Essential Oils

QuickStudy Laminated Reference Guide

Penelope Pool

• Publisher: QuickStudy Reference Guides
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781423225898
• eBook ISBN: 9781423237303
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Alternative & Complementary Medicine

With over 130 essential oils in this handy 6-page, oil-proof guide, beginners or experts can quickly find an oil's therapeutic aspects plus cautions regarding certain oils. Latin botanical and alternate names make finding the right oil easy and comments listed for some oils will give more background – historical or traditional uses, or more on specific cautions. Suggested uses:
o Experts – as a handy go-to tool for your workspace, oil-proof by way of lamination
o Beginner – learning tool for quick reference and starting point for more research
o Personal – shopping guide - know where to start if looking for non-medical therapeutic options for you or a loved one's health benefits

C

Acorus calamus

Calamus

Also called: German ginger

Actions: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, cephalic, cicatrisant, circulant, febrifuge, insecticide, nervine, nootropic (improves memory), sedative

Uses: anxiety, arthritis, fevers, stress

Cautions: not for internal use; toxic, carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, and hallucinogenic if it contains ß-asarone. Use only the diploid variety

Myrocarpus fastigiatus

Cabreuva

Also called: brown balm of Peru

Actions: antiseptic, balsamic, cicatrisant

Uses: chills, colds, coughs, cuts, immune booster, scars, wounds

Comments: indigenous uses include healing wounds & ulcers, and removing scars. Used in high-end perfumes & soaps

Juniperus oxycedrus

Cade

Also called: juniper tar, prickly cedar, medlar, prickly juniper

Actions: analgesic, antimicrobial, antipruritic, antiseptic, disinfectant, parasiticide, vermifuge

Uses: cuts, dandruff, skin conditioner

Comments: used herbally for toothaches; pharmaceutical use in skin creams & in veterinary medicine

Cautions: not for use on sensitive skin

Popular Carrier Oils (vegetable base oils)

With one or two exceptions, these are light in texture, usually with a mild fragrance of their own.

almond
aloe vera
apricot
apricot kernel
avocado
borage
calendula
coconut
evening primrose
grape seed
hazelnut
jojoba

macadamia
meadowfoam
olive
peanut
pumpkin seed
rosehip
safflower
sesame
soybean
sunflower
walnut
wheat germ

Melaleuca cajeputi

Cajeput

Also called: white wood, swamp tea tree, punk tree, paperbark tree

Actions: mildly analgesic, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant, febrifuge, insecticide, sedative

Uses: arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, immune booster, insect bites & stings, muscle aches & pains, rheumatism, sinusitis, oily skin, sore throat, urinary tract infections

Comments: used in dentistry & pharmaceuticals as an antiseptic

Cautions: dilute well; can irritate mucous membranes

Calendula officinalis

Calendula

Also called: marigold, hollygold, marybud

Actions: anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, diaphoretic, emollient, febrifuge, styptic, vulnerary

Uses: burns, diaper rashes, eczema, insect bites & stings, rashes, scrapes, skin conditioner, skin (dry, chapped, and cracked), varicose veins

Comments: highly valued; difficult to find authentic (nonsynthetic) therapeutic grade oil

Calamintha officinalis

Calamintha

Also called: Melissa calamintha, mountain mint, French marjoram, wild basil, catnip

Actions: local anesthetic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, nervine, sedative, tonic

Uses: chills, colic, flatulence, insomnia, muscle aches & pains, nervous dyspepsia, rheumatism, stress

Cautions: possible toxic effects in concentration

Cinnamomum camphora

Camphor

Also called: true camphor, hon-sho, laurel

Actions: anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, counterirritant, diuretic, expectorant, rubefacient, stimulant, vermifuge

Uses: acne, arthritis, bronchitis, chills, coughs, immune booster, inflammation, insecticide, muscle aches & pains, rheumatism, oily skin, sprains

Cautions: toxic if ingested. White camphor is safe for use in small doses but is classified as a marine pollutant. Yellow and brown camphor are highly toxic

Camellia sinensis

Camellia

Also called: tea seed oil

Actions: analgesic, antiallergic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, astringent, cicatrisant, emollient, insecticide

Uses: cancer prevention (colon, breast, and uterine), mature complexions, hair tonic, immune booster, scar reduction, scrapes, skin (dry & chapped), stress, sunburn

Comments: plant is the source of most types of tea. Note potential confusion with tea tree oil

Cananga odorata

Cananga

Actions: antidepressant, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, hypotensive, nervine, sedative

Uses: anxiety, depression, insect bites, skin care (general), stress

Carum carvi

Caraway

Actions: antihistaminic, antimicrobial, antiseptic, aperitif, astringent, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, galactagogue, larvicidal, spasmolytic, stimulant, stomachic, vermifuge

Uses: appetite & immune booster, bronchitis, colic, coughs, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastric spasms, laryngitis, nervous indigestion

Elettaria cardamomum

Cardamom

Actions: antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, cephalic, digestive, diuretic, nervine, stimulant, stomachic

Uses: colic, cramps, dyspepsia, fatigue, flatulence, halitosis, heartburn, indigestion, vomiting

Comments: one of the oldest known medicines in China & India. Hippocrates prescribed it for sciatica, coughs, abdominal pains, spasms, nervous disorders, and poisonous bites

Daucus carota

Carrot seed

Also called: wild carrot, Queen Anne’s lace, bird’s nest

Actions: anthelmintic, antiseptic, carminative, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, hepatic

Uses: anemia, arthritis, colic, mature complexions, dermatitis, eczema, edema, gout, indigestion, liver congestion, menstrual & glandular issues, psoriasis, rashes, rheumatism, skin (revitalizing & toning), toxin accumulation, wrinkles

Croton eluteria

Cascarilla Bark

Also called: sweetwood bark, Bahama cascarilla, false quinquina

Actions: antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent

Uses: bronchitis, coughs, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea

Comments: used to flavor vermouth & bitters

Cinnamomum cassia

Cassia

Also called: Chinese cinnamon, false cinnamon

Comments: no therape...

Table of contents

• A
• B
• C
• D E F
• G
• H I J
• L
• M
• N O
• P
• R
• S
• T
• V Y
• Vocabulary