Glossary of Medical Terms

A type of complementary and alternative medicine that uses plant oils that give off strong pleasant aromas (smells) to promote relaxation, a sense of well-being, and healing.

The process of heating (without boiling) a mixture of water and an essential oil (scented liquid taken from a plant) to release a pleasant aroma. Aromatherapy infusion may also refer to the process of heating an herb in liquid to release the essential oils. Inhaled oxygen scented by aromatherapy infusion is being studied as a complementary therapy (used in addition to standard treatments) to relieve pain and shorten recovery time in patients undergoing colonoscopy.

A type of complementary and alternative medicine that uses rubbing and kneading of the skin with plant oils that give off strong, pleasant aromas (smells) to promote relaxation, a sense of well-being, and healing.

Having an odor, which often is pleasant or spicy.

The state of being alert and ready to respond, or waking from sleep.

A drug used to treat T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. It is used in patients whose cancer has not gotten better or has recurred (come back) after treatment with other anticancer drugs. Arranon stops cells from making DNA and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of antimetabolite. Also called 506U78 and nelarabine.

A rare type of ovarian tumor in which the tumor cells secrete a male sex hormone. This may cause virilization (the appearance of male physical characteristics in females). Also called androblastoma and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor of the ovary.

A poisonous chemical used to kill weeds and pests. Also used in cancer therapy.

A drug used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) that has a certain chromosome abnormality or a fusion gene called PML/RAR-alpha. It is used with tretinoin in some newly diagnosed patients. It is used alone in patients whose cancer has not gotten better or has come back after treatment with other anticancer drugs. Arsenic trioxide is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Arsenic trioxide damages a fusion protein made by the PML/RAR-alpha fusion gene. This may help keep cancer cells from growing and may kill them. Also called Trisenox.

Treatment that uses the making of art and the response to art to improve one’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Art therapy is sometimes used together with psychotherapy (talk therapy).