350. Remedies

See also 122. DISEASE and ILLNESS ; 130. DRUGS ; 266. MEDICAL SPECIALTIES .

acology

Archaic. the science of therapeutic remedies.

acupuncture

the oriental art of inserting fine needles into various parts of the body to treat certain types of disorders. —acupuncturist, n.

alexipharmic

an antidotal substance used to expel or resist poison. —alexipharmic, alexipharmac, adj.

aliptic

Obsolete, an ointment.

alleviative

any substance that alleviates a condition of disease or illness.

allopathy

the method of treating diseases by using agents that produce effects different from those of the disease. Cf. homeopathy . —allopath, allopathist, n . —allopathie, adj.

analeptic

a restorative, invigorating medicine.

anodyne

a pain-relieving medicine, as an opiate or narcotic.

antidotary

Obsolete, a treatise on antidotes. Also called pharmacopoeia .

antidote

a remedy to counteract a harmful substance in the body.

antiperiodic

a remedy used to prevent the recurrence of certain periodic illnesses as fevers.

antiphlogistic

a medicine for reducing inflammation or fever; a febrifuge; an antipyretic. —antiphlogistic, adj.

antipyretic

antiphlogistic.

antipyrotic

a medicine for treating burns.

antiseptic

any substance that inhibits infection, as alcohol.

antivenin

1. an antidote for venom, as snake venom, formed by gradually increased injection of the venom into the bloodstream.

2. the serum containing this antidote.

assuasive

any medicinal substance or preparation that soothes or alleviates. —assuasive, adj.

bactericide

an agent that destroys bacteria.

balneotherapy

the treatment of illness or disease by bathing.

bibliotherapy

Psychiatry. the therapeutic use of books and magazines in the treatment of mental illness or shock. —bibliotherapist, n . —bibliotherapeutic, adj.

biotherapy

the treatment of illness and disease with substances derived from living organisms, as vaccines and serums.

cathartic

a purgative medicine.

catholicon

a universal remedy or panacea.

cerate

a thick ointment composed of fat, wax, and other ingredients, applied externally to cure various diseases.

chemotherapy

Med. the treatment of disease by the use of chemicals that have a toxic effect on the microorganisms causing the disease or that selectively destroy tumor tissues. —chemotherapist, n . —chemotherapeutic, adj.

chiropractic

1. Also called chiropraxis . a therapeutic system based on the doctrine that disease is the result of interference with nerve function and that adjusting the segments of the spinal column will restore a normal condition.

2. a chiropractor. —chiropractor, n .

chiropraxis

chiropractic.

chromotherapy

treatment of illness by colored lights.

cryotherapy

a method of treatment involving applications of cold. Also crymotherapy .

demulcent

a medicine or other preparation that has a soothing or emollient influence on an inflamed area.

diathermy

a method of treatment involving the production of heat in the body by electric currents. Also diathermia . —diathermic, adj.

electrotherapeutics

the branch of medicine that treats illness with electricity. Also electrotherapy . —electrotherapeutic, electrotherapeutical, adj.

electrotherapy

electrotherapeutics.

elixir

1. a tincture composed of a sweetened solution of alcohol to which has been added a small amount of the drug to be administered.

2. a panacea, cure-all, or universal remedy. See also 7. ALCHEMY .

emollient

a medical preparation that has a soothing effect on surface tissues.

epulotic

a medicinal preparation that assists in the healing of wounds.

errhine

a medicine used to clear the nose or to promote sneezing.

expectorant

any medicine that assists the coughing up of phlegm, mucus, etc., from the chest.

febrifuge

anything for reducing or ending fever; an antiphlogistic; an antipyretic.

heliotherapy

a method of treating illness by exposure to the rays of the sun.

homeopathy, homoeopathy

the method of treating diseases by drugs that produce symptoms similar to those of the disease. —homeopathist, homoeopathist, homeopath, homoeopath, n . —homeopathic, homoeopathic, adj.

homeotherapy, homoeotherapy

a method of therapy using an agent that is similar to but not identical with the causative agent of the disease. —homeotherapeutic, homoeotherapeutic, adj.

hypnotherapy

the treatment of disease and illness by hypnosis.

iamatology

the branch of medicine that deals with remedies.

iatralipsis

a method of treatment involving anointing and rubbing. Also iatraliptics .

jugulation

an attempt to cure a disease by applying very severe, often life-threatening, measures. See also 232. KILLING .

kinesiatrics

the branch of medicine that concerns itself with muscular exercise as a cure for disease. Also kinesipathy .

leechcraft

Archaic. the doctor’s craft; the art or science of healing.

leechdom

Humorous or Derogatory, the world or realm of doctors or medicine.

lenitive

a medicinal preparation or application for soothing pain; a palliative. —lenitive, adj.

lingism

Rare. a gymnastic treatment for disease, named after a Swedish physician, Peter H. Ling.

massotherapy

the use of massage as a treatment for certain illnesses or diseases.

maturative

a medicinal preparation applied to an inflamed area to stimulate the process of suppuration or maturation.

mechanotherapy

the process of treating illness or disease by mechanical means, as by massage. Cf. massotherapy .

metallotherapy

treatment of disease and illness with metals, particularly with the salt forms of metals.

naprapathy

a healing system based on the theory that disease or illness is caused by strained ligaments and other problems of connective tissue and can be treated by massage. —naprapath, n .

naturopathism, naturopathy

a method of treating disease using food, exercise, heat, etc. to assist the natural healing process. —naturopath , n. —naturopathic , adj.

opotherapy

the treatment of illness and disease with extracts made from certain glands of animals, as the thyroid or adrenal glands. Also called organotherapy .

organotherapy

opotherapy.

orthopathy

the treatment of illness or disease without the use of drugs.

osteopathy

a method of treating ailments on the premise that they result from the pressure of misplaced bones on nerves, and are curable by manipulation. —osteopath, n . —osteopathie, adj.

panacea

a cure-all or universal remedy; an elixir. —panacean, adj.

Perkinism

a former treatment for rheumatism, developed by Dr. Elisha Perkins, in which the ends of two rods made of different metals were applied to the affected parts. Also called tractoration .

pharmacology

the science of drugs, their preparation, uses, effects, and dispensation. —pharmacologist, n . —pharmacologic, pharmacological, adj.

pharmacopoeia

a complete listing of all drugs and information concerning them.

phototherapy, phototherapeutics

the treatment of disease, especially diseases of the skin, with light rays. —phototherapeutic, adj.

physiotherapy

the treatment of disease, bodily defects, or bodily weaknesses by physical remedies, as massage, special exercises, etc., rather than by drugs. —physiotherapist, n .

polychrest

a drug that serves as a remedy for several diseases. —polychrestic, adj.

psychotherapy

the science or method of treating psychological abnormalities or disorders by psychological techniques. See also 266. MEDICAL SPECIALTIES . —psychotherapist, n.

radiotherapy

the treatment of diseases, especially malignant cancer, with radium or other radioactive substances. Also called radium therapy .

radiothermy

a form of therapy using heat from a short-wave radio or diathermy apparatus.

reflexology

the oriental art of treating certain disorders by stimulating special areas on the sole of the foot. —reflexologist, n.

roentgenology, röntgenology

the use of x rays in the treatment of illness and disease. —roentgenologist, röntgenologist, n.

roentgenotherapy, röntgenotherapy

treatment of disease and illness by means of x rays.

sanability

Rare. the state or condition of being curable; susceptibility to remedy. —sanable, adj.

serology

1. the science of the preparation and use of serums.

2. the study of serums. —serologist, n. —serological, adj.

serotherapy

treatment of illness or disease by means of serum obtained from inoculated animals.

siriasis

Obsolete, a sun bath or exposure to the sun for curative purposes.

superscription

Pharmacy. the part of a prescription with the Latin word recipe, usually represented by the symbol R_x.

taeniafuge, teniafuge

a preparation or agent for expelling tapeworms from the body.

tetrapharmacon

Rare. an ointment composed of wax, resin, lard, and pitch.

theotherapy

treatment of illness or disease by prayer and other religious exercises. —theotherapist, n.

theriac, theriaca

a compound of sixty-four drugs made into an electuary by pulverization and the addition of honey, formerly used as an antidote for poison. Also called Venice treacle . —theriac, theriacal, therial, adj.

tincture

Pharmacy. a medicinal substance in soluble form, especially in a solution of alcohol.

transillumination

a form of medical examination in which a strong light is cast through the body or a body part so that blockages, foreign objects, etc., can be seen. —transilluminator, n.

urtication

the former practice of flogging a paralyzed limb or part with nettles, for the stimulating effect.

ustulation

Pharmacy. the process of heating moist substances so that they can be pulverized.

variolation, variolization

inoculation against smallpox.

vermicide

a substance for killing worms, especially intestinal worms, in animals or humans. Cf. vermifuge .

vermifuge

a drug for expelling worms from the intestinal tract. Cf. vermicide . —vermifuge, adj.