Definition: Therapeutic Properties of Essential Oils Therapy

Aromatherapy, or essential oil therapy, refers to a range of traditional, holistic, alternative or complementary therapies that utilize essential oils and their aromatic plant compounds.

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years in traditional and folk medicine around the world and become one of the most popular ways to invest in self-care in the past decade.

The mechanisms of action of essential oils in therapeutic and holistic uses are dependent on their chemical composition. Generally, essential oils comprise a complex mixture of plant constituents of terpenic hydrocarbons such as monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes; and oxygenated derivatives like aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, and esters. These constituents provide the characteristic aroma and biological or pharmaceutical activities to the oils like antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, vulnerary, etc.

Below is a concise list of definitions of bio-active, therapeutic properties found in essential oils:

Analgesic
Relieves pain

Anti-allergic
Non-irritating; relieves or prevents an allergic response

Anti-bacterial
Destroys or inhibits the growth of bacteria

Antibiotic
Inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms

Anti-coagulant
Prevents and treats blood clots in blood vessels and the heart

Anti-convulsant
Helps relieve seizures

Anti-depressant
Helps alleviate minor depression and lifts mood

Anti-fungal
Inhibits or prevent growth of yeast and fungus

Anti-histamine
Relieves reduce or block histamines, so they stop allergy symptoms

Anti-infective
Prevents spread of infection

Anti-inflammatory
Reduces inflammation

Anti-neuralgia
Reduces severe pain that occurs due to a damaged nerve

Antioxidant
Protective of cells against radical damages

Anti-parasitic
Destructive to parasites

Anti-pruritic
Helps to reduce or prevent itch.

Antipyretic
Prevents or reduces fever

Anti-rheumatic
Helps relieve aches and pain associated with rheumatism

Antiseptic
Prevents or destroys growth of microorganisms

Anti-seborrheic
Prevents or relieves excessive secretion of sebum

Anti-spasmodic
Relieves spasms and cramps

Anti-sudorific
Prevents sweating

Anti-viral
Prevents or destroys the growth of viruses

Aphrodisiac
Stimulates sexual desire

Astringent
Shrinks tissues and reduces fluid loss

Calmative
Have sedative effect

Carminative
Relieves intestinal gas and bloating

Cephalic
Relating to the head or clearing of mind.

Cicatrisant
Wound healing

Cholagogue
Promotes an increased flow of bile into intestines and the digestion of fats

CNS (Central Nervous System) Depressant
Slows down brain activity that causes muscles to relax and calms a person

Cytophylactic
Protects the cells to fight infection

Depurative
Capable of purifying and detoxifying

Digestive Stimulant
Increases ability to digest food

Digestive tonic
Balances the digestive system

Disinfectant
Destroys microorganisms

Diuretic
Promotes the removal from the body of excess water, salts or urine

Emmenagogue
Stimulates and regulates menstrual flows

Estrogenic
Similar to acting like estrogen

Expectorant
Helps thin the secretions in your airway and loosen up mucus from chest or lungs

Galactagogue
Increases flow of mother’s milk

Hepatic
Relating to the liver

Hormonal balancer
Harmonizes the hormones in the body

Hypotensive
Lowers the blood pressure

Immune support
Strengthens body’s defenses against infections

Mucolytic
Dissolves or breaks down mucus

Nerve tonic
Helps restore a depleted, stressed or anxious nervous system

Nervine
Strengthens the nervous system

Regenerative
Ability to regrow, renew or restore especially after damaged or lost

Rubefacient
May irritate or cause redness to skin

Sedative
Soothing or promoting calm or sleep-inducing effect

Stimulant
Raises physiological or nervous activities in the body

Stomachic
Promotes the appetite or aids digestion of food

Sudorific
Induces sweating

Vasoconstrictor
Induces the narrowing of the walls of blood vessels

Vulnerary
Used to heal or treat wounds