Anne Kennedy - Aromatherapy for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Getting Started with Essential Oils

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ISBN: Print 978-1-93975-460-8 | eBook 978-1-93975-461-5

For Mary, Ellie, Dominic, Maggie, Vincent, Bernadette, Monica, Regina, Joe, and Claire: You, my brothers and sisters, are the brightest flowers in the garden of life.

Contents

APPENDIX A
MEASUREMENTS AND CONVERSIONS

APPENDIX B
POPULAR SYNERGY BLENDS

S everal years ago, a stressful life change turned my world upside-down. It was then that a good friend introduced me to my first essential oil: lavender. Its ability to help me de-stress was nothing short of incredible, and I loved the way it helped me drop off to sleep even when I was feeling anxious and overwrought.

I tried peppermint oil next. I caught a nasty stomach bug and the same friend encouraged me to try it for nausea. I was skeptical, even though I was no stranger to herbal and homeopathic remedies. Despite my misgivings, I was desperate enough to put a few drops of peppermint essential oil on the soles of my feet. The relief was almost immediate, leaving me both grateful and intriguedI was hooked! How could something so simple (and weird?) work so well?

Soon, I was experimenting with aromatherapy and digging deep into books about it. I learned to create some of my own blends, making some interesting mistakes along the way. Luckily, essential oils are forgiving. An overpowering blend is easily toned down with the addition of more carrier oil, and an unappealing mixture can be used in a nontoxic household cleanser if adding other oils fails to redeem it.

My introduction to essential oils happened before aromatherapy enjoyed the surge in popularity that has brought it into common use today. There were a few good companies offering quality essential oils at the time, but availability was limited, and prices were higher.

These days, there are many more essential oils and blends to choose from, and they are easier to find. Its great to have so many options, but there is also lots of marketing hype surrounding certain essential oils and brands. This can create some confusion for beginners. Do I have the right oils? Do I have the best brand? Am I going to be harmed because I dont have essential oils from a company that claims its products are superior to others?

Relax! You dont need to buy every essential oil to reap the benefits of aromatherapy. Its nice to have an extensive collection, but you dont need everything all at once.

Many people work with a small number of favorites; you can meet most of your everyday needs with a small number of versatile essential oils. Whether youve already purchased a starter kit that contains popular basics, such as lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree, or are still deciding which essential oils to begin with, its easy to put them to use with this book as your guide.

These pages offer an introduction to the world of aromatherapy in a factual, friendly way, providing complete profiles of 15 top essential oilsnine must haves (clove, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, and tea tree) and six great to haves (clary sage, frankincense, grapefruit, patchouli, Roman chamomile, and thyme), which includes those found in most starter kits. While anyone can buy essential oils and start diffusing them right away, this approach is different:

Youll begin by learning five easy steps to exploring aromatherapy safely.

You will build a strong foundation of knowledge, and gain the confidence to incorporate this wonderful practice into your everyday life.

This book contains more than 150 useful recipes and applications to help you use these 15 essential oils to their fullest potential. And, its easy to find exactly what you want at a glance, using a special label for recipes that use the nine must-have oils. Many are meant to complement Western medicine and promote natural wellness. Others are wonderful alternatives to toxic or expensive commercial products for body and home.

I use essential oils on a daily basis, from addressing minor health issues, to creating my own aromatherapy self-care and household products. It is my hope you will find just as much pleasure in these beautiful, natural oils as I do.

Your knowledge of essential oils will grow and expand over timeno need to be in a hurry. Savor the process and discover the many ways in which aromatherapy can enhance your life. Soon, youll be enjoying them to their fragrant fullest.