alterative adj 1: tending to cure or restore to health; "curative powers of herbal remedies"; "her gentle healing hand"; "remedial surgery"; "a sanative environment of mountains and fresh air"; "a therapeutic agent"; "therapeutic diets" [syn: {curative}, {healing(p)}, {alterative}, {remedial}, {sanative}, {therapeutic}]
Alterative \Al"ter*a*tive\, n. A medicine or treatment which gradually induces a change, and restores healthy functions without sensible evacuations. [1913 Webster]
Alterative \Al"ter*a*tive\, a. [L. alterativus: cf. F. alt['e]ratif.] Causing ateration. Specifically: Gradually changing, or tending to change, a morbid state of the functions into one of health. --Burton. [1913 Webster]