
THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES OF COMPONENTS
This list includes therapeutic property, definition of the property, chemical constituents best known to produce this property, and the oils highest in these constituents.
Activates white blood cells (for cancer, etc)
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Carvone
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Limonene (d)
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Terpinen-4-ol
Aids digestion
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Eudesmol (β)
Airborne antimicrobial - an agent that kills airborne microorganisms or inhibits their growth.
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Carvacrol
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Cineole
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Citral (geranial and neral)
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Citronellal
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Geraniol
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Linalool
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Terpineol (α)
Analgesic - painkiller, relief from pain. The word analgesic derives from Greek ἀν-, "without", and ἄλγος, "pain".
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Anethole (E)
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Bornyl acetate
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Camphor
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Carvacrol
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Carvone
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Caryophyllene (β)
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Cineole
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Citral (geranial and neral)
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Citronellal
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Cymene (para)
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Eugenol
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Limonene (d)
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Linalool
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Linalyl acetate
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Menthol
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Menthone
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Myrcene (β)
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Santalols
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Terpineol (α)
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Thymol
Anti-Inflammatory - used to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is a localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection.
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Anethole (E)
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Bisabolol (α)
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Bisabolol oxides (α)
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Borneol
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Bornyl acetate
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Carene (δ-3)
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Carvacrol
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Carvone
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Caryophyllene (α)
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Caryophyllene (β)
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Chamazulene
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Cineole
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Citral (geranial and neral)
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Citronellol
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Curcumene (α)
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Eudesmol (β)
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Eugenol
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Geraniol
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Limonene (d)
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Linalool
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Linalyl acetate
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Menthol
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Menthone
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Myrcene (β)
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Nerolidol
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Pinene (α)
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Pinene (β)
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Terpinen-4-ol
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Terpineol (α)
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Thymol
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Turmerones
Antianxiety - tending to prevent or relieve anxiety.
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Carvacrol
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Carvone
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Citronellol
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Linalool
Antiatherosclerotic - an agent that prevents or counteracts atherosclerosis (a disease of the arteries characterized by the deposition of plaques of fatty material on their inner walls.)
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None known
Antibacterial - active against bacteria (a member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms that have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease.)
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Borneol
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Carvacrol
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Carvone
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Cedrol
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Chamazulene
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Cineole
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Citral (geranial and neral)
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Citronellal
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Cymene (para)
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Eugenol
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Geraniol
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Geranyl acetate
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Limonene (d)
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Linalool
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Linalyl acetate
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Menthol
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Menthone
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Methyl cinnamate
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Nerolidol
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Phellandrene (α)
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Pinene (α)
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Santalols
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Terpinen-4-ol
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Terpinene (γ)
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Terpineol (α)
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Terpinolene
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Thymol
Anticoagulant - having the effect of retarding or inhibiting the coagulation of the blood.
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Anethole (E)
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Borneol
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Eugenol
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Menthol
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Menthone
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Turmerones
Anticonvulsant - used to prevent or reduce the severity of epileptic fits or other convulsions.
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Carvone
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Citral (geranial and neral)
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Citronellol
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Eugenol
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Linalool
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Terpinen-4-ol
Antiemetic - preventing vomiting.
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None known
Antifungal - destructive to fungi, or suppressing their reproduction or growth; effective against fungal infections. Fungi are a group of unicellular, multicellular, or syncytial spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter, including molds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools.
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Anethole (E)
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Bisabolol (α)
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Borneol
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Carvacrol
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Carvone
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Cedrol
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Citral (geranial and neral)
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Citronellol
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Eudesmol (β)
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Geraniol
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Methyl cinnamate
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Nerolidol
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Terpinen-4-ol
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Terpineol (α)
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Thymol
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Turmerones
Antifungal, candida - a yeastlike, parasitic fungus that can sometimes cause thrush. Also a genus of yeasts and is the most common cause of fungal infections worldwide.
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Benzyl benzoate
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Carvacrol
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Citral (geranial and neral)
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Citronellol
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Eugenol
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Geraniol
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Geranyl acetate
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Linalool
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Phellandrene (β)
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Pinene (α)
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Santalols
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Terpinen-4-ol
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Terpinolene
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Thymol
Antihistaminic - counteracting the effect of histamine (a compound that is released by cells in response to injury and in allergic and inflammatory reactions, causing contraction of smooth muscle and dilation of capillaries.)
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Eugenol
Antimicrobial - an agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth.
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Bisabolol (α)
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Bisabolol oxides (α)
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Santalols
Antiobesity - agents that reduce or control weight. These drugs alter one of the fundamental processes of the human body, weight regulation, by either altering appetite, or absorption of calories.
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Cedrol
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Limonene (d)
Antioxidant - a substance that inhibits oxidation, especially one used to counteract the deterioration of stored food products. Also, a substance such as vitamin C or E that removes potentially damaging oxidizing agents in a living organism.
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Bisabolol (α)
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Borneol
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Camphene
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Carvacrol
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Chamazulene
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Cineole
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Citronellal
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Citronellol
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Eugenol
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Geraniol
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Limonene (d)
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Linalool
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Menthol
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Menthone
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Methyl cinnamate
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Pinene (β)
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Terpinene (γ)
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Terpineol (α)
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Terpinolene
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Thymol
Antiparasitic - Destroying or inhibiting the growth and reproduction of parasites.
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Bisabolol (α)
Antipruritic - used to relieve itching.
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Menthol
Antispasmodic - suppresses muscle spasms.
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Benzyl benzoate
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Bisabolol (α)
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Bisabolol oxides (α)
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Borneol
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Carvacrol
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Carvone
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Caryophyllene (β)
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Chamazulene
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Cineole
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Citral (geranial and neral)
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Eugenol
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Linalool
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Menthol
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Nerolidol
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Patchoulol
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Phellandrene (α)
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Pinene (α)
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Pinene (β)
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Terpinen-4-ol
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Terpinene (γ)
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Terpinolene
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Thymol
Antithrombotic - preventing or interfering with the formation of thrombi (a stationary blood clot along the wall of a blood vessel, frequently causing vascular obstruction).
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Anethole (E)
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Eugenol
Antitumoral - reventing or inhibiting the formation or growth of tumors: anticancer. IMPORTANT NOTE - not all chemical constituents are good for all types of cancer... please do your own research!
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Benzyl benzoate
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Bisabolol (α)
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Carvacrol
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Carvone
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Caryophyllene (α)
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Caryophyllene (β)
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Cedrol
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Citral (geranial and neral)
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Citronellal
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Curcumene (α)
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Eudesmol (β)
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Eugenol
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Geraniol
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Limonene (d)
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Linalool
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Linalyl acetate
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Menthol
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Nerolidol
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Santalols
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Sesquiphellandrene (β)
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Terpinen-4-ol
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Terpineol (α)
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Thymol
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Turmerones
Antitussive - used to prevent or relieve a cough.
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Camphor
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Menthol
Antiulcerogenic – reduces or prevents the formation of an ulcer.
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Anethole (E)
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Bisabolol (α)
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Curcumene (α)
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Eugenol
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Limonene (d)
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Linalyl acetate
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Nerolidol
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Terpinen-4-ol
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Zingiberene
Antiviral - agent that kills a virus or that suppresses its ability to replicate and, hence, inhibits its capability to multiply and reproduce.
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Anethole (E)
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Borneol
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Caryophyllene (β)
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Cineole
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Citral (geranial and neral)
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Cymene (para)
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Eugenol
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Linalool
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Pinene (α)
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Sesquiphellandrene (β)
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Terpinen-4-ol
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Terpinene (γ)
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Terpineol (α)
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Terpinolene
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Thymol
Choleretic - substances that increase the volume of secretion of bile from the liver as well as the amount of solids secreted.
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Geranyl acetate
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Menthol
Cicatrisant - helps formation of scar tissue, heals wounded skin, and make scar tissue and other marks disappear.
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Bisabolol (α)
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Borneol
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Terpineol (α)
CNS (Central Nervous System) Depressant - reducing functional or nervous activity of the CNS; sedative, tranquilizer, calmative.
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Borneol
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Bornyl acetate
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Carvone
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Citronellal
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Citronellol
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Eudesmol (β)
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Terpinen-4-ol
CNS Stimulant - a substance that raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body or CNS.
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Camphor
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Menthol
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Menthone
Cooling - cause to become less hot.
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Geraniol
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Menthol
Dopaminergic - activated or transmitted by dopamine; pertaining to tissues or organs affected by dopamine (a type of neurotransmitter that is important for a number of different functions in the brain). Also, releasing or involving dopamine as a neurotransmitter. Drugs with this effect are used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and some psychiatric disorders; some are subject to abuse.
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Cineole
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Menthol
Hypotensive - lowers the blood pressure.
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Benzyl benzoate
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Carvacrol
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Cedrol
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Cineole
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Citronellol
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Eudesmol (β)
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Eugenol
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Linalool
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Menthol
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Terpinen-4-ol
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Terpineol (α)
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Thymol
Immunostimulant - substances that stimulate the immune system by inducing activation or increasing activity of any of its components.
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Carvone
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Caryophyllene (β)
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Limonene (d)
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Linalool
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Linalyl acetate
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Terpinen-4-ol
Improves Mood, mood elevator
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Santalols
Increases Cerebral Blood Flow
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Cineole
Inhibits Acetylcholinesterase (an enzyme that causes rapid hydrolysis of acetylcholine. Its action serves to stop excitation of a nerve after transmission of an impulse.)
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Anethole (E)
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Borneol
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Carene (δ-3)
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Carvacrol
Kills Dust Mites
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Benzyl benzoate
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Citronellol
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Geraniol
Kills Head Lice
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Benzyl benzoate
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Terpinen-4-ol
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Terpinene (γ)
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Terpineol (α)
Liver Protectant
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Carvacrol
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Carvone
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Chamazulene
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Eudesmol (β)
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Eugenol
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Thymol
Lowers Triglycerides (the main constituents of natural fats and oils, and high concentrations in the blood indicate an elevated risk of stroke.)
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Curcumene (α)
Mucolytic – agents that make the mucus (sputum), which is made in your lungs, less thick and sticky and easier to cough up. They are helpful if you have a chronic (long-term) cough because they help you cough up mucus (sputum) from your lungs.
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Camphene
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Camphor
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Carene (δ-3)
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Cineole
Neuroleptic - reduces nervous tension by depressing nerve functions.
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Santalols
Neuroprotective
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Borneol
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Eugenol
PAF Receptor Binding Antagonist - a type of receptor ligand or drug that does not provoke an inflammatory response upon binding, but blocks or lessens the effect of PAF (Platelet-activating factor).
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Cedrol
Prevents Bone Loss
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Borneol
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Bornyl acetate
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Camphor
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Carene (δ-3)
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Pinene (α)
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Pinene (β)
Sedative – has a calming or sleep-inducing effect.
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Anethole (E)
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Borneol
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Bornyl acetate
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Carvone
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Cedrol
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Citral (geranial and neral)
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Citronellal
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Linalool
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Linalyl acetate
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Myrcene (β)
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Patchoulol
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Santalols
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Terpineol (α)
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Terpinolene
Skin Penetration Enhancer
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Bisabolol (α)
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Cedrene
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Cedrol
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Limonene (d)
Treats Scabies (a contagious skin disease marked by itching and small raised red spots, caused by the itch mite.)
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Benzyl benzoate
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Terpinen-4-ol
Vasodilator – an agent that acts directly on muscles in blood vessel walls to make blood vessels widen or dilate.
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Eugenol
** We will continue to add to this list as more information becomes available.
References: Aromahead Institute and Essential Oil Safety by Tisserand.