Glossary Of Terms

This is a list of all of the terms (medical and naturopathic etc) which may be used throughout the product descriptions on this website.

These are generally terms used to describe the following:

• Common conditions

• Actions of medicines and other substances on diseases and infections

Hopefully, this glossary of terms will help you gain a deeper understanding of the information within this Wild As The Wind Online Shop.

Search For Conditions Of Interest

Once you have located an item of interest within this Glossary Of Terms, you can search the Wild As The Wind website for essential oils which will potentially help with the condition it relates to.

Simply copy and paste, or type the item of interest into the search box at the top, right-hand corner, of this page, and then click return.

Glossary Of Terms

Abortifacient: (can induce an abortion)

Acaricidal: (having a lethal effect on mites)

Adulticidal: (insecticide used to kill adult mosquitoes)

Analgesic: (pain relieving)

Anaesthetic: (cause loss of feeling or awareness. Used in medicine to prevent awareness of pain.)

Anti-aflatoxigenic: (fungicidal. Toxic to fungal & yeast infections)

Anti-allergenic: (prevents or reduces allergic responses)

Anti-anginal: (averts angina / supports heart health)

Anti-angiogenic: (suppresses new blood vessels from forming: contraindicated if pregnant)

Anti-anxiety: (reduces anxiety)

Antiarrhytmic: (normalises heart beat regularity)

Antibacterial: (toxic to bacteria)

Antibiofilm: reduces the build-up of biofilm which is very detrimental to the health of the microbiome in the gut, thereby compromising immunity.

Anti-colitic: (helps prevent Colitis)

Anticonvulsant (reduces seizures / convulsions / spasm)

Anti-depressant (relieves depression / emotional disorder)

Anti-diarrhoea (reduces diarrhoea / loose bowel movements)

Antiedematogenic: counters the formation of an oedema

Anti-emetic: alleviates nausea or vomiting

Anti-galactagogue: prevents or decreases the secretion of milk in nursing mothers)

Antifungal: toxic to fungal infections, e.g. Athlete’s Foot

Antiglycation: an anti-ageing process which reduces disease development. Inhibits inflammatory reactions

Anti-hemorrhagic: prevents or combats bleeding

Antihistamine: reduces histamine response – reduces allergic reactions

Anti-hirsutism: prevents hair loss

Anti-inflammatory: reduces inflammation

Antileishmanial compounds: counter Leishmania parasites spread by the Phlebotomine Sand Flies, found in the tropics, subtropics and southern europe.

Antimicrobial: kills microbial infections – microbes: bacteria, fungi, viruses & protozoan parasites / protozoa

Antimutagenic: inhibit the activation of mutagens, which cause the mutation of the DNA in cells

Antinociceptive: the action or process of blocking the detection of a painful or injurious stimulus by sensory neurons

Anti-nausea: reduces motion sickness & the feeling of the need to vomit

Antineoplastic: anti-tumour

Anti-neuralgic (relieves neuralgia)

Anti-nociceptive: Nociceptive pain develops in direct response to a specific stimulus/toxin. It differs from neuropathic pain because neuropathic pain is a consequence of damage to the nerves or nervous system. Neuropathic pain causes a shooting or burning pain, & can cause numbness and tingling.

Anti-odontalgic (relieves toothache)

Antioxidant (protects cells from the damage caused by free radicals)

Antiphlogistic (anti-inflammatory)

Antiplasmodial counters Plasmodium parasites which cause malaria

Antiplatelet compounds prevent abnormal clotting in the arteries, thereby reducing the chance of a heart attack. These compounds influence platelets by instructing them not to stick together and form a blood clot.

Anti-pruritic: (reduces or prevents itching)

Antipyretic: (agent to prevent or reduce fever)

Antihelmintic: (kills intestinal worms)

Antiseborrheic / antiseborrhoeic: (preventing or relieving symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis / seborrheic eczema)

Antiseptic  (substance that stops or slows down the growth of microorganisms)

Antispasmodic: (relieves, prevents, or lowers the incidence of muscle spasms, esp. in smooth muscle e.g. in the bowel wall)

Anti-sudorific: (reduces sweating)

Antithrombotic: (prevents thrombosis / blood clots)

Antitumor: (stops or reduces risk of tumour / abnormal cell growth)

Anti-tussive: (relieves or supresses coughing)

Anti-viral: (antiviral – toxic to viruses)

Anxiolytic: (anti-anxiety)

Aperient (mild laxative)

Apoptotic (supports programmed cell death)

Astringent (causes skin cells & bodily tissue to contract)

Antineoplastic (anti-tumour)

Antinociceptive (action or process of blocking the detection of a painful or injurious stimulus by sensory neurons)

Bactericidal (antibacterial)

Balsamic (of balsam – soothing)

Calming (induces a relaxed & restful state)

Carginogenic (promotes cancer or cancerous growths)

Cardiovascular (heart health)

Carminative (reduces gastric bloating & flatulence)

Cephalic (of the head / brain)

Chemomodulatory action (Immune-modulating – enhancing the immune response against cancer)

Cholagogue (promotes the discharge of bile from the system, purging it downward)

Choleretic (increases bile flow)

Circulatory (supports blood circulation)

Cicatrisant (wound healing / formation of a cicatrix)

Cicatrizant: (as above – wound healing / formation of a cicatrix)

CNS depressant, (CNS = Central Nervous System)

CNS tonic (central nervous system tonic. Nervine. substance intended to nourish & support the central nervous system, to restore balance & restfulness in the body)

Colic (pain caused by muscle contractions of abdominal organs)

Contusions (bruises)

COSMOS = COSMetic Organic and Natural Standard – sets certification requirements for organic & natural cosmetics products in Europe, but is recognised globally. There are five COSMOS member staes:

• BDIH (Germany)
• Cosmebio (France)
• Ecocert Greenlife SAS (France)
• ICEA (Italy)
• Soil Association (UK)

Cytotoxic (kills abnormal cells)

Cytoprotective (protecting cells from noxious chemicals or other stimuli)

Decongestant (relieves congestion in nasal passages)

Demulcent (substance which protects mucus membranes and helps stop irritation)

Deodorant (destroy or mask unpleasant odours)

Depurative (purifying & detoxifying the blood)

Detoxicant (supports detoxification)

Detoxification (removes toxins from the body)

Detoxifying (supports detoxification)

Diaphoretic (promotes sweating)

Digestive (supports digestion)

Disinfectant (kill germs, viruses, bacteria, & other microorganisms)

Diuretic (increases urination)

Dopaminergic (helps increase focus)

Dyspepsia (heartburn)

Emmenagogue (stimulates pelvic circulation & increases menstrual flow)

Emollient (softening or soothing to the skin)

Ethically Sourced Essential Oil: An ethically sourced aromatherapy oil made using sustainably sourced plant materials that are grown as a low-impact crop, using sustainable farming practices.

Expectorant (helps clear mucus from airways)

Ferbifuge (reduces fever)

Fibrinolytic compounds stimulate the dissolution of a blood clots

Galactogogue (increases lactation)

Genotoxic (damaging to DNA)

GRAS Status (Generally recognised as safe)

Hemostatic (stops blood flow / bleeding / haemorrhaging)

Hepatic (supports Liver health)

Hepatoprotective (supports Liver health)

Hypoglycemic (lowers blood sugar)

Hypolipidemic (lipid / fat reducing)

Hypertensive, (increases blood pressure)

Hypotensive, (lowers blood pressure)

Immuno-stimulating (helps elicit a natural immune response)

Immuno-supportive (supports natural immune response)

Immunosuppressive (reduces immune response)

Inflammation (swelling, often painful. Metaphysical: being in flames – heat & discomfort)

Insecticidal (kills insects)

Intraocular fluid (fluid that fills the anterior and posterior chambers of the eye)

Laxative (helps to improve bowel movements / relieve constipation)

Lipolytic: (breaks down fats in our bodies)

Menorrhagia: (excessive blood loss during menstruation)

Metrorrhagia: (irregular menstruation occurring between menstrual periods)

Mucolytic, (dissolves mucus)

Mutagenic: (capable of inducing genetic mutation)

Narcotic: (substance which induces sleep)

Nervine: (nerve tonic, which nourishes & supports the neurological system, reducing pain & restoring balance & restfulness in the body – see CNS tonic)

Neurotoxin: (toxic or harmful to the nervous system)

Nocturia: (overnight urination)

Nociceptive: Nociceptive pain develops in direct response to a specific stimulus/toxin. It differs from neuropathic pain because neuropathic pain is a consequence of damage to the nerves or nervous system. Neuropathic pain causes a shooting or burning pain, & can cause numbness and tingling.

Nootropic: substances that can boost brain performance

Oculohypotensive: result of a lack of production or a loss of intraocular fluid

Parturient: assisting childbirth

Phlebotonic: Compounds that improve *venous tone, stabilize capillary permeability and increase lymphatic drainage. They have been used to treat a variety of conditions including chronic venous insufficiency, lymphoedema and haemorrhoids. *Venous tone relates to the condition of the veins.

Phototoxic: hypersensitivity to sunlight – causes skin reactions when exposed to the sun

Phytotoxic: poisonous to plant life

Prophylactic: intended to prevent disease

Pruritis: itching

Pyrosis: heartburn

Relaxant: reduces over-stimulation

Rubefacient: produces redness of the skin by causing dilation of the capillaries & increasing blood flow

Sedative: (relaxant for reducing anxiety or helping with insomnia)

Soporific: (aids sleep)

Splenic: (supports normal spleen function)

Stimulan: (either provides systemic stimulation or organ-specific stimulation)

Stomaich: (supports digestive health)

Sudorific: causing sweating

Therapeutic grade: suitable for use by therapists who routinely use essential oils in their practices – i.e. for therapeutic purposes

Therapeutic purposes: use in therapeutic settings, i.e. aromatherapy massage etc

Tonic: something that makes us feel stronger & happier

Topical application: applied to the skin

Toxicant: toxic to the body

Uterine: provide womb support

Vasoconstrictor: substance which helps the contraction of blood vessels

Vasodilator: substance which helps the dilation of blood vessels

Venous: of the veins

Vermifuge: kills intestinal worms

Vulnerary: wound healing