HOME ABOUT US HERBAL TEA ESSENTIAL OIL BUSINESS ENQUIRIES GLOSSARY l A l B l C l D l E l F l G l H l I l J l K l L l M l N l O l P l Q l R l S l T l U l V l W l X l Y l Z l a A Abortifacient An agent capable of inducing abortion Absolute The most concentrated form of fragrance obtained when distilling a concrete Adaptogen An agent that alters hormones Allergy Hypersensitivity caused by a foreign substance Allopathic Medical treatment based on treatment of symptoms rather than the underlying condition Alopecia Baldness, can be temporary or permanent Alterative Corrects disordered bodily functions Amenorrhoea Absence of menstruation Anaerobic Type of organism that does not require oxygen Analgesic Relieves or deadens pain Anaphrodisiac Lessens sexual desire Anemia Deficiency of either quantity or quality of red corpuscles in the blood Anesthetic Pain relieving by loss of sensation 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-acid Combats acid in the body Anti-arthritic Helps combat arthritis Anti-allergenic Reduces symptoms of allergies Antibacterial Fights bacterial growth Antibiotic Fights infection in the body by preventing the growth or destroying bacteria Anti-carcinogenic An agent that acts to prevent or treat the development or spread of cancer Anti-convulsant Helps control convulsions Anti-depressant Helps relieve depression Anti-dontalgic Relieves toothache Anti-emetic Reduces the severity or incidence of vomiting Anti-fungal Prevents the growth of fungi Anti-galactagogue Impedes or lessens the flow of milk Anti-hemorrhagic An agent that prevents or combats bleeding Antihistamine Counteracts allergic reaction Anti-infectious Prevents against infection Anti-microbial A substance that acts against infection, particularly bacterical infections Antioxidant A substance that prevents degeneration and decay of cells 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-seborrheic Helps control the oily secretion from sweat glands Antiseptic A substance helping to control infection Anti-spasmodic Prevents contractions of the muscles or relieves 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 Antiviral Prevents the spreading of viruses Aperient Mild laxative Aphonia Loss of voice Aphrodisiac Increasing sexual desire and sexual functioning Apoplexy Sudden loss of consciousness, a stroke or sudden hemorrhage Aromatherapy The therapeutic use of essential oils Arrhythmia Irregular or loss of heartbeat rhythm Arteriosclerosis Hardening of the arteries Asthma Spasm of the bronchi in the lungs, narrowings the lungs Astringent Causes contraction of blood vessels or membranes in order to reduce irritation, inflammation and swelling Atherosclerosis Accumulation of fatty deposits on the inside walls of arteries Atony Lack of muscle tone B Bactericidal An agent that destroys bacteria Balsam Water soluble, semi solid or viscous resinous exudate from a plant which can be either a pathological or a physiological product Balsamic Soothing medicine or application having the qualities of balsam 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 causes cancer or cancerous growths Cardiac Pertaining to the heart Carminative Settles the digestive system and relieves flatulence Carrier oil An oil which is used to dilute essential oils for the purpose of massage Cephalic A substance stimulating and clearing the mind Chemotypes The same botanical species occurring in other forms due to different growth conditions Coagulate An agent that acts to clot or thicken the blood Cholagogue Stimulating the secretion of bile into the duodenum Cholecystokenetic Agent that stimulates the contraction of the gall bladder 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 Cicatrisation Formation of scar tissue Cicatrizant Agent promoting healing by scar tissue formation 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 Is a process in the extraction method of especially rose essential oil, 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 Colitis Inflammation of the colon 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 Bladder inflammation Cytophylactic Action of increasing the leukocyte activity to defend the body against infection Cytotoxic Toxic to all cells D Decoction A herbal preparation made by boiling the material and reducing it to a concentration Decongestant A substance which helps to relieve mucus congestion Demulcent An agent protecting mucus membranes and helps stop irritation Depurgative Helps to detoxify and to combat impurities in the blood and body Dermatitis Inflammation of the skin Dermatologic Beneficial to skin Detoxifier Helps to detoxify and to combat impurities in the blood and body Diaphoretic A substance that causes perspiration Diffuser A device which helps to release the fragrance molecules into the air Digestive An agent that promotes or aids the digestion of food Distillation A method of extraction used in the manufacture of essential oils Diuretic An agent that helps to produce urine and remove water from the body Dysmenorrhoea Painful menstruation Dysuria Pain or difficulty in urinating E Emetic Induces vomiting Emmenagogue Induces or assists menstruation Emollient Softens and soothes the skin Essential oil Volatile aromatic liquid constituting the odorous principles of botanical matter Expectorant A substance that helps to expel mucus from the lungs Expression Is an extraction method where essential oils are pressed to obtain the oil F Febrifuge Helps to combat fever Fixative Material that slows evaporation of volatile components in perfume Fixed oils Vegetable oils obtained from plants that are fatty and non-volatile Flower water The water resulting from the distillation of essential oils, which still contains some of the properties of the plant material used in the extraction Fractionated oils Refers to oils that have been re-distilled, either to have terpenes removed or to remove other substances Fungicidal A substance that prevents or combats fungal infections G Galactagogue Helps to increase milk secretion Germicidal An agent that destroys micro-organisms Gingivitis Inflammation of the gums Glossitis Inflammation of the tongue H Hallucinogenic Causes visions or dillussions Hemostatic Helps to stop bleeding Hepatic Pertaining to the liver; An agent that tones the liver and aids its functions Hepatoxic An agent having a toxic or harmful effect on the liver Hyperglycemia Excess of sugar in the blood Hypertension High blood pressure Hypnotic Causes to sleep Hypocholesterolemia Lowering of the cholesterol content of the blood Hypoglycemia Lowered blood sugar levels Hypotension Abnormally low blood pressure I Immuno-stimulant An agent that stimulates immune activity and the immune system Infection Multiplication of pathogenic (disease producing) micro-organisms within the body Inflammation Response of the body to injury or destruction of body cells usually characterized by heat, swelling, redness and pain Infused oil An oil produced by steeping the macerated botanical material in oil until the oil has taken on some of the material's properties Infusion Herbal remedy made by steeping the plant material in water Insecticidal An agent that repels or kills insects J K L Lactagogue A substance which encourages the production of milk in the breasts Laxative A substance that helps with bowel movements and promotes evacuation of the bowels Leucocytosis Raises number of white blood cells in the blood M Menopause The normal cessation of menstruation Menorrhagia Excessive blood loss during menstruation Microbe Minute living organism such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses N Narcotic A substance that induces sleep which may be intoxicating or poisonous in large doses Nervine A substance that strengthens and tones the nerves and nervous system Neurasthenia Nervous exhaustion Neurotoxin A substance having a toxic or harmful effect on the nervous system Nutritive A substance that promotes nutrition O 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 Ophthalmia Inflammation of the eye Ostitis Inflammation of the ear P Palpitations Undue awareness of heartbeat, or rapid heartbeat or abnormal rhythm of the heart Parasiticide Prevents and destroys parasites Parturient Assisting and helping childbirth Pathogenic An agent causing or producing disease Peptic Pertaining to gastric secretions as well as areas affected by them Pharmacology Medical science pertaining to drugs Phytotherapy Treatment of disease with plant material, including herbal medicine Prophylactic Preventative of disease or infection Prostatitis Inflammation of the prostate gland Pruritis Itching Psychosomatic Pertaining to the mind and body Pulmonary Pertaining to the lungs Purgative An agent stimulating evacuation of the bowels Pyrosis Heartburn Q R Rectification Process of re-distilling essential oils to rid them of certain constituents Rejuvenative To invigorate, bring back to life or to the optimum level of functioning; to give new youth or restore vitality Relaxant A substance that promotes relaxation Renal Pertaining to the kidneys 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 disperses swelling or effects absorption of a new growth Restorative An agent that helps strengthen and revive the body systems; strengthens and promotes well being after illness Rhizome Underground stem that lasts for more than one season Rubefacient Substance causing redness and possible irritation to the skin S Sedative An agent that reduces functional activity; calming Septic Putrefying due to the presence of pathogenic bacteria Sialogogue An agent stimulating the secretion of saliva Soporific A substance that induces sleep Spasm Sudden, violent, involuntary muscular contraction Stomachic A substance which helps with digestion and helps to improve appetite Styptic An agent that stops external bleeding Sudorific An agent that causes sweating T Tincture A herbal remedy prepared in an alcohol base Tisane A type of herbal infusion, usually drunk as tea Tonic Restores tone to the system, balance, nourishes and promotes well being; strengthens and enlivens the whole or specific parts of the body Toxin A substance that is poisonous to the body U Ulcer A slow healing sore occuring internally or externally Uterine tonic A substance that has a toning effect on the whole reproductive system, in particular the uterus V Vasoconstrictor An agent causing the contraction of blood vessel walls Vasodilator An agent causing the dilation of blood vessel walls and so improving circulation Vermifuge An agent expelling intestinal worms Volatile Substance that is unstable and evaporates easily, like an essential oil Vulnerary An agent which is applied externally and which helps to heal wounds and sores and helps to prevent tissue degeneration; assists in the healing of wounds by protecting against infection and stimulating cell growth W Warming An agent which warms the body X Y Z Reference: Lawless, J. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils - The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism, Element, Shaftesbury, 1995