Kaufmann - Natures essential oils: aromatic alchemy for well-being

DEDICATION

To all those who are intrigued, who to want to know more, love to learn, and appreciate the profound magnitude of natures cognizant power to sustain, teach, love, and know when to let go.

AUTHORS NOTE

Making and using products with essential oils can bring you great peace, calm, and comfort. Thats why I wrote this book. But essential oils are more than just relaxing scents. Essential oils have chemical properties that can affect you physically and emotionally. Even if you have the best of intentions, the use of essential oils can actually cause serious physical harm unless you know what youre doing, understand the risks, and follow the necessary safety rules. Also note that safety and usage recommendations are continually evolving.

The risks and rules are referenced throughout this book, not just in the sections that deal specifically with safety, but in the discussions of the chemistry of essential oils and the descriptions of the different kinds of individual oils. So, while it may be tempting to skip some parts and just get on to the recipes, PLEASE make sure you read and understand what the book says about:

The importance of using pure essential oils

How to identify pure essential oils

The importance of always diluting essential oils in carrier oils

How to useand how not to useessential oils

When to useand when not to useessential oils

When to give the body a rest from certain essential oils

Potential allergic reactions to essential oils

Phototoxic essential oils (which increase the risk of severe sunburn)

The risks of using essential oils during pregnancy

Using essential oils with children and babies

Using essential oils with elderly people

Using essential oils around pets

Using minimum quantities (more does not equal better!)

Proper dilution and dosages (see dilution and dosage charts)

Maximum dilution for specific essential oils

When not to use certain carrier oils

Ensuring that store-bought ingredients are safe to use

Sterilizing your essential oil containers

Proper storage of your essential oil products

The shelf life of different essential oil products

A few other key points that I want to address up front:

DO NOT USE ESSENTIAL OILS IF... : Even though many essential oils are safe for use by most people, to be on the safe side, I would recommend that essential oils not be used at all without a doctors express permission for anyone who:

Is pregnant

Is nursing

Is taking a prescription drug

Is prone to seizures

Has high blood pressure

Is taking blood thinners

Has a hormonal disorder

Has estrogen-dependent cancer

Has endometriosis

Has any other diagnosed medical illness or condition

DOCTORS vs. AROMATHERAPISTS: It is crucial to understand when you need to consult a doctor and when you should consult an aromatherapist. If you think you may be physically or mentally ill, or if this book recommends using a particular essential oil to assist with a medical concern or condition, see your doctor or another professional healthcare provider for a medical diagnosis before using any essential oils. No aromatherapist can diagnose medical illness. But if you have questions about proper, safe use of essential oils, consult a qualified aromatherapist. Only qualified aromatherapists are trained in the chemistry and contraindications of essential oils and their appropriate, safe use. Many doctors have not been trained in aromatherapy, yet they add essential oils to their repertoire of remedies and make potentially unsafe recommendationsfor example, telling patients to ingest essential oils or add undiluted drops to their bath water or skin. Make sure to ask questions and speak up if something doesnt make sense. Use an aromatherapist to learn how to use essential oils.

WHO IS A BONA FIDE AROMATHERAPIST?: A qualified, clinical, trained, or certified aromatherapist is someone who has completed a formal clinical training program and has been certified by an association like the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) and/or Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA). Essential oil coaches, wellness coaches, wellness representatives, and sales representatives of multi-level marketing companies are NOT qualified aromatherapists.

PURE OILS vs. IMITATION OILS: Buyer beware! Less expensive essential oils from discount stores and online sellers may seem appealing, but they might be chemically adulterated and/or use falsified or old batch numbers to appear authentic. These oils, as well as synthetic oils and fragrance oils that are not pure essential oils, may contain no therapeutic value and may actually cause harm. Conversely, high prices do not mean an oil is the only or best oil on the market. Many companies obtain oils from the same distilleries across the globe, thus no one company has the only source of oils. Research your sources, and ask an aromatherapist for a list of suggested essential oil retailers and educators. Find a few trusted sources rather than a single company. If you plan on making products using essential oils at home, only use authentic essential oils.

ACTIVE vs. PREVENTATIVE: Essential oils are not preventative. They are active substances. As soon as you apply an essential oil, whether you do it with a diffuser or in a cream or by any other delivery mechanism, that oil is acting on your body. Essential oils do not and cannot prevent illness or any particular condition any more than an antibiotic can prevent a virus. So, dont try to use them that way.

DO NOT INGEST ANY ESSENTIAL OIL: Do not ingest any essential oil or give any essential oil to someone else to ingest unless you have approval from your doctor and a clinical aromatherapist.

NEVER USE OXIDIZED ESSENTIAL OILS: Never use oxidized essential oils or essential oils that have exceeded their shelf life. They can irritate the skin.

USING THE GLOSSARY AND INDEX: Talking and teaching about essential oils involves a lot of technical terms. While Ive tried to define each one the first time I use it, you can also find useful terms explained in the glossary. Dont assume you know what each of them means. Look it up in the index and then in the glossary.

Nature is ever at work building and pulling down, creating and destroying, keeping everything whirling and flowing, allowing no rest but in rhythmical motion, chasing everything in endless song out of one beautiful form into another. John Muir

Alchemy has always been a mysterious, magical, and mystical application of science mixed with experimentation and a lot of observation. Observation has been key to unlocking the connections between the thinking mind and the feeling heart. Noticing the change of seasons and natures cyclical give-and-take has been the basis of entire cultures for thousands of years. Indian Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Arabic and Egyptian practices tap into alchemic powers.

For centuries, aromatic plants have been the source of many documented substances that promote beauty, health, and longevity. Essential oils, derived from these botanicals, are windows into those plants energy, seductiveness, and survival, and connect us with an ancient consciousness that requires respect and observation to be fully understood. Still, knowledge of the alchemy of aromatherapy is in constant flux as more information is understood about the relationships between the natural world and humans. Truly dynamic topics are always expanding, and I hope that readers learn with anticipation of new discoveries and be mindful of the evolution of aromatic wonders. Welcome to the enchanting world of essential oils, the wisdom of nature, beyond the aroma.