.
  • The profession of physicians, surgeons and related specialisms; those who practice medicine.
  • Ritual Native American magic used (notably by a medicine man) to promote a desired outcome in healing, hunting, warfare etc.
  • (obsolete) black magic, superstition.
  • (obsolete) A philtre or love potion.
  • * 1597 , , II. ii. 18:
    • If the rascal have not given me medicines' to make me love him, I'll be hanged. It could not be else. I have drunk ' medicines .
  • (obsolete) A physician.
  • * 1598 , , II. i. 72:
    • I have seen a medicine
    That's able to breathe life into a stone

    Synonyms

    * (treatment) regimen, course, program, prescription * (substance) drug, prescription, pharmaceutical, elixir * See also * See also

    Derived terms

    * Ayurvedic medicine * clinical medicine * Edison's medicine * energy medicine * evidence-based medicine * folk medicine * forced medicine * indigenous medicine * medicinal * medicine ball * medicine dance * medicine man * medicine show * organized medicine * take one's medicine * taste of one's own medicine * traditional medicine

    Related terms

    * medic * medicament * medication * medicate * premedication

    Verb

    (medicin)
  • (rare, obsolete) To treat with medicine.
  • *

    • See also

    * therapy * panacea

    References

    * Prescription Desk Reference, Prescription Drug Information: * * " medicine" in the Merriam-Webster On-line dictionary * " medicine" in the Hutchinson Encyclopaedia , Helicon Publishing LTD 2007. * * 1000 English basic words ----