Orientation:
Please take a moment to let your animated instructor tell you about this page.
You can head over to the Ship’s Library.• From the main stairwell, go to Deck 4.
• Turn left, and the Library is the second door on your right.
Beverages are allowed, so bring yours with you. Please bring your notebook or laptop to make notes if you’d like.
This chapter is mainly for you to refer to. Please read it to be sure you understand the vocabulary, which primarily relates to aromatic or healing terms. Refer back to it when necessary.
The Aromatic and Healing Glossary
Abortifacient: May start labour or induce abortion.
Absolute: A concentrated, semi-solid material often used in perfumery. It is made when a concrete such as jasmine or rose abs is distilled with alcohol or another extract. The alcohol-soluble part of a resinoid may also be called an absolute.
Absorption: The process by which substances like creams or oils penetrate the skin’s surface and reach the deeper layers. Think of it like your skin taking a deep drink.
Adulterate: To cut, change, dilute or blend essential oil with a synthetic, less expensive essential oil or a chemical constituent of an essential oil.
Amenorrhea: When menstruation ceases or is suppressed.
Analgesic: Substance that decreases or kills pain.
Anaphrodisiac: Substance that diminishes sexual desire.
Anorexia: Loss of appetite.
Antibiotic: Substance that reduces growth or destroys microorganisms. They are used to cure or prevent disease.
Anti-inflammatory: Ability to reduce or counteract swelling.
Antimicrobial: Destroys or stops microorganisms from developing.
Antioxidant: These are your skin’s bodyguards. They fight off damage from free radicals (nasty little molecules that can harm cells).
Antioxidants (in cosmetics): These are natural ingredients like Vitamin E or Rosemary Extract, added to cosmetics, particularly oil-based products, to slow down oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can cause oils to go rancid, altering the product’s smell, colour, and effectiveness. Antioxidants act as stabilizers, extending the shelf life and preserving the quality of oil-based cosmetics. They’re the guardians of your product’s integrity, ensuring it stays fresh and effective for longer.
Antiseptic: Prevents sepsis by preventing or stopping the growth of an organism.
Antispasmodic: Relieves spasms and cramps.
Antisudorific: Prevents or reduces sweating.
Antitoxic: Neutralizes poison, especially bacterial.
Antitussive: Relieves coughs; expectorant.
Antiviral: Fights viruses.
Aperient: A mild laxative.
Aphrodisiac: Stimulates sexual desire.
Arteriosclerosis: Thickening and hardening of the walls or the arteries.
Arteritis: An artery is inflamed.
Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints. There is often pain and swelling.
Astringent: Tightens tissue.
Balsam: A resinous liquid exuded from a plant. They are insoluble in water and soluble in alcohol.
Butter (in cosmetics): These are rich, creamy natural fats from plants like Shea, Mango or Cocoa. They’re superb for deep moisturization and are known for their emollient properties, making them a go-to for nourishing skin care.
Cardiac: Associated with the heart.
Cardiotonic: A substance that tones or stimulates the heart.
Carminative: Decreases and prevents gas and soothes digestion.
Carrier Oils Are the unsung heroes of aromatherapy! These oils dilute essential oils before they’re applied to the skin, ensuring the potent essential oils don’t irritate.
Catarrh: Inflamed mucous membranes, especially of the sinuses and throat.
Caustic: Burns or destroys living tissue.
Cellulite: When toxins are stored in body fat and cause it to dimple.
Chemotype: A subspecies of a botanical species that develops due to growing in altered conditions such as climate, altitude, or soil; for example, Rosemary verbena is a chemotype of Rosemary.
Cholagogue: Increases flow of bile into the intestine.
Cicatrizant: Helps form scar tissue and heal wounds.
Colic: Pain when the abdominal muscle contracts.
Cold Pressing is a method to extract essential or carrier oils without heat. This keeps all the good stuff in the oils intact, like nutrients and aroma.
Colitis: Inflamed colon.
Comedogenic: A term for substances that can block pores and lead to blackheads or pimples. If something is non-comedogenic, it’s less likely to clog your pores.
Compress: Hot or cold cloth is applied to the body.
Concrete: Waxy-thick material used for perfumery from plants extracted with a solvent.
Cystitis: Bladder inflammation.
Decongestant: Helps release nasal mucous and congestion.
Demulcent: Soothes and softens mucus membranes.
Deodorant: Masks or eliminates odour.
Depurative: Cleanses and purifies by removing toxins.
Dermatitis: Inflammation and irritation of the skin.
Diffuser: A device used in aromatherapy to disperse essential oils into the air, creating a therapeutic ambiance. It’s like a DJ but for scents, setting the mood in any room. Diffusers can be water-based or air-based.
Disinfectant: Prevents infection by killing germs.
Distillation: A process to extract essential oils from plants using steam or water.
Diuretic: Helps secrete urine.
Dysmenorrhea: Painful menstruation.
Edema: Painless swelling; fluid retention under the skin.
Emetic: Substance to cause vomiting.
Emollient: Something that soothes and softens skin; prevents loss of water.
Enfleurage: Place petals on a layer of cold fat. Repeat +++++ The fat is then removed.
Emulsifier: A substance that helps mix oil and water. Think of it as a mediator encouraging these two to get along and stay together, which is crucial in creams and lotions to create a uniform texture.
Essential Oil: Distilled or expressed plant matter is the heart and soul of aromatherapy! These concentrated plant extracts capture the scent and flavour, or “essence,” of their source.
Exfoliation: The process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. It’s like spring cleaning for your face.
Expression: The pressing of citrus peels to extract oils.
Febrifuge: Agent that reduces fever.
Fixative: A base note oil or chemical agent used to slow the evaporation of oils and perfumes.
Floral water is a hydrosol made with flowers, usually a by-product of distillation. Gentle substances are often used in skincare.
Fungicide: Destroys fungus.
Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach.
Gingivitis: Gums are swollen and red and sometimes bleeding.
Hemorrhoids: piles, dilation of rectal veins.
Hepatic: Affects the liver.
Herpes: A “fever blister” caused by a virus. Cold sores- herpes simplex.
Exfoliation: The process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. It’s like spring cleaning for your face.
Hydrosol: The plant-infused water left when essential oils are steam distilled. It contains different compounds, including water-soluble ones. It is milder than the essential oil. It needs to be refrigerated and kept cold.
Hypertension: Blood pressure is thought to be high.
Hypotension: Blood pressure is below average.
INCI stands for International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients. Simply put, it refers to the international guidelines for indicating ingredients found in cosmetics, household cleaners, etc. Essential oils are often identified by their Latin name.
Infused Oil: Soak or macerate plant material in a carrier oil. Heat may be involved.
Insomnia: Inability to sleep.
Ixodicide: Destroys ticks.
Larvicidal: Destroys larvae.
LD 50: Lethal dose, where a substance kills 50% of the population.
Leucorrhea: White or yellow discharge from the vagina or cervical canal.
Lymphatic: Relates to the lymph system.
Lipophilic: Refers to substances that love or mix well with oils and fats. Essential oils are typically lipophilic, meaning they blend well with carrier oils.
Macerate: Using hot fat to extract plant material. Enfleurage uses cold fat.
Menorrhagia: Heavy menstrual bleeding, either in amount or in days.
Micronization is the process of grinding substances into very fine particles. This is often done to ensure ingredients blend well into formulations.
Mucolyctic: Thins mucus secretions.
Nervine: Calms nervous disorders.
Nephritis: Kidneys are inflamed.
Neuralgia: Sharp nerve pain.
Neurotonic: Tones the nerves.
Non-Comedogenic: Products labelled as such are formulated not to block pores, reducing the risk of acne. It’s your assurance that a product is pimple-friendly.
Oleo (Gum) Resin: Gum, resin and essential oil that plants naturally exude. It may be solvent extracted.
Ophthalmia: The eye is very inflamed.
Otitis: The ear is inflamed.
Palpitations: Rapid or abnormal heartbeats.
Parasiticide: Kills parasites.
Pediculicide: Destroys lice.
pH-Balanced: Refers to products formulated to have a pH similar to the skin, ensuring they don’t disrupt the skin’s natural balance.
Phlebitis: Inflammation of a vein. Symptoms may be edema, stiffness and pain.
Phototoxic of Phytotoxic: Refers to substances that can cause skin reactions when exposed to sunlight. Some citrus essential oils are notorious for this.
Phytotherapy: Plant medicine.
Pomade: Hard or semi-hard perfume material made using the enfleurage method – cold fat.
Poultice: Plant material is placed between two sheets of cloth. This increases circulation to help absorb material and decrease pain.
Preservatives: These are ingredients added to cosmetics to prevent the growth of bacteria and mould. Choosing gentle, non-toxic preservatives in natural formulations is critical to ensuring product safety while maintaining ingredient integrity.
Pruritus: Itching due to allergy or emotional factors.
Psoriasis: Sometimes pain and itchy skin disease where cells replicate too quickly; usually chronic and cyclical. It may affect the total body or patches. May be pustules or scaly patches.
Resins: solid or semi-solids from trees. If the oleoresin has been removed, they are called prepared resins.
Sepsis: Bloodstream is poisoned due to infection from microorganisms.
Sciatica: Pain along the sciatic nerve. It runs down the back of the legs.
Scleroderma: hardening and shrinking connective tissue anywhere in the body, i.e. skin, heart, kidney.
Sedative: Calming soothing may bring on sleep.
Solvent Extraction is a method for extracting essential oils using a solvent. It’s like using a helper to coax the oils out of their plant homes.
Solubilizer: Similar to emulsifiers, these are explicitly used to make essential oils miscible in water-based products. They help maintain clarity and prevent separation in products like sprays and toners.
Styptic: Stops bleeding.
Synergy: In aromatherapy, this refers to the enhanced effect when different essential oils are combined. It’s like a botanical team-up for maximum benefit.
Terpenes: Organic compounds in essential oils that contribute to their scent and therapeutic properties. They’re the essence’s essence.
Tannin: Astringent substance found in plants and trees. Antidote for some poisons.
Thrombosis: A blood clot in the vascular system.
Thrush: A flare-up due to candida- usually noticeable in the mouth or vagina.
Tincture: A liquid herbal remedy prepared in alcohol.
Uterine: Involving the uterus.
Vaginitis: The vagina is inflamed.
Vasoconstrictor: Something that causes the blood vessels to narrow.
Vasodilator: Substance that causes blood vessels to relax.
Vermicide: Destroys worms or parasites.
Viscosity: This refers to the thickness or thinness of a liquid. Higher viscosity means thicker, like honey; lower viscosity means thinner, like water.
Wax (in cosmetics): Natural waxes like Beeswax or Carnauba give structure and consistency to products. They’re especially popular in balms and solid lotions, offering a protective barrier for the skin.