The Fragrant Art Of Aromatherapy: An Introduction To Aromatherapy And The Use Of Essential Oils

64 Pages·1997·6.83 MB·English

by  Linda Doeser

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Designed and produced by
The Bridgewater Book Company Ltd
Designed by Peter Laws/Peter Bridgewater
Managing Editor (CLB) Jo Finnis
Typesetting & page makeup by Lee Forster
Watercolour illustrations (pages 15, 17, 21, 23, 30, 32, 37, 40, 44) by Nicola Gregory
Cover photograph by John Glover/Garden Picture Library
This edition published in 1997 by Bramley
Distributed in the USA by BHB International Inc.,
30 Edison Drive, Wayne, New Jersey 07470
©1995 Colour Library Books, Godaiming
Surrey, England, GU7 1XW
All rights reserved
Printed in Singapore
ISBN 1-85833-488-8
Page 8
Introduction
n
How
IT WORKS Page 12
n
Page 14
Essential oils
m
Page 16
Using essential oils
m
Page 22
Massage
A BASIC BACK MASSAGE Page 24
n
A BASIC FOOT MASSAGE Page 26
A WORD OF WARNING Page 28
Ph
OlL-BY-OIL GUIDE Page 30
m
AT-A-GLANCE GUIDE Page 60
AROMATHERAPY
I in it t i
ntrofliction
is probably the most basic - and preventative measures. Flowers, fruit, leaves,
MELL
most potent — of all human instincts. resins, barks and herbs that are still well known
Our Neolithic ancestors followed their noses today played an essential role in the treatment
to find food, detect enemies and track down a of illness throughout history — rosemary, sage,
mate. Just a short way into the story of human peppermint, oranges and cloves, for example.
civilization, culinary and medicinal herbs Across the world, wise men — and women
became a part of daily life, their aromatic - sought natural cures for weaknesses of both
qualities soon playing equally mind and bodv. Maoris in New
J
important roles for both function Zealand used the plant now
and fun. called tea-tree for bathing cuts,
The ancient Egyptians wounds and burns. Modern
burned aromatic gums and resins science has since revealed it to be
in elaborate religious rituals, a powerful antiseptic. Native
while the ancient Romans soon Americans treated skin condi¬
discovered the mood-enhancing tions with an infusion of spruce
joys of sweet smells. In the now analysed as being rich in
Middle Ages, as successive vitamin C.
plagues swept across Europe and The story of aromatherapy as for¬
the Middle East, physicians and mal science, however, does not
From ancient times perfumes have been
herbalists once again searched valued for their spicy fragrances. begin until 1937. The French
the plant kingdom for cures and chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse
8
9
AROMATHERAPY
was working in the laboratory of a perfumery Gradually, interest spread across Europe,
when he burned his hand. To relieve the pain, finally reaching Britain and then extending to
he plunged it into the nearest container of cold the United States. It is no coincidence that this
liquid which, by happy coincidence, was laven¬ rising interest in aromatherapv has happened at
der oil. His hand healed astonishinglv quickly a time when people are becoming more con¬
with little or no scarring. He was so impressed scious of the dangerous side-effects of the
by this that he resolved to investigate the med¬ potent drugs of conventional medicine and are
icinal powers of other essential oils and simultaneously expressing a desire to take
devoted the remainder of his life to the study more responsibility for their own health and
of aromatherapie. wrell-bein?.
lowers, fruit,
leaves, resins, barks and
herbs that are still well
■
known todav played an
essential role in the
treatment of illness
throughout history.
to