Essential Oil Properties
This list of essential oil properties will help you understand the various terms you may find throughout this website.
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Abortive | Causing abortion, arresting development |
| Analeptic | Restores vitality and stimulates the functioning of different systems of the body |
| Analgesic | Removes pain, pain killer |
| Antibiotic | Combats infection to the body |
| Antiemetic | Reduces vomiting |
| Antiphlogistic | Reduces inflammation |
| Antipruritic | Relieves itching |
| Antiseptic | That which destroys and prevents the development of microbes |
| Antispasmodic | Prevents spasms, convulsions, nervous disorders |
| Antiviral | Controls virus organisms |
| Astringent | Having the ability to draw together or contract the organic tissues |
| Balsamic | That which softens phlegm and is healing and soothing |
| Bechic | Eases coughing |
| Calming | Tranquillizing |
| Cardiotonic | Tones up the heart |
| Carminative | Relieves flatulence |
| Cholagogue | Increases the flow of bile by stimulating evacuation of the gall bladder |
| Cholerectic | Stimulates the flow of bile |
| Cicatrisant | Helps the formation of scar tissue |
| Cytophylactic | Encourages the growth of skin cells |
| Decongestant | Releases nasal mucous |
| Depurative | Combats impurity of the blood and internal organs |
| Detoxifying | Reduction or removal of toxic properties or poisons |
| Diaphoretic | Promotes perspiration |
| Digestive | Stimulates digestion |
| Diuretic | Aids the production of urine |
| Emmenagogue | Induces or regulates menstruation |
| Emollient | Soothing and softening to the skin |
| Eupeptic | Aids digestion |
| Expectorant | Assists the removal of secretions from the bronchial tubes |
| Febrifuge | Combats fever and staves off its return, cooling, and reduces high body temperature |
| Galactagogue | Increases the secretion of breast milk |
| Haemostatic | Arrests bleeding/hemorrhage |
| Hepatic | Stimulates and aids the function of the liver and gall-bladder |
| Hypertensor | Lowers blood pressure |
| Nervine | Reduces nervous disorders |
| Pectoral | Treats chest troubles, beneficial to the respiratory system |
| Prophylactic | Prevents disease |
| Parturient | Helps easy delivery in childbirth |
| Rubefacient | Products inflammation or redness of the skin by increasing flow of blood |
| Sedative | Soothes an overexcited nervous system |
| Stimulating | Increases the flow of adrenalin and energy |
| Stomachic | Digestive aid, gastric tonic |
| Styptic | Arrests external bleeding |
| Sudorific | Increases perspiration |
| Tonic | Improves bodily performance |
| Vasoconstrictor | Contracts blood vessels |
| Vasodilator | Dilates blood vessels |
| Vulnerary | An agent which heals wounds and sores by external administration, arrests bleeding |