Essential Oils for Beginners: The Guide to Get Started with Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

I am fairly novice when it comes to essential oils but I've been pounding away at my keyboard researching the different properties of essential oils for over a month now. I finally decided that it would be best to break down and just buy a book... I didn't want a book that was know-it-all and was going to tell me what to do with them, how to blend them and everything else, I wanted a book that would allow me to discover their individual properties alone. And I'm happy to report that this book does exactly that! Yes, there are some general guidelines, blend suggestions, recipes, etc., but what I wanted was info on each EO's individual properties. This book has around 65 of the more common EOs with a breakdown of: Description, Origin, Properties, Application, Primary Uses, Blends and Safe Use. For a beginner book this is spot on and just what I had in mind while looking for a book of this nature. There is also plenty of room for me to add notes onto the information shared in this book. I think this will be my go to guide until I'm ready to graduate to something more intense, like Modern Essentials *5th Ed. I gave Essential Oils for Beginners a 5 star rating- And, overall, I recommend it as a great beginners guide with a completely functional layout and index. But if you're on the fence here are some of my critiques: Safety: -Pregnancy: It definitely covers that a pregnant woman should talk to their primary care giver before using any EOs but it doesn't spell out emmenagogue (menstruation inducing) properties in the Safe Use section of each EO or clearly state that an EO is safe for pregnancy. (Emmenagogue is however listed in the general Properties, so the info wasn't omitted completely.) -Ingestion: While it does explain that only certain oils should be ingested and that they need to be 100% therapeutic grade, it doesn't always spell out if an EO is safe for ingestion. I would have appreciated if it specifically stated if each EO is okay to ingest or that it's recommended for external use only. Essential Oil Coverage: -Oil Selection: Some EOs didn't make the cut- Sweet Marjoram, Star Anise and Oregano were some that I thought should have been chosen over some other, much more expensive and lesser known EOs like Hyssop and Spikenard. -Limited Species: The book mentions but fails to explore multiples species of plants commonly used to make EOs, (like Eucalyptus globulus vs. radiata.) The book only describes one instead of comparing and contrasting the different properties of each. I forgive this completely because it is a beginner book, and I know that is getting pretty technical, however, it is noteworthy. If you're looking for something a little more in depth this book may be a bit below your radar.

I wanted to get started in aromatherapy, and the books at the library were dated and seemed unprofessional. I wanted a concise guide that explains how it works, and how to use the oils, but that I could refer to when I buy different oils. This is perfect. It starts with the basics of how and why and also how best to use the oils. This is invaluable because it gave warnings but also offered usage ideas I would have never thought of. Most surprising was that some oils can interfere with prescription medicines and help is given to avoid that. The number of oils it covers is endless, I only marked about ten I want to try. But with those, I have plenty of information on how best to use them and what NOT to do. I have heard so many promises of aromatherapy for health improvement that I really wanted to see if they'd work for me. For example, Dr. Oz reported in a recent O magazine that Lavender oil helps with sleep apnea. Pretty bold statement, so I did the research with this book and indeed, bought the oil (here on Amazon). I am enjoying trying it in varying ways. It also discusses helpful blends for stress, etc. I haven't tried that yet but some look promising. I used to think aromatherapy was too new age for me, but the realization that the pharmaceutical industry is really quite new and for milleniums, people used these healthful oils for health. I'd like to cut out some of my medications (namely Ambien) and go more natural. I'll post an update to this review if I have any spectacular results or detrimental problems.

A resourceful guide detailing the efficacy of oils for aromatherapeutic, medicinal and practical purposes. The book offers great descriptions with an unlimited number of applications to benefit the human body, mind & spirit as well as our surrounding environments. There is a great section detailing the history and origins of essential oils from the beginning of civilization to its' integral usage in medicine and scientific advancement in our modern lives. This section of the book also touches upon oils' historical significance in religious ceremonies and traditions in a wide range of cultures from every corner of the globe. With biblical references as evidence, the use of oil has been a fundamental aspect in many societies and has been fundamental to the building blocks of global progression - from social, scientific and medicinal vantage points. The many benefits from using oils is described in an expansive "recipe" section with details on how to use the oils to promote physical and mental health, emotional well being and spiritual balance. These wide ranges of methods include uses in cosmetics and in the home/garden too. The section detailing the acquiring and storing of essential oils and oil blends might lean to the side of overly scientific for some, but is nonetheless a very interesting process to read about and, generally speaking, this book offers relatively simple ways to enjoy all the benefits that oils have to offer. There is also a glossary for those who need help keeping up with the scientific terminology. All in all, this is an informative and enlightening introduction for those who have an interest in incorporating natural oils into their lives. I recommend it!

This book is the ultimate user's guide for anyone interested in using essential oils. Not only does it instruct on the extraction process, it also provides very useful information on the different grades of oil, their uses and the varying types and categories of essential oils. Also, this particular book includes warnings and possible side effects, as well as other unintended results and how to avoid them. Different methods of diffusing the oils is also discussed at length. In fact, even someone familiar with oils and blending may find a wealth of information they didn't know. While the book does contain information on chemical reactions caused by certain oils and how different extraction methods affect the oil's properties, it is written in a concise and easy to read format. Adding to the book's charm is the fact that it contains quite a lot of information regarding the use of essential oils throughout history, in various cultures from ancient Greek to Native American. An index of essential oils from Angelica Root to Ylang Ylang with their properties and usages is followed by helpful recipes for a variety of commonly bought items. After reading Essential Oils for Beginners, you will be ready to safely and confidently embark on your own essential oil exploration for use in either aromatherapy or therapeutic applications.

Do you have stomach trouble? Low mood? How about skin irritation? All of these conditions and more can be alleviated by the use of essential oils. Essential oils have been used by man since the dawn of time to heal and restore balance to the human body. This book, Essential Oils for Beginners, The Guide to Get Started with Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, is packed with information about how to use essential (or volatile) oils to benefit your health and your household. What exactly is an essential oil and where they come from? They are basically concentrated plant extracts drawn from the seeds, bark, sap, flowers, or even the entire plant to utilize their medicinal or cosmetic qualities. While a herbal might use the more than 300 kinds of plant extracts, the average person will stick to approximately 20 common essential oils. There is a thorough history of how through the centuries healers administered these oils in many forms. There is an encyclopedic wealth of data about essential oils and aromatherapy. Not only are the typical essential oils covered, like peppermint, lavender, chamomile, and eucalyptus but also such unfamiliar plant as bergamot, galbanum, and helichrysum. Instructions are given so that the beginner can safely and easily create your own preparations to feel better, look more lovely, and improve the environment of your home. So if you would like to benefit from this exciting and ancient skill, I would recommend this book.

For anyone new to essential oils, Essential Oils for Beginners provides a concise and easy to read overview of everything needed to understand about essential oils. The book does not fail to briefly and succinctly cover each and every important topic when it comes to essential oils. Like a standard 101 class, the introductory part of the book provides the history and origins of essential oils. From there, the author explains their usage in modern medicine; their effects on spiritual wellness, ability to heal physical wounds, and their ability to alter emotions. The author then provides a well detailed overview of the most common essential oils and their health benefits. The other half of the book deals with proper handling of essential oils, especially in the case of mixing them. One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is how enlightening the material is. The author provides very detailed recipes for mixed essential oils which could be used as alternatives to many commercial products. Everything from curing depression, boosting energy, keeping away bugs, clearing acne, and a myriad of other uses are covered through this comprehensive overview of essential oils and their proper usage.

This book is very informative regarding what essential oils are, what region they come from, how they might be used, how to make blends for particular ailments and whether they are safe or unsafe for children, while pregnant and for pets. The one think I very much did not like about this book was in their section where the writer talks about who might have used a particular oil and for what purpose. Take for instance Frankincense and Myrrh oil. The writer did say it was used in the Bible, but did not mention they were used for JESUS. When it came to other oils like Cypress, the writer has no problem telling us the Greeks used this to live forever and to carve statues of their deities. Yes, I know this is not written from a Christian POV, but it would have been nice to see these oils to have been used by both Jesus and these other gods.

I recently became interested in using essential oils for inflammation and joint pain. I wanted to learn about the different types of oils as well as how to mix them. The first book I looked at was just recipes for headaches, indigestion and household cleaners. It didn't explain what oil was supposed to do what nor did it explain the basics of mixing. It was just recipes. Needless to say, I was a little skeptical about this book. However, it starts with a history of essential oils and then goes into some of the different properties. It explains some of the basics of mixing oils and what types of oils mix well. Then it has an alphabetical listing of a LOT of oils. For each oil, it tells a little about where the oil is produced and some basic uses of the oil. It also tells what oils it blends well with. Finally, it provides warnings for those oils that should be avoided by pregnant women, whether an oil can be taken internally or not, and other cautions that might be necessary (like don't use this directly on the skin without diluting first). I have this book in the kindle format so I have it with me everywhere I have my phone. It makes it very handy when shopping for oils.