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“The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Revised and Expanded: Over 800 Natural, Nontoxic, and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health, Beauty, and Safe Home and Work Environments” is the revised and expanded version of the book with a similar name but with fewer recipes.
With this completely updated version, the best book that used to be available on aromatherapy and essential oils has just gotten better!
The Idea Behind The Book
There’s no doubt that Valerie Ann Worwood is an expert on this topic. Wanting to share her lifetime of knowledge about essential oils, she wrote several books addressing different topics related to aromatherapy and essential oil.
Still not completely satisfied and wanting to go one step further, Valerie decided to put together an “all in one” resource.
She began putting her limitless essential oil knowledge down on paper, and the successful result was the amazing The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Over 600 Natural, Non-Toxic and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health — Beauty — a Safe Home Environment.
A few years later, the book has been revised and expanded and what we have is “The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Revised and Expanded: Over 800 Natural, Nontoxic, and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health, Beauty, and Safe Home and Work Environments.”
It is available for instant access through digital download at Amazon and other online e-book retailers. At that low price, it is totally worth it, considering everything you will get to learn about essential oils and aromatherapy in one place.
The book is also available in paperback form.
How the Book Is Laid Out
At 448 pages, Valerie Ann Worwood has compiled what many believe to be the quintessential aromatherapy encyclopedia.
An Introduction aptly titled “The Fragrant Pharmacy” is followed by 18 chapters. These are no small chapters. Each chapter is in-depth and extensive, covering literally everything you need to know about aromatherapy and essential oils.
The book then winds up with 3 Appendices and a helpful Index.
On a single page before the stirring introduction, the author warns the reader that …
“Not all natural plants or plant products are beneficial to health. Deadly nightshade can be poisonous and stinging nettles sting. The following essential oils should not be used under any circumstances.”
She then goes on to list a few plants and several other unhealthy essential oils you should avoid including bitter almond, sassafras, horseradish, yellow camphor, and mustard.
Worwood uses the term The Fragrant Pharmacy to describe the field of aromatherapy and essential oils.
As you go through the pages of the book, you learn so much more about essential oils and how these aromatic liquids are extracted from the roots, fruits, and leaves of plants, flowers, grasses, and trees.
She has highlighted the diversity and specificity of the estimated 300 known essential oils. The information about each of these makes for very interesting reading.
The author points out that most medicines and other common healthcare products are chemically based. She then states that the healthy alternative to man-made chemicals is “literally right under our noses” in the form of essential oils. So true.
While most of us are aware of this, we push that knowledge to the back of our minds. In her book “The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Revised and Expanded”, Worwood reminds us about this very basic but crucial fact.
A Look at the Chapters Included in the Book
Introduction – The Fragrant Pharmacy
Chapter 1 – Medicines Out Of The Earth
Chapter 2 – Your Basic Care Kit
Chapter 3 – Your Basic Travel Kit
Chapter 4 – Occupational Oils For The Working Man And Woman
Chapter 5 – Assertive Oils For Sports, Dance, And Workouts
Chapter 6 – The Fragrant Way To Beauty
Chapter 7 – The Body Beautiful
Chapter 8 – Essential Care For Your Hair
Chapter 9 – The Gentle Touch For Babies And Children
Chapter 10 – A Woman’s Natural Choice
Chapter 11 – The Natural Choice For Men
Chapter 12 – Essential Help In The Maturing Years
Chapter 13 – Fragrant Care For Your Home
Chapter 14 – The Stillroom
Chapter 15 – Sweet-Scented Celebrations
Chapter 16 – Cooking With Essential Oils
Chapter 17 – Natural Health For Domestic Animals
Chapter 18 – Gardens For The Future
Appendix 1 – The Essential Oils Chart
Appendix 2 – Aromassage
Appendix 3 – Addresses And Bibliography
Index
A Detailed Look at the Individual Chapters
Chapter 1 – Medicines Out Of The Earth
The writer does a brilliant job of associating the ancient history of using nature to cure human ailments and illnesses as a precursor to today’s aromatherapy industry.
While Worword tells us that there are over 300 different types of essential oils, most households only need about 10 specific oils to cover all of their likely needs.
Unlike man-made chemicals, you find that essential oils are not toxic. They enter and leave your body cleanly, and can be beneficial through inhalation, topical application, in perfumes, cosmetics, lotions, and baths.
One point of interest found here is the fact that essential oils do not remain in your body. They deliver health benefits and then are expelled in a few hours.
The history of essential oil use as a timeless natural treatment is proven by a quote from Hippocrates, widely regarded as the father of modern medicine –
“The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day.”
A quick history of the use of plants, minerals, and essential oils for health benefits is then discussed. Worwood discusses synergy, adaptogens, and chemotypes, the 3 major qualities of most essential oils.
This is followed by a handy chart that shows 21 different ways to use essential oils, with approximate doses and tips included.
Consider Chapter 1 as a “how to use this book” tutorial and quick introduction to essential oils.
Chapter 2 – Your Basic Care Kit
In this chapter, the author explains her earlier statement that you really only need a few versatile and powerful essential oils to treat roughly 95% to 100% of your daily needs. Lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, and 7 other oils are recommended.
This chapter alone is well worth the purchase price of this inexpensive e-book or paperback. It also includes most of the applications you can use the basic care kit for.
Chapter 3 – Your Basic Travel Kit
Chapter 3 covers traveling with your essential oils.
As a recognized global authority on aromatherapy, Worwood discusses transporting your oils, how to combat sunlight and heat.
Here you will find an excellent Emergency Reference Chart that you can refer to in an instant for quick treatment of common injuries and ailments.
Chapter 4 – Occupational Oils for the Working Man and Woman
This chapter is unique in that it touches upon a topic that you won’t often find in most other essential oil guides.
It discusses Occupational Oils for the Working Man and Woman. You discover what oils are more frequently used at home, at the office, in a factory situation, and at the hospital.
You learn how to quickly and very effectively treat aches and pains from repetitive movements, visual and mental stress, back problems, corrosive burns, and even burnout.
Chapter 5 – Assertive Oils for Sports, Dance, and Workouts
I love that throughout the book, the author has included several helpful lists, charts, and tables for quick reference.
In this chapter, you learn how to treat exercise and dancing injuries. Included is an exhaustive, alphabetized A to Z index of sports and dance injuries.
Chapter 6 – The Fragrant Way To Beauty
The author uses chapter 6 to explain just how you can turn back the clock and use oils as a way to look and feel younger.
She discusses cleansers, facial scrubs, face masks, and astringents as effective ways to combat wrinkles and deliver The Fragrant Way to Beauty. The focus here is on your face, neck, eyes, and lips.
Chapter 7 – The Body Beautiful
Going by the reviews, this is one of the more popular chapters. It shows readers exactly how to harness the properties of essential oils to get rid of cellulite.
It also demonstrates how to use body lotions, baths, and other applications to keep your hands, feet, nails, breasts, and arms young looking, strong and healthy.
The Body Beautiful chapter covers several gentle but effective ways to achieve a younger-looking body. It’s easy to see why so many readers have bought the book just for this chapter itself.
Chapter 8 – Essential Care For Your Hair
The author covers numerous fabulously easy ways to cure any hair problem with essential oils.
Chapter 9 – The Gentle Touch For Babies And Children
This section is a definite “must-read” for anyone who has babies or young children.
This chapter is broken down into babies aged 2 to 12 months, youngsters 2 years to 12, and the teenage years. There is a special section included for treating handicapped children.
Chapter 10 – A Woman’s Natural Choice
This is a lengthy section dedicated to women’s health. The author spends a lot of time explaining how essential oils can be used to improve women’s health issues.
From menstrual problems and breast concerns to infertility, prenatal and postnatal issues, gynecological and any other woman’s health issues, this is an excellent resource.
Get this book for yourself and as a gift to the other women in your life. The book is well worth it just for this chapter itself.
Chapter 11 – The Natural Choice For Men
Worwood has not ignored the benefits of essential oils for men. She has in fact dedicated an entire chapter to this topic.
Chapter 11 explains the use of essential oils for health problems specific to men, concentrating on the reproductive system, the liver, balding, and keeping your skin healthy.
Chapter 12 – Essential Help In The Maturing Years
Chapter 12 can be considered a “50 and over” guide to aromatherapy and essential oils.
There’s lots of information in there on how to use plant therapy as you age.
Chapter 13 – Fragrant Care For Your Home
Ever wondered how to use essential oils for Fragrant Care For Your Home? You’ll get plenty of excellent, doable ideas in this chapter.
This includes such categories as Bacteria Busters, the Kitchen, Air Fresheners, the Bedroom and the Bathroom. You will also learn how to make your own soaps and fragrant candles.
Chapter 14 – The Stillroom
Chapter 14 is devoted entirely to making your own perfumes, colognes, and custom essential oils. Excellent read for the DIY enthusiast.
Chapter 15 – Sweet-Scented Celebrations
This is a nice addition not usually found in most other essential oil resources.
From Christmas to Halloween, Saint Valentine’s Day to Easter, you discover wonderful ways to enhance the holidays naturally.
This includes making party punches and presents and treating overindulgence.
Chapter 16 – Cooking With Essential Oils
This is sure to be one of your favorite sections if you love cooking and experimenting with different recipes and ingredients.
This chapter devotes a large section of the book to Cooking with Essential Oils.
You will learn to make appetizers, sauces, salad oils and vinegars, butters and spreads, breads, and pastries. You will also discover how to accent the flavor of fish, meat, vegetables, and other foods.
Chapter 17 – Natural Health For Domestic Animals
If you are a pet lover, you will find lots of useful information in this section on Natural Help for Domestic Animals.
Chapter 18 – Gardens For The Future
Chapter 18 gets you started creating Gardens for the Future. This includes using essential oils in your garden, as well as planting and harvesting The Perfect Crop of essential oils for home use.
What Others Are Saying About The Book
Very few other books have received 5-star reviews from almost 100% of readers.
Most readers who bought this book are very happy that they did and attest to the fact that this is one of the most exhaustive books on the topic.
You can read more reader reviews and also buy the book here.
At 448 informative pages, you discover why many in the global aromatherapy community consider Valerie Ann Worwood as the leading expert on anything and everything concerning essential oils.
Who Benefits From The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy?
Whether you are just getting started researching the incredible health benefits of essential oils or you are already a veteran in this discipline, this affordably priced encyclopedia of aromatherapy and essential oils will benefit you and your family through better mental and physical health for the rest of your lives.
You can buy this book on Amazon either in the paperback version or the Kindle version. I read this edition on my Kindle Unlimited subscription. This is super convenient as I can add unlimited Kindle books to read anytime anywhere. Get a 30-day free trial of Kindle Unlimited.
Related Reads:
Essential Oils For Beginners: Book Review
Best Essential Oil Books For All Levels
New To Aromatherapy? What You Need To Get Started
How To Use Essentials For Aromatherapy
Using Essential Oils – Cautions & Concerns
