The Encyclopedia of Crystals, Herbs, and New Age Elements: An A to Z Guide to New Age Elements and How to Use Them - Adams Media 2016

Glossary

absolute: in aromatherapy, an extract obtained through the use of chemical solvents

adaptogen: a natural substance that helps the body adapt to stress and assists in normalizing bodily processes

aphrodisiac: something, such as an herb or a food, that arouses or intensifies sexual desire

aromatherapy: the use of fragrant materials or substances, such as herbs and essential oils, to affect one’s mood and promote overall health and well-being

astral body: a supersensible body that survives the death of the physical body and is capable of ascending or traveling to other realms of consciousness

bodywork: the use of physical therapy techniques, such as massage, for the purpose of enhancing physical and emotional health and well-being

botanist: one who studies or works with plants

chakras: the energy centers of the body, arranged along the spine

chi: an ancient Chinese principle that represents the life force believed to be present in all things; often referred to in traditional Chinese medicine

counterirritant: a remedy that causes irritation at the surface to relieve a deeper source of irritation

deciduous: a plant or tree that loses its leaves at the end of the growing season

divination: the practice of foretelling future events through supernatural means

evergreen: a plant or tree with leaves that remain green year-round

expectorant: a remedy that facilitates the removal of phlegm or mucus from the respiratory tract

faeries: magical spirit creatures often depicted as young, winged, human-like beings

feng shui: the ancient Chinese practice of positioning objects in a way that facilitates a free flow of energy

genera: plural of genus

genus: in biology, a category designating a group of species that are closely related and usually exhibit similar characteristics; in a scientific name, the genus is capitalized and italicized

heartwood: the older inner wood of a tree or shrub; it is typically darker and harder than the younger outer wood (called sapwood)

insomnia: a sleep disorder characterized by an inability to fall asleep or remain asleep for an adequate amount of time

lucid dream: a dream in which the dreamer is aware that he or she is dreaming

Mesopotamia: an ancient region of southwestern Asia between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in modern-day Iraq; home to numerous early civilizations, including the Babylonians and the Sumerians

misnomer: an error in naming a person or place

Mohs scale: a scale for classifying minerals based on hardness; ranges from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest)

Neolithic era: the period of human history beginning around 8000 B.C.E. characterized by the development of agriculture

note: in aromatherapy, a distinctive component of a complex flavor or aroma

occult: relating to supernatural or magical influences, powers, or events

onomatopoeia: the use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the actions or objects they refer to

out-of-body experience: an experience in which the mind/soul/spirit leaves the physical body and views the body from a higher plane or vantage point; often includes travel to other planes or realms such as the astral plane or spirit realm

Paleolithic era: the period of human history that began about 2.4 million years ago and lasted until between 15,000 and 11,500 years ago; also known as the Stone Age due to the early stone tools that have been found dating back to this period

panacea: a remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all

papyrus: a paper-like material made of plant pith used by ancient civilizations as a surface for writing and painting

poultice: a soft, moist, heated mass placed on an inflamed or irritated part of the body to stimulate or soothe it

raceme: a stalk of a flowering plant with flowers arranged singly along an unbranched axis; from the Latin racemus, meaning “a bunch of grapes”

Raynaud’s disease: a circulatory condition caused by insufficient blood supply to the hands and feet; named after the French physician Maurice Raynaud (1834—1881)

reincarnation: the rebirth of the soul (or spirit or consciousness) in another body after death

resin: a substance secreted by a plant or tree that heals wounds and protects the plant or tree against disease

scrying: the practice of gleaning information from images “seen” in a reflective, translucent, or luminescent surface, such as water or a crystal

smudging: the process of using directed smoke to cleanse a person, object, or area

taxonomy: a system of classifying and naming organisms that indicates natural relationships; the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus (1707—1778) is known as the father of modern taxonomy

totem: an animal, plant, or object serving as an emblem of a group of people such as a family or clan

umbel: a flat-topped or rounded cluster of flowers; characteristic of plants in the parsley family

Wicca: a Neopagan religion based on the practice of ceremonial witchcraft; developed in England during the first half of the twentieth century