Lavender Extract: Anti-inflammatory and skin soothing agent.

Lavender Flowers: An aromatic that stimulates and cleanses the skin.

Lavender Oil: An antiseptic and anti-inflammatory that is effective in treating acne, dermatitis and oily skin.

Laxative: Promotes bowel movements.

Lecithin: A natural anti-oxidant and emollient mainly derived from common egg yolk or from naturally occurring phospholipids derived from soybeans. Lecithin helps protect the skin, soften the skin and replenish the acid mantle.

Lemon Extract: Lemon extract is refreshing and purifying to the skin. It is extremely active when applied to an oily skin condition. Lemon Extract is a natural purifier, cleanser, astringent, decongestant and tonic. It also can help prevent skin discoloration.

Lemongrass: Used for sheen and cleansing. Also used as an elasticizer in hairsprays.

Lemongrass Oil: Cleansing and purifying to the skin, the oil is used for its excellent antiseptic properties. The oil also helps normalize oil production and reduce breakouts. It is high is vitamin A and can be found in bath and facial herb blends.

Lemon Oil: Used for its antiseptic and astringent properties as well as its detoxifying effects.

Lemon Thyme: An aromatic, antiseptic, diaphoretic, stimulant, disinfectant that has many useful applications. As part of a bath tisane or facial sauna, it helps to soothe and smooth skin.

Lesion: Any detectable change from normal structure and/or function.

Leukocytes:   White blood cells.

Leukocytosis: Abnormally high white blood cell count, usually the result of a non-viral infection.

Leukopenia:   Having an abnormally low white blood cell count.

Lichen Extract: It is a bactericide, fungicide. It is effective against yeast. It is used in deodorants, foot care products, mouth hygiene, and antimicrobial washes.

Lichenification: Thickening of the epidermis. Lichenified skin looks dry and leathery, and the normal skin markings are exaggerated. Repeated rubbing and scratching can produce lichenification.

Lichen Simplex Chronicus: Chronic disorder produced by the patient’s repeated scratching and rubbing. Lichenified plaques appear on the ankles, sides of the neck, genital areas, scalp, and upper back.

Licorice Extract: Inhibits melanin biosynthesis while scavenging free radicals (antioxidant). Treats acne and calms allergic skin.

Licorice Root organic: Great facial steaming herb used to open and soothe the pores so that other herbs may cleanse and medicate them.

Limbic System: A functional system in the brain generally considered to mediate emotions with metabolism.

Linden: Linden is a relaxant used in nervous tension and some forms of migraine. It has a reputation as a prophylactic against the development of arteriosclerosis and hypertension. It is used to combat high blood pressure associated with arteriosclerosis and nervous tension. Linden’s actions include: nervine, anti-spasmodic, hypotensive, diaphoretic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue, and astringent.

Lineolamido Propyl Ethydimonium Ethosulfate: Antistatic and hair conditioning agent.

Liniment: A topical liquid (alcohol, oil or water preparation) containing therapeutic agents for topical application.

Lipid: Generally, these are organic products found in living systems that are insoluble in water, like fats. Cell membranes are made of lipids. We lose lipids as we age, which is why skin becomes less supple. Broadly, it means true fats (like triglycerides), lipoids (like phospholipids) and sterols (like cholesterol).

Lipophilic: Having an affinity for lipids.

Lipoprotein: Any of the lipid-protein complexes in which lipids are transported in the blood.

Liposomes: Microscopic sacs manufactured from natural or synthetic fatty substances that include phospholipids (components of cell membranes). Phospholipids can trap any substance that will dissolve in water or oil. Liposomes act like a delivery system, depositing product ingredients into the skin. When the liposomes "melt" the ingredients, such as moisturizers, are released.  

Liquid Crystal Cholesteric Esters: Microencapsulated strands of cholesterol lipids for skin repair and moisturizing. Highly absorptive crystals carry active ingredients into the deeper layers of the epidermis.

Liquorice: Liquorice affects the endocrine system and liver, amongst other organs. As an anti-hepatotoxic it can be effective in the treatment of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Liquorice is used in allopathic medicine as a treatment for peptic ulceration, a similar use to its herbal use in gastritis and ulcers. Caution: It is best to avoid Liquorice if you have hypertension, kidney disease or during pregnancy. Liquorice’s actions include: expectorant, demulcent, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and mild laxative.

Lobelia: Actions: Anti-asthmatic, anti-spasmodic, expectorant, emetic, nervine. Indications: Lobelia is a useful systemic relaxants. It has a general depressant action on the central and autonomic nervous system and on neuro-muscular action. Its primary specific use is in bronchitic asthma and bronchitis. Lobeline is a powerful respiratory stimulant that will stimulate catarrhal secretion and expectoration while relaxing the muscles of the respiratory system.

Lotion: A dermatological vehicle like Calamine Lotion (a suspension of insoluble powder in a liquid) or a pourable emulsion of oil in water, often called creamy lotions.

Lubricant:   An oil or oil rich crème or lotion designed to lubricate the skin and slow moisture loss.

Luffa - Loofah: A long vining plant (resembling a cucumber plant) bears fruit, that, once dried and washed of rind and seeds, gives us a wonderful body scrub! It helps stimulate circulation as well as exfoliate dead skin cells.

Lumbar Region: The lower back five segments of the spinal chord and column, between the sacrum and thoracic regions.

Lupus Erythematosus: An autoimmune disorder in which a variety of skin lesions appear.

Lymph: A transparent, slightly yellow liquid of alkaline reaction, found in the lymphatic vessels and derived from the tissue fluids. Lymph is collected from all parts of the body and returned to the blood via the lymphatic system.

Lymphocyte: White blood cell manufactured in the bone marrow, lymph, nodes, and spleen. There are two types: B cells and T cells.

Lymphokines: Substances released by sensitized lymphocytes on contact with specific antigen. Lymphokines help affect cellular immunity by stimulating macrophages.

Lysine style='mso-bidi-font-style:italic'>: An essential Amino Acid that helps form collagen (which makes up bone cartilage & connective tissues); aids in the production of antibodies, hormones & enzymes. A deficiency may result in hair loss.