Aromatherapy Flashcards
Are sesquiterpene high oils warming or cooling
Both
What are the four methods of extracting EO?
Distillation, solvent, CO2 extraction and pressing
What does it mean chemically when an aroma has a “base note”
It is a large molecule with low volatility.
What is heavier a monoterpene or sesquiterpene?
Sesquiterpene
What plant part is the oil extratcted from for Black Pepper?
Dried fruit
What plant part is the oil extracted from for Cedarwood?
The wood and trunk
What plant part is the oil extracted from for Patchouli
The leaves
Which sesquiterpene high oil is know to lower blood pressure?
Ylang Ylang
Which sesquiterpene high oil is made from flowers?
German Chamomile, Helichrysum, Ylang Ylang
Which sesquiterpine oils are warming and could potentially irritate the skin?
Black Pepper and Ginger
You are making a blend for a client who wants help to clear their congested sinuses. Would you choose monoterpenes or sesquiterpenes?
monoterpenes
An absolute is the result of what type of extraction?
Solvent
Can we generalize about the therapeutic properties of the sesquiterpene rich oils?
Not very well, we need to look at each oil individually.
Do all plants contain volatile aromatic components?
No, only some plants contain volatile aromatic components
What is the common name for Commiphora guidotti?
Opopanax
What is the common name for the product produced when solvent extraction is used?
Absolutes
What is Trauma Oil?
An herbally-infused oil blend that combines arnica, St. John’s wort, and calendula
What plant part is the oil extracted from for Opopanax and Myrrh?
Resin
What plant part is the oil extracted from for Spikenard and Ginger?
Rhizome
What plant part is the oil extracted from for Vetiver?
Rootlets
Which two aromatic notes (top, middle, base) are predominant in this group?
Middle, base
Why is pressed Lime phototoxic but steam distilled Lime is not?
The phototoxic components (furanocoumarins) are present in the pressed oils but not the distilled oil
You are making a 2 oz (60 ml) anti-inflammatory blend for your frail, tired, worn out, 90-year-old grandma. How many drops of essential oil total should you use?
10-12 (which is a 1% dilution)
You are making a 2 oz (60 ml) blend at a 3% dilution. How many total drops of essential oil will you add?
30-36
You are making a blend for a client who wants help to be more emotionally grounded. Would you choose Vetiver or distilled Lime?
Vetiver
You just bought a brand new diffuser. In general, which oils will diffuse more easily—monoterpene-rich oils, or sesquiterpene-rich oils?
Monoterpene-rich oils, because they are lighter molecules—top and middle notes.
What does GC/MS stand for?
Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (now say that five times in a row!)
What does phototoxic mean?
Toxic in sunlight. In practice, a person puts on a blend with a phototoxic oil in it, goes out in the sun, and ends up with a serious sunburn or discoloration of their skin.
What is the difference between a common name and a Latin name?
Common is the name given to a plant by the “common people” of an area. There may be many different common names for the same plant. A Latin name is the botanical name for a given plant. There is usually only one Latin name for each plant (although Latin names can be changed and updated), whereas there could be five or six common names for a single plant. Just to confuse things more, sometimes people call different plants by the same common name
What is the universal language for botanical plant names?
Latin
Which is volatile, an essential oil or a carrier oil such as jojoba, avocado, or olive oil?
Essential oil
Which part of the following Latin name refers to the genus of the plant: Matricaria recutita?
Matricaria
Which part of the following Latin name refers to the species of the plant: Matricaria recutita?
recutita
Your client feels like a cold is coming on. They are congested in their sinuses and have the beginning of a cough. Everyone at their office is catching the latest cold. What methods of application would help?
Steam inhalation or inhaler
Your client tells you he is very sensitive to perfumes, lotions, soaps and shampoos. He wants to try a massage oil with essential oils in it. What are some precautions you should take with this client?
Use only a 1% dilution, get his approval of the aroma of the oil before applying it to his body, apply a small amount to his forearm first and wait 10 or 15 minutes to check for any signs of irritation or sensitivity before recommending he use this for a full body massage
Your client wants a daily lotion with essential oils that nourish the skin. What dilution should you use?
1% or 2%
Are essential oils high in monoterpenes generally more or less prone to oxidation than other essential oils?
More. They are more unstable than other molecules.
Do all plants make chemotypes?
No, only some plants do
How does the molecular weight of essential oils affect the way they are absorbed by the skin?
Essential oils with low molecular weight absorb faster. Oils with higher molecular weights can take longer to absorb
Is “Lavender” a Latin name or a common name?
Is “Lavender” a Latin name or a common name?
Is a chemotype a hybrid?
No, a chemotype has the same genus and same species, but a different chemistry. The plant has a genetic predisposition to create chemotypes based on the environments it grows in.
Name four phototoxic essential oils.
Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit. Little known fact: steam distilled Lime is not phototoxic, but cold pressed Lime is.
On a practical level, what useful information does an Aromatherapist get from the GC/MS?
A breakdown of the chemical constituents, which helps the Aromatherapist to understand the therapeutic effects of that particular batch of oil, guarantee the oil is not adulterated, and identify chemotypes of certain oils
Our sense of smell, or olfaction, has direct connection to which two parts of the brain?
Cortex and limbic system
What are some benefits of understanding the chemical families and individual chemical components?
Knowing the chemical families and components in an essential oil can tell you a lot about the oil’s therapeutic properties, safety concerns, and aroma.
What are three potential concerns for using monoterpene-rich oils on skin?
Oxidation (they tend to oxidize within 1-2 years, depending on the oil), phototoxicity (some of the citruses are phototoxic), and skin irritation (from the hot and spicy oils, or oxidized oils
What does olfaction mean?
he action or capacity of smelling; the sense of smell.
What is a chemotype?
A chemotype is a plant that has the same genus and same species, but a different chemistry. The plant has a genetic predisposition to create chemotypes based on the environments it grows in.
What is an example of a plant that has several different chemotypes?
Thymus vulgaris, Rosmarinus officinalis, Ocimum basilcum
What is the Latin name for Lavender?
That depends on what type of Lavender you are talking about. It could be Lavandula officinalis, Lavandula latifolia, Lavendula X intermedia, and on and on—so which plant are you talking about?
What system does steam inhalation directly affect?
Respiratory system
Why is it such a big deal that the sense of smell directly affects the limbic system?
The limbic system is the seat of emotions, instinctive behaviors and connections to learning and memory.
Why shouldn’t you just order “Chamomile” essential oil?
“Chamomile” doesn’t tell us which genus or species of Chamomile we’re ordering. It could be German, Roman, or another. We need to know the genus and species in order to know the effects of the oil
Oils that have a significant percentage of sesquiterpenols
Cedarwood - Juniperus virginiana
Patchouli - Pogostemon cablin
Sandalwood - Santalum album
Vetiver - Vetiveria zizanoides
All the oils high in sesquiterpenols are considered the same “note.” Name that note:
Base
Cedarwood and Patchouli are both high in components from which two chemical families?
Sesquiterpenols and sesquiterpenes
Review the GC/MS for Spike Lavender and Lavender Angustifolia. Look at the ketone content for each. What component is more significant in Spike Lavender?
Camphor
What is a better choice to energetically ground a blend—Vetiver or Lemon?
Vetiver
What is the Latin name of the tree that produces Neroli, Petitgrain, and Bitter Orange essential oils?
Citrus aurantium var. amara
What is the molecular difference between sesquiterpenols and sesquiterpenes?
Sesquiterpenols have oxygen, in the form of an OH (Hydroxyl Group)
What is the name of the functional group for mono and sesquiterpenols?
OH, Hydroxyl
What other chemical family is significant in Tea Tree besides monoterpenols?
Monoterpenes
Which butter do you add into a body butter blend only after you take the mixture off the heat?
Shea butter
Which molecules are heavier, monoterpenols or sesquiterpenols?
Sesquiterpenols
Which oil high in monoterpenols is made up primarily of linalol?
Rosewood
Which oils high in sesquiterpenols are good antispasmodics?
Patchouli and Sandalwood
Which one oil listed in the sesquiterpenol chemical family has the most sesquiterpenols?
Sandalwood
Which substance gives a body butter blend a harder texture?
Beeswax
Which three oils high in monoterpenols have a distinctly “rosey” aroma?
Rose, Geranium, Palmarosa
Which two oils high in monoterpenols produce a chemotype of linalool?
Basil and Thyme
Would Vetiver be a good choice for your diffuser?
No—it’s too thick.
Pogostemon cablin is Latin for which plant?
Patchouli
Figure out the cost price for a 1 oz (30 ml) blend of jojoba with: Cedarwood 4 drops, Rosewood 4 drops, Vetiver 4 drops. Bottle cost is $1, jojoba is $99 per gallon, Cedarwood costs $10 for 1/2 oz, Rosewood costs $15 for 1/2 oz, Vetiver costs $18 for 1/2
Answer is $2.33. By the way, this would be lovely in your bath tonight.
Is Sweet Marjoram warming or cooling?
Warming
What are the therapeutic properties of linalool?
Sedative, antibacterial, antiviral, antianxiety, antispasmodic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and long-term immune support
What are three therapeutic properties that can be found in all four of the sesquiterpenol rich essential oils covered in this class?
Grounding, sedative, skin healing
What are two factors that influence an essential oil’s chemistry? (There are more than two, but you only need two to get this right.)
Country of origin, climate, method of distillation, and the season in which a plant is distilled.
What happens when an essential oil “antagonizes” a pharmaceutical drug?
The essential oil has slowed down, or counteracted, the effects of the drug.
What kinds of oils should you never use in a bath?
Any oils that come with skin irritation warnings
What plant part is Vetiver essential oil extracted from?
Rootlets
Which monoterpenol-rich oil is produced by solvent extraction?
Rose Absolute
Which two essential oils should be avoided by ANY route for people taking anticoagulant drugs (such as Warfarin or Coumadin), and people with Aspirin sensitivity?
Birch and Wintergreen
How would you describe the safety issues for oils high in ketones? Can you generalize?
Not all ketone components have the same concerns. Some are considered totally safe, and others require caution.
Peppermint is high in components from what other chemical family, besides ketones, that you have studied so far?
Monoterpenols
Spike Lavender is high in components from what other chemical family, besides ketones, that you have studied so far?
Monoterpenols
What chemical family does linalol belong to?
Monoterpenols
What is a chemotype of Thyme, with anti-infectious and skin nourishing properties, that you could add to a blend?
Thyme ct. linalool
What is one component present in Rosemary and Spike Lavender that requires caution for pregnant women or people with epilepsy?
Camphor
What percent dilution should you use for oils high in phenols and aldehydes?
1%
Which two main components are found in both Lemongrass and Melissa?
Neral and geranial
Which two of the three chemical families covered in this lesson have oils that are known to be potentially skin-irritating?
Aldehydes and phenols
Is the chemistry of a plant’s hydrosol the same as that of its essential oil?
No. A hydrosol and essential oil distilled from the same plant will have a different chemistry.
Lemongrass is highest in components from which chemical family?
Aldehydes
Vetiver is high in components from what two other chemical families, besides ketones, that you have studied so far?
Sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenols
What are the therapeutic benefits of camphor? (Stuck? Go to “Therapeutic Components List” in the reference tabs.)
Analgesic, antitussive, cns stimulant, mucolytic
What chemical family does camphor belong to?
Ketones
What component in Clove is concerning to people with clotting disorders?
Eugenol
What does “cicatrisant” mean?
Facilitates skin cell regeneration and helps heal scars
What is one of the main actions of oils high in phenols?
Most phenol rich oils are anti-infectious.
What is the guideline for using essential oils high in camphor?
Use for short periods of time in small amounts. Avoid with people with epilepsy, a high fever, or pregnant women
What kind of aldehydes are we covering in this class?
Aliphatic aldehydes
What kinds of carriers do you want to avoid when making a blend to treat a fungal infection?
Any carrier that is thick and will coat the skin, not allowing it to breathe. Heavy body butter, anything containing beeswax, and even jojoba wouldn’t be ideal. Instead we would use a light carrier like aloe vera gel, or a lotion
What percentage dilution should you stick to when making a child’s blend for acute pain?
1–2%
Will aldehydes oxidize easily? (Are they stable or unstable?)
Yes, they will oxidize easily. They are unstable molecules
You are making a 1 oz (30 ml) blend in jojoba at a 3% dilution for a generally healthy person who has a cold. How many drops (maximum) of Thyme ct. thymol can you safely use?
5-6 (1% only)
You are working with a 68-year-old man who takes Coumadin to prevent blood clots. What essential oil should you leave out of his blends?
Clove and Thyme ct thymol
Along with Cardamom, which other high-oxide oil is great for the respiratory and digestive system?
Laurel Leaf
Name an oil from this lesson that is high in both oxides and esters:
Cardamom
Of the oils high in oxides, which has the highest percentage of oxides?
Eucalyptus globulus
What are the therapeutic properties of Bisabolol oxides? (Refer to the therapeutic component list in the reference tab for help.)
Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic
What is the Latin name for Ravintsara ct. 1,8 cineole?
Cinnamomun camphora
What is the method of extraction for Jasmine absolute?
Solvent extraction
What is the most common oxide component?
1,8 cineole
When making salt scrubs, what do you always want to keep in mind?
To add skin nourishing oils to the salt scrub
Which oil has oxides present other than 1,8 cineole?
German Chamomile
Which one of the oils high in esters is also high in monoterpenes, and is a great choice for steam blends?
Siberian Fir
Which two oils high in oxides contain camphor?
Rosemary ct. camphor and Spike Lavender
Considering the components that Cardamom is high in, what two systems does this oil specifically support?
Respiratory and digestive
Is Bergamot a top, middle or base note?
Top, and more specifically top-middle note.
Is Cardamom a warming or cooling oil?
Warming
Is Helichrysum italicum a top, middle or base note?
Middle
Is Ylang Ylang a top, middle or base note?
Base, and more speficially middle–base note.
What are the main oxide components of German Chamomile?
Bisabolol oxides
What are two ester-rich oils that come with significant safety concerns?
Birch and Wintergreen.
What is the common name for Matricaria recutita?
German Chamomile
What part of the plant is Jasmine essential oil extracted from?
Flowers
What therapeutic action do most essential oils rich in ethers and esters have in common?
Antispasmodic
When blending oils high in 1,8 cineole, what are the safety concerns?
Use caution with people with asthma. Do not use with infants or children under ten years old.
Which chemical family has components with more safety concerns: ethers or esters?
Ethers
Which chemical family in this lesson has oils that are significantly sedative, balancing and soothing?
Esters
Which essential oil has a significant percentage of 1,8 cineole in it (about 50%): Ravintsara (with a “t”) or Ravensara (with no “t”)?
Ravintsara
Ylang Ylang is known for its calming effects. What is another major therapeutic property of it?
Slow a rapid heart beat.
