The Collaborative International Dictionary
Stomachic \Sto*mach"ic\, n. (Med.) A medicine that strengthens the stomach and excites its action.
Stomachic \Sto*mach"ic\, Stomachical \Sto*mach"ic*al\, a. [L. stomachicus, Gr. ?: cf. F. stomachique.]
Of or pertaining to the stomach; as, stomachic vessels.
Strengthening to the stomach; exciting the action of the stomach; stomachal; cordial.
Wiktionary
a. Of or relating to the stomach. n. A medicine for the stomach.
WordNet
Wikipedia
Stomachic is a historic term for a medicine that serves to tone the stomach, improving its function and increase appetite. While many herbal remedies claim stomachic effects, modern pharmacology does not have an equivalent term for this type of action.
Herbs with stomachic effects include:
- Agrimony
- Anise
- Avens, (Geum urbanum)
- Barberry
- Bitterwood, (Picrasmaa excelsa)
- Cannabis
- Cayenne
- Centaurium
- Cleome
- Colombo (herb), (Frasera carolinensis)
- Dandelion
- Elecampane
- Ginseng
- Goldenseal
- Grewia asiatica (Phalsa or Falsa)
- Hops
- Holy thistle
- Juniper berry
- Mint
- Mugwort
- Oregano
- Peach Bark
- Rhubarb
- White mustard seeds
- Rose hips
- Rue
- Sweet Flag, (Acorus calamus)
- Wormwood, (Artemisia absinthium)
The purported stomachic mechanism of action of these substances is to stimulate the appetite by increasing the gastric secretions of the stomach, although the actual therapeutic value of some of these compounds is dubious. Some other important agents used are:
- Bitters: used to stimulate the taste buds, thus producing reflex secretion of gastric juices. Quassia, aristolochia, gentian, and chirata are commonly used.
- Alcohol: increases gastric secretion by direct action and also by the reflex stimulation of taste buds.
- Miscellaneous compounds: including insulin which increases the gastric secretion by producing hypoglycemia, and histamine, which produces direct stimulation of gastric glands.
Usage examples of "stomachic".
For this reason we have taken unusual pains to investigate the causes of the disease, and have spared no expense to provide the most approved digestive solvents, and stomachic tonics, which invigorate the mucous membrane of the stomach, and materially assist in reducing the food to a liquid condition.
A tincture is also made from the fresh flowering plant of Gentiana quinqueflora (Five-flowered Gentian) and used in homoeopathy as a tonic and stomachic, and in intermittent fevers.
It acts also as a stomachic tonic and bitter, in small doses, promoting gastric digestion and appetite.
A direct emmenagogue, a tonic in dyspepsia, an expectorant in the absence of feverish symptoms, a stimulant to the mucous tissues, a stomachic carminative, exciting appetite and the flow of gastric juice, and an astringent wash.
Now that Cadfael came to think of it, less than usual had been seen and heard of Jerome for the past few days, ever since the evening when he had been discovered on his bed, quaking and sick with belly-aches and headaches, and been soothed to sleep by Cadfael’s stomachics and syrups.