Aromatherapeutic Terminology
A
- Acetylcholine A fluid used in the transmission of information from one nerve ending to another
- Allergy Hypersensitivity caused by a foreign substance
- Alopecia (Baldness) Male and female pattern baldness that oftentimes is heredity
- Amenorrhoea Absence of menstruation
- Anaerobic A type of organism that does not require oxygen
- Anaesthetic Pain relieving by loss of sensation
- Analgesic Pain reliever
- Anaphrodisiac Lessening of sexual desire
- Anemia Deficiency of either quantity or quality of red corpuscles in the blood
- Annual Plant that completes its life cycle in one year
- Anodyne Stills pain and quietens disturbed feelings
- Anosmic Loss of smell
- Anthelmintic A vermifuge, destroying or expelling intestinal worms
- Anti venin Neutralizing snake venom that has entered the body.
- Anti-acid Combats acid in the body
- Anti-allergenic Reduces symptoms of allergies
- Anti-arthritic An agent which helps to combat arthritis
- Anti-asthmatic An agent that treats or prevents asthma attacks
- Anti-bacterial Inhibits bacterial growth
- Anti-coagulant Blood-thinner to prevent the formation of blood clots and to maintain open blood vessels
- Anti-convulsant Helps control convulsions
- Anti-depressant Helps to lift the mood and counteract depression
- Anti-dontalgic Relieves toothache
- Anti-emetic Reduces the severity or incidence of vomiting
- Anti-fungal Inhibits the growth of mould and fungi
- Anti-galactagogue Impedes or lessens the flow of milk
- Anti-haemorrhagic A substance preventing or combating bleeding
- Anti-infectious Prevents against infection
- Anti-inflammatory Prevents and reduces inflammation
- Anti-microbial A substance reducing or resisting microbes
- Anti-neuralgic A substances that reduces or stops nerve pain
- Anti-parasitic Acts against parasites
- Anti-phlogistic Counteracts inflammation
- Anti-pruritic Relieves or prevents sensation of itching
- Anti-pyretic Reduces fever
- Anti-rheumatic An agent which helps to combat rheumatism
- Anti-sclerotic Helps to prevent hardening of arteries
- Anti-scorbutic Helps to prevent or cure scurvy
- Anti-seborrheic Helps control the oily secretion from sweat glands
- Anti-spasmodic Assists to relieve muscle spasms and cramps
- Anti-sudorific A substance to help lessen sweating
- Anti-toxic Antidote or treatment to counteract the effects of poison
- Anti-tussive Relieves coughing
- Antibiotic Destroys bacteria and fights infection in the body
- Antihistamine Counteracts allergic reaction
- Antioxidant A substance to prevent or delay oxidation
- Antiseptic Helps control infection is cleansing and prevents microbe development
- Antiviral Destroys certain viruses
- Anxiety A feeling of apprehension and fear
- Aperient Mild laxative
- Aphonia Voice loss
- Aphrodisiac Increasing sexual desire
- Apoplexy Increasing sexual desire
- Aromachology The study of the effects of odours on behaviour
- Aromatherapy The therapeutic use of essential oils
- Arrhythmia Irregular or loss of heartbeat rhythm
- Arteriosclerosis Hardening of the arteries
- Astringent Causing contraction of organic tissue
- Atherosclerosis Accumulation of fatty deposits on the inside walls of arteries
- Atony Lack of muscle tone and strenght
B
- Bactericidal An agent destroying bacteria
- Balsam Water soluble, semi-solid or viscous resinous exudates similar to that of gum
- Bechic Anything referring to coughing, or an agent relieving cough
- Biennial A plant completing its life cycle in two years, without flowering the first year
- Bilious A condition caused by an excessive secretion of bile
- Blepharitis Inflammation of the eyelids
C
- Calmative A sedative
- Carcinogenic A substance that promotes cancer or cancerous growths
- Cardiac Pertaining to the heart
- Carminative Reduces intestinal spasms
- Carminative Settles the digestive system and relieves flatulence
- Carrier oil An oil which is used to dilute essential oils for the purpose of massage
- Cellulite An ‘orange peel’ effect caused by local accumulation of fat and waste products
- Cephalic A substance stimulating and clearing the mind
- Chemotypes The same botanical species occurring in other forms due to different growth condition
- Chi / Qi Chinese term referring to the essential life force
- Cholagogue Stimulating the secretion of bile into the duodenum
- Cholecystokenetic Agent that stimulates the contraction of the gall blalier
- Choleretic Helps the liver to excrete bile, leading to greater bile flow
- Cholesterol Is a steroid alcohol found in red blood cells, bile, nervous tissue and animal fat
- Cicatrisant Agent promoting healing by scar tissue formation
- Cicatrisation Formation of scar tissue
- Cirrhosis Chronic inflammation and degeneration of any organ (normally in the liver)
- Clinical trial A controlled study to look at the effectiveness of a specific ingredient or application
- Cohobation During distillation of essential oils, some compounds can dissolve in the water, and cohobation is then used to correct this problem. to ensure a "complete" oil
- Cold pressed Refers to a method of extraction where no external heat is applied during the process
- Colic Pain due to contraction of the muscle of the abdominal organs
- Concentration Complete attention; intense mental effort
- Concentration Complete attention; intense mental effort
- Concrete A waxy concentrate semi-solid essential oil extract, made from plant material, and is used to make an absolute
- Constipation A state where normal bowel functions are not present
- Cutaneous Pertaining to the skin
- Cystitis Blalier inflammation
- Cytophylactic Action of increasing the leukocyte activity to defend the body against infection
- Cytotoxic Toxic to all cells
D
- Decoction A concentrated herbal preparation made by boiling the material and reducing it
- Decongestant Reduces congestion
- Demulcent An agent protecting mucus membranes and helps stop irritation
- Deodorant Substances applied to the body to eliminate body odor caused by the bacterial breakdown of perspiration
- Depurative Helps to detoxify and to combat impurities in the blood and body
- Dermatitis Inflammation of the skin
- Detoxifying Assists to detoxify the body by getting rid of waste, combating impurities in the blood and body
- Diaphoretic A substance which helps to promote perspiration
- Diffuser A device which helps to release the fragrance molecules into the air
- Digestive system The organs that are responsible for getting food into and out of the body and for making use of it.
- Disinfectant A substance which kills germs and/or viruses
- Distillation A method of extraction used in the manufacture of essential oils
- Diuretic Aids urine production and removes fluid from the body
- Dysmenorrhoea Painful menstruation
- Dysuria Pain or difficulty in urinating
E
- Edema Water/fluid retention (sometimes spelled 'Oedema')
- Emetic Inducing vomiting
- Emmenagogue Encourages menstruation
- Emollients Substances that soften and soothe the skin
- Emphysema Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involving damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs
- Endocrine System of glands that secrete a type of hormone to regulate the body via the bloodstream
- Energy The capacity of a physical system to do work
- Engorgement Refers to swelling within the breast tissue
- Enteritis Inflammation of the mucus membranes of the small intestine inflammation
- Enuresis Involuntary urinating
- Enzyme Protein produced by living cells which catalyse biochemical reactions
- Erethism Abnormal state of excitement or irritation
- Essential oil Volatile aromatic liquid constituting the odorous principles of botanical matter
- Exhaustion A warning that the body is getting too hot.
- Exocrine Pertaining to a gland with a duct, secreting directly onto outside surface of organism.
- Expectorant A substance that encourages mucus to be expelled from the lungs
- Expression Is an extraction method whereby essential oils are pressed to obtain the essential oil
- Exudates
F
- Febrifuge Assists to combat fever
- Feet
- Fever Fever is body temperature is above . degrees F ( degrees C).
- Fibrillation Rapid unsynchronised twitching of muscle fibres
- Fixative Material that slows evaporation of the volatile components in perfume
- Fixed oils Vegetable oils obtained from plants that are fatty and non-volatile
- Flatulence Excess gas in the intestinal tract.
- Flower water The water resulting from the distillation of essential oils, which still contains some of the plant materials properties from the plant extraction
- Fold Refers to the percentage of terpenes removed by re-distillation, from one to five times
- Fractionated oils Refers to oils that have been re-distilled, either to have terpenes removed or to remove other substances
- Fungicide A substance which combats fungal infections
G
- Galactagogue Assists to increase milk secretion
- Gemicidal An agent that destroys micro-organisms
- Gingivitis Inflammation of the gums
- Glossitis Inflammation of the tongue
H
- Halitosis Bad breath
- Hangover Nausea, headache, digestive ailments due to over consumption of alcohol
- Hay fever A seasonal allergy to airborne p
- Headache A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the head (occipital), or in the back of the upper neck.
- Heart burn A burning pain in the chest that is caused by stomach acid entering the gullet
- Hematuria / Haematuria Presence of blood in the urine
- Hemostatic Assists to stop bleeding
- Hepatic Pertaining to the liver
- Hepatoxic An agent which is toxic or harmful on the liver
- Herpes An infection/inflammation of the skin or mucus membranes
- Hormone A product from living cells that produces a specific activity of cells remote from its point of origin
- Hybrid A plant created by fertilization of one species by another
- Hydro diffusion A distillation method of essential oil extraction where the steam is produced above the botanical material and then percolates down
- Hydrosol Floral water
- Hyperglycemia / Hyperglycaemia Excess of sugar in the blood
- Hypertension High blood pressure
- Hypocholesterolemia Lowering of the cholesterol content of the blood
- Hypoglycemia Lowered blood sugar levels
- Hypotension Abnormally low blood pressure
- Hypoxia A shortage of oxygen
I
- In vitro In a test tube
- In vivo In a living body
- Indigestion A disorder of digestive function characterized by discomfort or heartburn or nausea
- Infection The growth of a parasitic organism within the body
- Influenza The flu is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract
- Infused oil An oil that has been permeated (“infused”) with one or more herbs
- Infusion Herbal remedy made by steeping the plant material in water
- Insect repellent A chemical substance that repels insects
- Insomnia Inadequate or poor-quality sleep
- Irritability An irritable petulant feeling
J
- Jet lag A temporary disorder that causes fatigue, insomnia, and other symptoms as a result of rapid air travel across time zones.
L
- Laryngitis Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx
- Laxative Are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements
- Leucocytosis Raises number of white blood cells in the blood
- Leucorrhoea Vaginal discharge which is whitish in colour
- Leukocyte White blood cells responsible for fighting disease
- Lipolytic Causing lipolysis which is the chemical disintegration of fats
M
- Macerate To soak until soft
- Massage therapist Someone qualified to perform therapeutic massage
- Measles Measles is a highly contagious viral disease
- Memory enhancement To boost your ability to recover information about past events or knowledge
- Menopause Cessation of menstruation which happens naturally as a women ages
- Menorrhagia Extreme blood loss during menstruation
- Menstrual problems Irregularities in the periodic blood that flows as a discharge from the uterus
- Metrorrhagia Uterine bleeding that is not within the normal menstrual cycle
- Microbe Tiny living organism such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses
- Migraine Usually, periodic attacks of headaches on one or both sides of the head.
- Mouth infection An infection in the upper opening of the digestive tract
- Mucilage Substance containing demulcent gelatinous constituents
- Mucolytic Breaking down mucus
- Mumps An acute viral illness that usually presents with inflammation of the salivary glands, particularly the parotid glands.
- Muscle pains Discomfort in the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power
- Myelin Fatty material enveloping the majority of nerve cells
N
- Natural material secreted by plants which can be spontaneous or after plant damage
- Nausea Feeling the urge to vomit
- Nephritis Kidney inflammation
- Nervine Substance that tones and strengthens the nerves and nervous system
- Neuralgia Severe pain along a nerve pathway
- Neurasthenia Nervous exhaustion
- Nose bleed Nasal injury or drying out or cracking of nasal membrane can cause bleeding
O
- Odoriferous Exudation from botanical material consisting of essential oil, gum and resin
- Oedema Retention of fluid or water
- Oleo Gum resin
- Oleoresin Natural resinous exudation from plants or aromatic liquid preparation extracted from botanical material
- Olfaction Sense of smell
- Olfactory bulb The center where the processing of smell is started and is then passed onto other areas of the brain
- Oliguria Low volume of urine
- Ophthalmia Eye inflammation
- Ostitis Ear inflammation
- Oxidation Related to the aliition of oxygen to an organic molecule, or the removal of electrons or hydrogen from the molecule
P
- Palpitations Abnormality of heartbeat that can cause fear and anxiety, not necessarily related to heart condition
- Parturient Assisting and helping childbirth
- Pathogenic An agent causing or producing disease
- Peptic Pertaining to gastric secretions and affected areas
- Perennial A plant living for more than two years
- Pharmacology Medical science pertaining to drugs
- Pharmacopoeia Reference book of pharmaceutical drug specifications
- Pheromone Chemical signals first discovered as a sex attractant in insects
- Phototoxic Sun exposure causes skin pigmentation
- Phytohormones Plant substances mimicking the actions of human hormones
- Phytotherapy Treatment of disease with herbal medicine and plant material
- PMS Combination of physical and emotional disturbances that occur after a woman ovulates and ends with menstruation.
- Polypus A non-malignant cyst like growth
- Pomade Perfumed fat obtained during the enfleurage extraction method
- Prophylactic Preventative of disease or infection
- Prostatitis Inflammation of the prostate gland
- Pruritis Itching
- Psoriasis A chronic skin disease producing red patches and dry scaling
- Psychosomatic Pertaining to a physical disorder influenced by emotional factors effecting the mind and body
- Pulmonary The pulmonary arteries carry blood from the heart to the lungs
- Pyelitis Inflammation of the kidneys
- Pyorrhea or Pyorrhoea A discharge of puss from the gums
- Pyrosis Is heartburn which is a painful burning sensation in the oesophagus
R
- Rectification Process of re-distilling essential oils to remove impurities and to increase the quality
- Relaxing A feeling of refreshing tranquility and an absence of tension or worry
- Renal Pertaining to the kidneys, renal failure or kidney failure is when the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins
- Resin Natural or prepared product; natural resins are exudations from trees; prepared resins are oleoresins from which the essential oil has been removed
- Resinoids Perfumed material extracted from natural resinous material by solvent extraction
- Resolvent An agent that helps disperse swelling, or that helps absorption of new growth
- Respiratory problems Difficulty in exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.
- Rheumatism A number of painful conditions of muscles, tendons, joints, and bones
- Rhizome Underground root stem of a plant, that is usually found underground and that lasts for more than one season
- Rubefacient Substance causing redness and possible irritation to the skin
S
- Scar tissue The connective tissue that forms a scar
- Sciatica Pain down the back of the legs in the area serviced by the sciatic nerve
- Sclerosis Is a hardening of tissue and other anatomical features
- Scrofula Tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands
- Sea sickness A form of motion sickness sometimes experienced when on a vessel at sea; especially during rough weather
- Seborrhea Increased secretion of sebum
- Sedative Slows down functional activity, calming
- Shock Is failure of the circulatory system to maintain adequate blood flow.
- Sialogogue An agent stimulating the secretion of saliva.
- Sinusitis Inflammation of the lining membrane of any of the hollow areas (sinuses) of the bone of the skull around the nose
- Soporific A substance or drug which helps to induce sleep
- Spermatorrhoea Involuntary release of sperm without orgasm
- Splenic Pertaining to the spleen, connected with, or affecting the spleen
- Stimulant Has an uplifting effect on the body
- Stomachic A substance which helps with the digestion and helps to improve appetite
- Stomatitis Inflammation of the mucus membranes of the mouth
- Styptic An agent that that promotes haemostasis which stops bleeding.
- Sudorific An agent causing sweating
- Sun burn Inflammation of the skin that develops in response to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or from tanning beds
- Synergy Agents working together and in harmony to produce an effect greater than the sum of the two separate agents
- Synthetic Refers to non organic sources
T
- Tachycardia Abnormally increased heartbeat heart, beating at more than beats per minute
- Tannin An astringent substance that helps seal tissues
- Terpeneless Essential oil from which monoterpene hydrocarbons are removed
- Throat The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of the mouth
- Thrombosis Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body
- Thrush A fungal infection that presents in the mouth or vaginal area
- Tic Repetitive twitching
- Tincture Referring to either a herbal or perfume material prepared in an alcohol base
- Tonic Producing normal tone or tonus in muscles or tissue
- Tonsillitis Inflammation of the tonsil, typically as a result of infection by either a virus or bacteria.
- Tooth ache Pain in or near a tooth.
- Tracheitis Windpipe inflammation
- Tuber Swollen part of underground stem of one year's duration and capable of new growth
U
- Unguent A soothing or healing salve or balm, for application to sores and wounds
- Urticaria Is the medical name for hives which are pink welt that come up on any part of the skin
V
- Varicose veins Visible or bulging
- Vasoconstrictor An agent causing the contraction of blood vessel walls
- Vasodilator An agent such as a nerve or a drug causing the dilation of blood vessel walls
- Vermifuge An agent expelling intestinal worms
- Volatile Substance that evaporates readily at normal temperatures such as an essential oil