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Aromatherapy Terms Glossary

Absolute: A concentrated semi-solid aromatic material, usually obtained by alcohol extraction.

Anticeptic: An agent that can inhibit the growth of disease causing micro-organisms.

Antiviral: An agent that opposes the action of viruses.

Aromatherapy: The art and science of using essential oils to promote health and well being. ie; Aromatherapy is often used to help relax, stimulate the mind, enhance the mood, as well as countless other applications.

Aromatic A substance which has an oder or scent. Usually used when describing something pleasant. ie; The aromatic scent of pure lavender fills the air.

Bath Base:In aromatherapy, a non-alcoholic agent that is used to distribute or dissolve essential oils evenly onto the surface of the bathwater.

Carrier: Often a vegetable oil, which is used to dilute pure essential oils for application. A common carrier is sweet almond oil.

Chemotype: Plants of the same genus which appear externally identical but have a variation in the chemical constituents, often due to climatic, altitude, or soil conditions.

Cold Pressed: A natural physical process used to extract vegetable oils and essential oils from citrus fruits. The seeds of the fruit are "pressed" which releases their oil. Since no heat is used in this process, the oils retain their essential fatty acid content.

Compress: A folded piece of material or cloth applied hot or cold to the body. ie; for fever, many people will put a cool compress on their forehead to help cool them.

Concrete: A waxy semi-solid or solid material derived from plant material by solvent.

Cultivar: A variety of plant which has been developed as a result of cultivation.

Dilution: The process of making weaker or less concentrated. Pure essential oils can be very potent, therefore, most applications recommend that they be diluted.

Dispersant: In aromatherapy; a non-alcoholic agent or surfactant that is used to distribute or dissolve essential oils evenly into the surface of water.

Essential oil: The essence extracted from flowers, plants, herbs, leaves, fruits, woods and gums by steam distillation or other methods of extraction.

Expectorant: A substance which may assist in the clearing of congestion, phlegm, mucus, or other matter from the respiratory tract. ie; Eucalyptus and Tea Tree.

Fixed oil: A vegetable oil, non-volatile.

Floral water: Hydrosols are produced by water or steam distillation of the flower or herb, and contain most of the hydrophillic (water soluble) molecules from the plant or flower material that did not distil into the essential oil. Also known as hydrolat, hydrolate, distillate water or floral water.

Gum: Any of various viscous substances exuded by plants and trees that dries on exposure to air into water soluble, non-crystalline, brittle solids.

Heartwood: The central portion of a tree trunk. Non living. Usually harder and darker than the younger sapwood.

Hydrolat: Hydrosols are produced by water or steam distillation of the flower or herb, and contain most of the hydrophillic (water soluble) molecules from the plant or flower material that did not distil into the essential oil. Also known as hydrolat, hydrolate, distillate water or floral water.

Hydrosol: Hydrosols are produced by water or steam distillation of the flower or herb, and contain most of the hydrophillic (water soluble) molecules from the plant or flower material that did not distil into the essential oil. Also known as hydrolat, hydrolate, distillate water or floral water.

Infusion: A remedy prepared by soaking plant material in vegetable oil or water. ie; placing dried lavender buds into olive oil, letting sit in sunlight for several days, will create a lavender infusion.

Lymphatic system: Consists of lymph nodes linked by lymph vessels that carry the lymph fluid around the body. This system collects waste from the tissues, returning it to the blood after it has been purified.

Lyphatic drainage: A specialised massage technique that encourages the flow of lympth fluid, thereby draining away pockets of water retention and toxins.

Maceration: A remedy prepared by soaking plant material in vegetable oil or water. The process of maceration makes the material soft.

Naturopathy: Naturopathic medicine is a feild of healthcare which works with the body's own self-correcting mechanisms, or efforts to maintain homeostasis. This system of therapy relies on natural remedies.

Oleo resin: A naturally occurring exudation from plants and trees that is a mixture of an oild and resin, such as the exudate from pine, frankincense and myrrh trees.

Olfaction: The sense of smell / the act or process of smelling.

Photo-toxicity: Pigmentation or a sensitising reaction on the skin when exposed to ultra-violet light, due to a naturally occurring component in an essential oil.

Phytol: A remedy prepared by soaking plant material in vegetable oil or water.

Phytotherapy: The treatment of disease by plants; herbal medicine; herbology.

Psychoneuroimmunology: This specialist field of research studies the repationship between the brain and immune system, and how they communicate with each other using various chemical messengers.

Rectification: A process of re-distillation used with some essential oils to remove particular constituents. The process of removing undesirable elements, purification. To correct or adjust.

Resin: Any one of a class of clear, yellowish brown solid, or semisolid substances which are vegetable in origin - derived from plants and trees. They are soluble in ether, alcohol, and other solvents. Not soluble in water.

Resinoid: A material prepared from natural resinous matter such as gum resins.

Surfactant: A surface-active substance that reduces the surface tension of two liquids. Used in aromatherapy, a surfactant acts as a dispersant between oil and water.

Synergy: The effect of two or more agents working together to produce an effect that is greater than the sum of the parts. ie; The combination of two essential oils will be more effective than if used individually.

Taxonomy: The science or principles of classifying organisms (plants) in established categories according to similarities and their natural relationships.

Tonic: Often used to describe a remedy with strengthening properties. A restorative agent or influence.

Viscosity: In aromatherapy, this term is used to describe the thickness of the essential oil. The higher the viscosity, the more liquid it is. Honey has a low viscosity while water has a high viscosity.

Volatile: Evaporating readily at normal temperatures.

 

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and is not a substitute for medical advice.