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