Glossary of Aromatherapy Terms

Understanding Essential Oil Properties....

To make life a whole lot easier.......I hope!!

It can be a minefield trying to understand all the properties of the different essential oils, especially when all you want to do is get going and make that aromatherapy massage blend or simple aromatherapy recipe.

When I first discovered aromatherapy I certainly hadn't heard of some of the words used to describe essential oils......you just don't come across them in everyday life!

However, it is important to get to 'know' your aromatherapy oils, so understanding some of the technical terms really is necessary, and this glossary is here to help you!

So what exactly is a glossary?

It is an alphabetical list of terms, in this case aromatherapy terms, with their definitions.

I have tried to include as many of the more common terms that you are likely to come across as I can, but please be sure to contact me if you find that I have left any out.....and that way we can ensure that the glossary is as comprehensive as possible!

I have also included some essential oils that have the following properties......but the list is not exhaustive!

Let's get started..........

Aromatherapy Glossary

• Analgesic - Pain relieving - usually applied locally

  bergamot, chamomile, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary

• Anaphrodisiac - Diminishes sexual desire

  marjoram

• Anticonvulsive - Stops convulsions

  chamomile, clary sage, lavender

• Antidepressant - Uplifting to the mind and spirit, alleviates depression

  basil, bergamot, chamomile, geranium, jasmine, lavender, patchouli, rose, ylang-ylang

• Anti-fungal - Helps destroy fungus

  lavender, myrrh, tea-tree

• Anti-inflammatory - Reduces inflammation

  basil, chamomile, frankincense

• Antiseptic - Helps prevent the growth of bacteria

  All essential oils are antiseptic to a certain degree, with probably the most effective being bergamot, eucalyptus, juniper

• Antispasmodic - Calms down muscle spasms

  basil, bergamot, black pepper, chamomile, eucalyptus, juniper, lavender, peppermint, rose, rosemary

• Antitoxic - Works against poisoning

  black pepper, juniper, lavender

• Antiviral - Counteracts the effects of viruses

  cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, tea-tree

• Aphrodisiac -Stimulates sexual desire

  black pepper, jasmine, juniper, patchouli, rose, ylang-ylang

• Astringent - Causes skin tissue to contract, so good for toning skin

  frankincense, geranium, juniper, peppermint, rose, rosemary

• Bactericidal - Helps destroy bacteria

  clary sage, clove, lemon, oregano, tea-tree

• Carminative - Helps ease griping pains and gets rid of gas from the digestive tract

  basil, benzoin, bergamot, black pepper, clary sage, fennel, juniper, lavender, peppermint, lavender, rosemary

• Cephalic - Stimulating for the head and mind

  basil, peppermint, rosemary

• Cicatrisant - Promotes the formation of scar tissue, so good for helping wounds to hea

  bergamot, chamomile, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, juniper, lavender, rosemary

• Cordial - This is a heart tonic

  benzoin, lavender, melissa, neroli, peppermint, rose, rosemary

• Decongestant - Relieves congestion - especially from mucous

  black pepper, eucalyptus, ginger, peppermint, rosemary, tea-tree, thyme

• Deodorant - Works against and masks body odour

  benzoin, bergamot, eucalyptus, lavender, patchouli

• Detoxicant - Helps eliminate or reduce toxic substances

  black pepper, juniper

• Digestive - Helps digestion

  basil, bergamot, black pepper, chamomile, fennel, frankincense, peppermint, rosemary

• Diuretic - Helps increase the production of urine

  black pepper, chamomile, eucalyptus, geranium, juniper, lavender, rosemary

• Emmenagogue - Increases the flow of blood and assists menstruation

  basil, chamomile, clary sage, fennel, hyssop, juniper, lavender, marjoram, myrrh, peppermint, rose, rosemary

• Expectorant - Helps get rid of catarrah, phlegm and mucous

  basil, bergamot, eucalyptus, peppermint

• Febrifuge - Cools and reduces fever

  black pepper, chamomile, eucalyptus, peppermint

• Haemostatic - Helps stop bleeding from wounds

  geranium, rose

• Hepatic - A tonic for the liver

  chamomile, peppermint, rose, rosemary

• Hypertensor - Raises blood pressure

  rosemary

• Hypotensor - Lowers blood pressure

  clary sage, lavender, melissa, ylang-ylang

• Laxative - Mildly promotes evacuation of the bowels

  black pepper, fennel, rose

• Nervine - Acts on the nervous system - often as a tonic, so good for nervous disorders

  basil, chamomile, clary sage, juniper, lavender, peppermint, rosemary

• Regulating - Balances the body's systems

  geranium, lavender, ylang-ylang

• Rubefacient - Stimulates circulation locally and so causes redness of the skin

  black pepper, eucalyptus, juniper, rosemary

• Sedative - Has a soothing and calming effect

  Bergamot, chamomile, frankincense, geranium, jasmine, juniper, lavender, patchouli, rose, ylang-ylang

• Splenetic - A tonic for the spleen

  black pepper, chamomile, fennel, lavender, fennel, rose

• Stimulant - Has a invigorating action on the body and circulation

  black pepper, eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, tea-tree

• Stomachic - A tonic of the stomach - helps digestion and improves appetite

  basil, black pepper, chamomile, fennel, juniper, peppermint, rose, rosemary

• Sudorific - Causes or increases perspiration

  basil, chamomile, ginger, hyssop, juniper, lavender, melissa, peppermint, rosemary

• Tonic - Tones the body generally, or in one area. Can be mildly stimulating and has a restorative effect

  black pepper, chamomile, frankincense, geranium, jasmine, juniper, lavender, patchouli, peppermint, rose, rosemary, tea-tree

• Uterine - A tonic of the uterus

  clary sage, frankincense, jasmine, rose

• Vascoconstrictor - When applied locally causes constriction of the blood vessels

  chamomile, peppermint

• Vulnerary - When applied externally heals cuts, sores and open wounds.

  benzoin, bergamot, chamomile, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, juniper, lavender, rosemary, tea-tree