Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Workbook

Book excerpt: A classic, practical guide to the history, science, and art of aromatherapy, updated throughout with recent research and developments • Details more than 70 essential oils classified by botanical family, with discussions of their specific actions and energetic and spiritual properties • Provides specific formulas for common disorders such as digestive and circulatory ailments, headaches, insomnia, and menstrual and sexual problems • Explains techniques for using plant essences for beautifying, cleansing, and healing and addresses the controversy surrounding some methods of application Updated throughout with recent research and the latest developments in the use of essential oils, this 30th-anniversary edition of Marcel Lavabre’s classic Aromatherapy Workbook provides the most comprehensive practical guide to the history, folklore, science, and art of aromatherapy available today. Examining the origins and applications of aromatics, from the mythical Queen of Sheba to René-Maurice Gatefossé, the author traces the medical, alchemical, and spiritual development of this healing art from classical civilizations up to the present. He explains the mysteries of the olfactory system and how this most ancient sensory system affects our moods, our emotions, and our sexuality. Illustrating the biochemistry of essential oils and how they work on the physical, energetic, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels, he explores more than 70 essential oils classified by botanical family, with detailed discussions of their specific actions. He shows how to use appropriate plant essences for beautifying, cleansing, and healing the body, as well as in massage, aromatic baths, ritual, and spiritual practice. He also addresses the controversy surrounding different methods of administration and explores in depth the risks, benefits, and safety guidelines for each technique. Addressing the fundamental issues of purity and quality, the author discusses the various methods of extraction in detail and includes a special section devoted to the art of blending. He offers specific formulas for common disorders such as digestive and circulatory ailments, headaches, insomnia, and menstrual and sexual problems. Lavabre also includes extensive reference tables to provide the reader with concise information on each essential oil and its therapeutic uses. This revised edition offers a perfect step-by-step guide for beginners as well as an ongoing reference for practicing aromatherapists.