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BOOKS: Benefits of oils explored

The Complete Aromatherapy Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness , by Nerys Purchon and Lora Cantele, Robert Rose Inc., 480 pages, $25. Essential oils have been used for centuries but they are more readily available today than ever before.
BOOKS: Benefits of oils explored
  • The Complete Aromatherapy Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness, by Nerys Purchon and Lora Cantele, Robert Rose Inc., 480 pages, $25.

Essential oils have been used for centuries but they are more readily available today than ever before.

The oil is the distillation of the essence of plants. Their most common application is through being massaged into the skin but there are other methods, such as inhaling, that can be used.

Authors Purchon and Cantele take a detailed look at what essential oils are, their uses and safe applications, and proper storage. There are 109 essential oils examined and each one is presented with its botanical name, a description of the plant and how the oil is harvested, its uses, and any cautions that might be a concern.

Once you learn what the oils can be used for then the next and largest section of the book is devoted to remedies. Ailments that range from abrasions to workplace stress are covered, with more than 450 remedies listed. In every case the health concern is discussed first, followed by the recommended essential oils and the recipe for blending them, followed by the treatments.

For many of the remedies, additional information is provided in the form of tips or in some cases cautions.

The final section deals with practicalities, which covers the tools, containers and dispensers you will use in their preparation and storage.