Crossword clues for astringent
astringent
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Astringent \As*trin"gent\, n. A medicine or other substance that produces contraction in the soft organic textures, and checks discharges of blood, mucus, etc.
External astringents are called styptics.
--Dunglison.
Astringent \As*trin"gent\ (-jent), a. [L. astringens, p. pr. of astringere: cf. F. astringent. See Astringe.]
Drawing together the tissues; binding; contracting; -- opposed to laxative; as, astringent medicines; a butter and astringent taste; astringent fruit.
Stern; austere; as, an astringent type of virtue.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
a. 1 sharp, caustic, severe. 2 (context medicine English) Having the effect of drawing tissue together; styptic. alt. A substance which draws tissue together, thus restricting the flow of blood. n. A substance which draws tissue together, thus restricting the flow of blood.
WordNet
tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue; "astringent cosmetic lotions" [ant: nonastringent]
n. a drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals [syn: astringent drug, styptic]
Wikipedia
An astringent (occasional alternative: adstringent) substance is a chemical compound that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues. The word "astringent" derives from Latin adstringere, meaning "to bind fast". Two common examples are calamine lotion and witch hazel. Another example is yerba mansa, a native plant of California.
Astringency is also the dry, puckering mouthfeel caused by tannins found in many fruits such as blackthorn (sloe berries), Aronia chokeberry, chokecherry, bird cherry, quince and persimmon fruits, and banana skins. The tannins (which are types of polyphenols) bind the salivary proteins, causing them to precipitate or aggregate and lead to a rough "sandpapery" or dry sensation in the mouth. Tannins are found in some red wines and teas. A small amount of astringency is expected in some wines, especially young red wines made from grapes such as cabernet sauvignon and merlot.
Usage examples of "astringent".
When the bark of the main stems is wounded, a gum will exude, and may be collected: it possesses astringent and mildly aperient properties.
But the leaves are astringent, contracting and strengthening the genitals if applied thereto either as a decoction, or as the bruised leaves themselves.
Logwood is a mild astringent, well adapted to remedy the relaxed condition of the bowels after cholera infantum.
This astringent is a favorite, domestic remedy in affections of the bowels.
This is a most valuable astringent and exerts a specific action upon the nervous system.
It is a tonic and an astringent, and is used in diarrhea and cholera-infantum.
A tincture of this plant is a pure, powerful astringent, and is especially useful in chronic diarrhea, chronic catarrh, and chronic dysentery.
This is much used as a domestic remedy, and by the profession, for its laxative, tonic, and astringent effects.
Dogwood, also known Boxwood, is tonic, astringent, and slightly stimulant.
If there be no great tenderness in the vagina, or if the acute, inflammatory symptoms have yielded to the lotions already suggested, then a tonic and astringent injection should be employed.
The use of suspensory bandages, with strongly astringent lotions, will, in mild cases, produce relief and many times cure.
The roots are astringent and antiseptic, having been given in infusion for ague, and as an excellent cordial sudorific in chills, or for fresh catarrh.
Blackberry wine, which is a trustworthy cordial astringent remedy for looseness of the bowels, may be made thus: Measure your berries, and bruise them, and to every gallon of the fruit add a quart of boiling water.
It was formerly applied to raw indolent ulcers as a glutinous astringent, and most useful vulnerary.
The fodder being astringent will serve by its tannin, which is abundant, to cure or prevent looseness.