A
concentrated semi-solid aromatic material, usually obtained by alcohol
extraction. More info
Antiseptic
An
agent that can inhibit the growth of disease-causing micro-organisms
Antiviral
An
agent that opposes the action of viruses
Aromatic
A
substance with a strong aroma or smell
Attar
Attars are essential oils
that have been distilled using a unique process into a base of sandalwood oil. The sandalwood
acts as a fixative and enhances the floral notes.
Bath
Base
In
aromatherapy, a non-alcoholic agent
that is used to distribute or dissolve essential oils evenly onto the
surface of the bathwater. See also Dispersant.
Carrier
Often
a vegetable oil, but it can be a base cream, lotion, gel or shampoo etc
which is used to dilute pure essential oils for application. More
info
Chemotype
Plants
of the same genus which appear externally identical but have a variation
in the chemical constituents, often due to to climatic, altitude or soil
conditions
Cold
Pressed
A
natural physical process used to extract vegetable oils and essential
oils from citrus fruits. Vegetable oils
extracted in this way retain their essential fatty acid content since no
heat or chemicals are used in the process.
Compress
A
folded piece of material or lint applied hot or cold to the body. How
to use them
Concrete
A
waxy semi-solid or solid material derived from plant material by a
solvent
Cultivar
A
variety of plant which has been developed as a result of cultivation,
usually by means of hybridization
Dispersant
In
aromatherapy; a non-alcoholic agent or surfactant
that is used to distribute or dissolve essential oils evenly into the
surface of water. See also Bath Base.
Essential
oil
The
essence extracted from flowers, plants, herbs, leaves, fruits, woods and
gums by steam distillation or other methods of extraction.
A
category (in botany) ranking below a family and above a species which
usually contains a group of species with similar characteristics.
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
Hydrolat
See
Hydrosol
Hydrosol
True
hydrosols are produced by water or steam distillation of the flower
or herb, and contain most
of the hydrophilic (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. More info
Infusion
A
remedy prepared by soaking plant material in vegetable oil or water. See
also Macerate and Phytol
Limbic
system
A
group of brain structures that is responsible for our feelings, emotions,
motivations and influences the endocrine and autonomic motor systems. It
also plays an important part in learning and memory. This system includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex.
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
Lymphatic
drainage
(manual)
A
specialised massage technique that encourages the flow of lymph fluid, thereby
draining away pockets of water retention and toxins. See lymphatic
system.
Maceration
A
remedy prepared by soaking plant material in vegetable oil or water. See
also Infusion and Phytol
Naturopathy
Naturopathic
medicine is a field of healthcare which works with the body's own
self-correcting mechanisms, or efforts to maintain homoeostasis
Oleo
resin
A
naturally occurring exudation from plants and trees that is a mixture of
an oil and resin, such as the exudate from pine, frankincense and myrrh
trees.
Olfaction
The
sense of smell
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 i.e. -
bergapten in Bergamot oil.
Phytol
1)
A
remedy prepared by soaking plant material in vegetable oil or water. See
also Infusion and Maceration.
Not to be confused with;
2) A volatile oil produced by an advanced method of extraction
(Phytonics process) utilising
a solvent which boils at a temperature below freezing point and leaves no
solvent residue. Technically known as a Cold Absolute.
Phytotherapy
The
treatment of disease by plants; herbal medicine
Psychoneuroimmunology
(Psycho-neuro-immunology)This specialist field of research studies
the relationship 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
Resin
(natural)
Any
one of a class of yellowish brown solid, or semi-solid substances which
are of vegetable origin exuded
from plants and trees e.g; pine, frankincense and myrrh. They are
soluble in ether, alcohol, and other solvents, but not in water.
Resinoid
A
material prepared from natural resinous matter such as gum resins
Surfactant
A
surface-active agent 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.
Taxonomy
The
science or principles of classifying organisms (plants) in established
categories according to similarities or evolutionary relationaships
