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COMPLETE GUIDE TO ESSENTIAL OILS
Terms - Properties, Actions & Effects

by

 KG Stiles, LMT, RBT, CBP, NCTMB

Certified Aromatherapist
 

Abortifacient - capable of inducing abortion

Absolute - a highly concentrated, semi-solid or solid perfume material, usually obtained by alcohol extraction from the concrete

Acrid - leaving a burning sensation in the mouth

Adaptogens/Regulators - a substance that causes beneficial adaptive change to take place in the body

Allergy - hypersensitivity to a foreign substance

Alliaceous - garlic or onion-like

Alterative - corrects disordered bodily function

Amebicidal - having the power of destroying amoebae

Analeptic - restorative or stimulating effect on CNS

Analgesic - pain reliever

Anaphrodisiac - reduces sexual desire

Anemia - deficiency of red corpuscles in the blood

Anesthetic - substance that induces loss of sensation or consciousness due to depression of nerve function

Annual - plant that completes its life cycle in one year

Anodyne - stills pain and quiets disturbed feelings

Anorexia - conditions of being without appetite

Anathematic - a febrifuge, destroying or expelling intestinal worms

Ant anemic - an agent that combats anemia

Antiarthritic - an agent that combats arthritis

Antibacterial - destroying or stopping growth of bacteria

Antibilious - an agent that helps remove excess bile

Antibiotic - prevents growth or, or destroys, bacteria

Ant catarrh - helps remove excess phlegm. Reduces inflamed mucous membranes of head and throat

Anticonvulsive - helps arrest or prevent convulsions

Antidepressant - alleviates or prevents depression, lifts mood, counters melancholia

Antidiarrhetic - prevents diarrhea

Antiemtic - an agent which reduces the incidence and severity of nausea or vomiting

Antifungal - destroys or inhibits growth of fungus

Ant hemorrhagic - agent that controls bleeding or hemorrhaging

Antihistamine - counteracts effects of histamine, allergen stimulating an allergic reaction

Anti-infectious - Counteracts infection

Anti-inflammatory -  controls, alleviates inflammation resulting from injury or infection

Antilithic - prevents the formation of a calculus or stone

Antimicrobial - an agent that resists or destroys pathogenic microbes

Antineuraligic - relieves or reduces nerve pain

Antioxidant - prevents or inhibits oxidation

Antiphlogistic - checks of counteracts inflammation

Antipruritic - prevents or relieves itching

Ant putrescent - prevents and combats decay

Antipyretic - fever reducer

Ant rheumatic - eases rheumatic pain, inflamed muscles and joints

Ant sclerotic - helps control the products of sebum

Ant scorbutic - a remedy for scurvy

Ant scrofula - combats s development of tuberculosis of lymph nodes

Antiseborrheic - helps control products of sebum

Antiseptic - prevents, halts infection

Antispasmodics - calms nervous and muscular spasms, for colic, pain and indigestion

Antitoxic - counteracts the effects of poison

Antitussive - controlling or preventing cough

Antiviral - Preventing or inhibiting viral activity

Aperient - a mild laxative

Apertif - stimulates appetite

Aprhrodisiac - increases capacity for sexual arousal

Aril - husk of membrane covering seed of plant

Aromachology - study of the use of aromas, both natural and synthetic

Aromatic - substance with strong aroma or smell

Asthenia - weakness, lack of tone

Astringent - causes contraction of organic tissues

Atony - lessening or lack of muscular tone or tension

Bactericidal - an agent that destroys bacteria

Balsam - a resinous emi-solid mass or viscous liquid exuded from a plant, characterized by its high content of benzoic acid, benzoates, cinnamic acid or cinnamates

Balsamic - a soothing medicine or application having the qualities of a balsam

Bechic - anything that relieves or cures coughs; or referring to coughs

Bitter - stimulates appetite or digestive function

Blepharitis - inflammation of the eyelids

Calculus - a solid pathological concentration (or stone) formed in any part of the body

Calmative - a sedative

Cardiac - pertaining to the heart

Cardio tonic - having a stimulating effect on the heart

Carminative/Stomachic - settles digestive system, relieves intestinal gas

Cathartic - a purgative

Cephalic - relating to the head

Cerebral - pertaining to the largest part of the brain

Chemotype - plants of the same genus which appear externally identical but having a variation in their chemical constituents, often due to climatic, altitude, or soil conditions 

Chlorosis - rare form of anemia

Chologugue - stimulates secretion of and flow bile

Cholecystokinetic - agent that stimulates the contraction of the gall bladder

Choleretic - aids excretion of bile by the liver, so there is a greater flow of bile

Cholesterol - a naturally occurring steroid alcohol. Excess can lead to gallstones

Cicatrizant - wound healing agent, aids formation scar tissue for burns, cuts, scars

Cirrhosis - degenerative change in any organ (especially liver), resulting in fibrous tissue overgrowth

Colic - Pain due to contraction of the involuntary muscle of the abdominal organs

Colitis - inflammation of the colon

Compress - substance applied hot or cold to an area of the body, for relief of inflammation and pain

Concrete -  a concentrate, waxy, solid, or semi-solid perfume material prepared from previously live plant mattter, usually using a hydrocarbon type of solvent

Constipation - congestion of the bowels, resulting in infrequent movement

Cordial - stimulant and tonic

Counterirritant - anti-inflammatory agent

Cutaneous - pertaining to the skin

Cytotoxic - toxic to all cells

Debility - weakness, lack of tone

Decoction - herbal preparation, usually boiled in water and reduced to make a concentrated extract

Decongestive - an agent for the relief or reduction of congestion

Demulcent - soothes inflammation, especially of the mucous membranes

Deodorant - an agent that corrects, masks, or removes unpleasant odors

Depurative - helps combat impurity in the bood and organs, detoxifying

Dermal - penetrating to the skin

Diaphoretic/Sudorific - Increases perspiration

Digestive - substance that promotes or aids digestion of food

Disinfectant - prevents and combats the spread of germs

Diuretic - Increases urine flow

Dropsy - excess of fluid in tissues

Dysmenorrhea - Painful menstruation

Dyspepsia - difficulty with digestion associated with pain, flatulence, heartburn and nausea

Edema - a painless swelling caused by fluid retention

Emetic - induces vomiting

Emmenogugue - induces or assists menstruation

Emollient - softens and soothes the skin

Engorgement - congestion of a part of the tissues, or fullness (as in the breasts)

Enteritis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the intestine

Enzyme - complex proteins that are produced by the living cells, and catalyze specific biochemical reactions

Erythema - a superficial redness of the skin due to excess of blood

Essential oil - a volatile and aromatic liquid (sometimes semi-solid), which generally constitutes the odorous principles of a plant, obtained by process of expression or distillation

Estrogen - a hormone produced by the ovary, necessary for development of female secondary sexual characteristics

Expectorant - helps promote the removal of mucus from respiratory system

Febrifuge - combats fever

Fixative - a material that slows down the rate of evaporation of the more volatile component in a perfume

Fixed oils - vegetable oil obtained from plants that, unlike essential oils, are fatty, dense and nonvolatile

Fungicidal (athletes foot, Candida, ringworm) - prevents and combats fungal infection

Galactogenic - promotes flow of milk

Gastritis -  inflammation of stomach lining

Genitourinary - referring to both genital and reproductive systems

Germicidal - destroys germs or micro-organisms

Gingivitis - inflammation of the gum

Gout - a disease that involves excess uric acid in the blood

Halitosis - offensive breath

Heartwood - the central part of a tree trunk

Hematuria - blood in the urine

Hemorrhoids - dilated rectal veins

Hemostatic - arrests bleeding

Hepatic - relating to the liver, tones and aids its function

Hormone - a product of living cells that produces a specific effect on the activity of cells remote from its point of origin

Poultice - the therapeutic application of a soft moist mass of herbs to the skin

Prophylactic - preventive of disease or infection

Psychosomatic - the manifestation of physical symptoms resulting from mental state

Pulmonary - pertaining to the lungs

Purgative - a substance stimulating an evacuation of the bowels

Pyelitis - inflammation of the kidney

Rubefacient - agent which reddens skin, dilates vessels increase blood flow

Refrigerant - cooling -reduces fever

Regulator - an agent that helps balance and regulate the functions of the body

Relaxant - soothing, causing relaxation, relieving strain or tension

Renal - pertaining to the kidney

Resolvent - an agent that disperses swelling, or effects absorption of a new growth

Restorative - an agent that helps to strengthen and revive the body systems

Revulsive - relieves pain by means of the diversion of blood or disease from one part of the body to another

Rhinitis - inflammation of nasal mucous membrane

Sclerosis - hardening of tissue due to inflammation

Scrofula - tuberculosis

Seborrhea - increased secretion of sebum

Sedative - agent that exerts a soothing, tranquilizing, calming effect on the body, good for nervous tension, stress, insomnia, anxiety and palpitations

Sialogugue - an agent that stimulates the secretion of saliva

Soporific - a substance that induces sleep

Splenic - relating to the spleen, the body's largest endocrine gland

Splenitis - inflammation of the spleen

Stimulant - an agent that quickens the physiological functions of the body, temporarily increases body or organ function, good for convalescence, poor circulation, listlessness and physical fatigue

Stomachic - digestive aid and tonic, improves the appetite

Styptic -  an astringent agent that stops or reduces external bleeding

Sudorific - agent that increases the perspiration

Synergy - agents working together harmoniously

Tannins - a substance that has an astringent action and helps to seal the tissue

Thrombosis - formation of a thrombus or a blood clot

Thrush - an infection of the mouth or vaginal region caused by a fungus (Candida)

Tincture - a herbal remedy, or perfumery material prepared in an alcohol base

Tonic - strengthens and enlivens the whole or specific parts of the body

Uterine - pertaining to the uterus

Vasoconstrictor - an agent that causes narrowing of the blood vessels

Vasodilator - an agent that dilates the blood vessels

Vermiguge - expels intestinal worms

Vesicant - causing blistering to the skin; a counter irritant

Volatile - unstable, evaporates easily, as in a “volatile oil”

Vulnerary - an agent that helps to heal wounds and sores by external application