From my Library ~ Some Books on Aromatherapy

Yesterday I posted a bit about some essential oils that are good for fighting sinus problems. I thought that today I would suggest some books for further reading about aromatherapy.

This list is taken from my own library of reference books. There are links to some of them down the left column of my blog, under the My library section. Most of these can also be ordered from your local independent bookstore. Any of these books would be worthy additions to your library.

• 500 Formulas for Aromatherapy by Carol & David Schiller: This is one of the first books I bought on the subject. it was first published in 1994. It's very straight-forward and set up with recipes to make blends for most any ailment. It's only 128 pages, but I find myself turning to this book quite often for a quick fix.
• Aromatherapy- A Lifetime guide to Healing with Essential Oils by Valerie Gennari Cooksley: 1996, This comprehensive guide covers aromatherapy for all your body's systems, and is very thorough about how to use oils (and what not to do), there's a reference guide to individual oils, as well as a chapter on how to blend oils. it's a large volume at 400 pages.
• The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood: First published in the UK in 1990, this book is one of many that Valerie Worwood has written on the subject of aromatherapy. I think that I turn to this book more than any other I have on the subject. I consider this a bible on the subject. She has recipes for many problems, and chapters on sports, occupational health, beauty, domestic animals, and toxic-free environmental uses. She uses a "core" group of essential oils, all of which are easy to find and not very expensive. That's one of the things that appeals to me about this author.
• The Fragrant Mind - Aromatherapy for Personality, Mind, Mood and Emotion by Valerie Ann Worwood, 1996: this book is an in-depth look at using aromatherapy for psychological issues. I'll just quote from the back cover, " Worwood introduces her Aroma Genera system of personality types and advises readers on which oils and methods can prevent stress, depression, moodiness and insomnia, and which can promote self-esteem, confidence, and well-being ~ all without synthetic drugs or chemicals". This is a very, very interesting way to approach using essential oils.
• The Fragrant Heavens - The spiritual dimension of fragrance and aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood, 1999: I just bought this book a few months ago and am finding that Worwood again amazes me! In this book, she connects the dots between the energy in plants (much like as in Plant Spirit Medicine) and healing the spiritual self with aromatherapy. there are chapters on using oils to clear negativity, angelic vibrations, prayer,and distance healing, among others. A very different look at an alternative healing modality.
• Magical Aromatherapy by Scott Cunningham, 1989: Prolific Wiccan author Cunningham gives us a great reference book for using aromatherapy and oils in our daily magickal life. With a nice guide to the individual oils, I find myself turning again and again to the Tables section where he lists oils for the seasons, lunar cycles, elements, zodiac, etc. At about 200 pages, this little book is definitely worth having in your library, even if you already own his other books on Incense and Oils.

Now you have a few books to start with for your own aromatherapy collection. I have others, but the ones I listed here are my favorites! What scent will you be wearing today?

Aromatherapy to the Rescue!

Pure essential oils should always be part of your medicine chest. Today, I want to tell you about two oils which are good for sinus problems, Eucalyptus and Peppermint.

Both my husband, Tim and I have been fighting a cold/sinus thing since last Friday. Tim has been sicker than I have been so far. Yesterday, the cold started to settle in his sinuses after two days in the sneezing phase. To bring some quick relief, I put a drop of essential oil under his nose(right in the middle, it may sting a little if your nose is raw) and rubbed another drop into each of his temples, well back from his eyes. This helps to relieve the stuffy nose and the drops along the temple help to relieve the sinus headache and pressure. I use a cotton swab to apply the oil. If you use your finger, do NOT touch your eyes! You'll regret it! You can also add a few drops to a bowl of hot steaming water, lean over the bowl, and toss a towel over your head and the bowl to make a tent. The vapors should clear your head as you breathe deeply.

A few cautions for using Peppermint and Eucalyptus essential oils:

Don't use excessively. where a little is good, alot is NOT better. Both oils can irritate mucous membranes and skin. Avoid use during pregnancy and breast feeding. Do not take if using homeopathic remedies, as they can antidote your remedy.

Store your oils away from light, heat, flower essences and tinctures. I store all my oils together, away from everything else I use, and not in the bathroom.

While you can use either peppermint or eucalyptus, blending them both together is even better. You could also add rosemary, thyme and/or geranium oils, too. These added to either peppermint or eucalyptus are wonderful for healing. Make sure that you buy real essential oils, and not fragrance oils. These oils aren't very expensive(for essential oils), and you can find them at any food co-op. I have even seen decent oils at big-box drugstores. I like a product called "31 Herbal Oil", which is what it sounds like. It's a blend of 31 different essential oils. It's expensive, hard to find, but well worth it! It's made by SwissJust company. I saw it somewhere on-line not too long ago for about $50, for 1.7oz bottle. It's a good thing that a little goes a long way, and it lasts for years.

there are alot of great aromatherapy books out there. I'll post more about those later. To see a few listings, just click on one of the book covers in my section on the left labeled "My Library". To find out more about aromatherapy on the web, check out this site: http://www.aromaweb.com/default.asp