The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

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Summary: If you don't own any other book own this one!
Review: This is my all time favorite book. Its easy to understand and started my growing interest in Aromatherapy. I read anything I can on the subject but this remains my all time favorite! I still use it with my aromatherapy blends for my candles and bath products I make.

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Summary: A must have!
Review: This is one of the best books about Aromatherapy I posess. It explains in a detailed fashion when and how to use the essential oils. It covers almost all, if not all, the essential oils from the most commonly used, like lavender, to the more exotic ones like Hyacinth. It also presents different situations in which they can be used. For example, there is a whole chapter about which oils are most useful while traveling and another about which ones are better for your skin. So I highly recommend it as a guide for better living through aromatherapy.

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Summary: indispensable!
Review: This is the most practical aromatherapy book ever! I've finally found a book that gives actual formulas for all kinds of everyday health problems, plus others for serious health conditions I didn't expect to find in it. Every formula we (my friends and family) have tried works! It's like having your very own health care specialist on hand, and its become indispensable. And it's written like a friend talking to you. As well as all that, there are whole chapters on pets, gardening, cooking, children, babies, elderly, the home, work-related problems etc etc etc. This book has totally changed my life!!- and I feel FANTASTIC about it. What this book is not - a boring catalogue of details about essential oils, with no practical advice. This is the book for everybody. You'll wonder how you lived without it. It's given me control of my life. Feel stressed? Just look it up, put the oils in the bath and - hey presto - no more stress! A WONDERFUL LIFE-CHANGER!!

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Summary: An Everyday Aromatherapy Encyclopedia.
Review: Valerie Ann Worwood's book "The Complete Book Of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy" is one of the most complete and down-to-earth books on the subject, especially for the beginer. If I were to teach a course on aromatherapy for beginers, this would be one of two main texts I would use, as it is so complete. Here writing style is very clear, easily understood, and enjoyable to read. No dryness here. She begins by discussing ten essntial oils as a "basic care kit," and explains how such oils should be used via an A-Z list of common household occurances. The list includes the following as some topics: -Abdominal pain. -Abraisions. -Black Eye. -Bruises. -Colds. -Fever. -Headache. -Hicups. As a matter of principle, she explains at the very begining of the book that the information contained therein is NOT intended to take the place of a Physician's care. Her chapters on Travel, Sports related injuries, and Beauty (3 chapters covering head to feet!), Maternity and Motherhood, Mens/Women's health (seperate chapters), and Aging are exceptional. She closes with chapters on aromatherapy for animals, and gardening; which I have not seen except in a work by Dr. Gary Young. The charts at the end of the book are indespensable, and complete as a ready quick refrance. Valerie's bibliography contains such authors as Belaiche; Gattefose; Valnet, Duraffourd, Lapraz; and Wells; shows that she is very well read as she is experienced. These authors are the very pioneers of the modern resurgence of aromatherapy, and should be read by all who desire to be serious students of the art and science that is aromatherapy. Those who may wish to criticize her lack of litterary sitations should go and read the works cited here, remembering that Valerie has over 25 years of practical experience as a student and practicioner in a country where aromatherapy is taken seriously, and all they will be left holding is empty litterary critique. Better still, they should utilize her book, and let experience speak for itself! My only sugestion for a revision would be an in-depth chapter on essential oil chemistry, and their interaction with the bodily systems. Otherwise, I consider this book to be amoung the best out there on the subject. It makes a great gift for all occasoins.

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Summary: fascinating book
Review: What a fascinating book! I was new to essential oils until the beginning of this year when I obtained this book. I have had so much fun ever since then trying new remedies from it and reaping the benefits! I wish I had discovered it sooner.

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Summary: I own the original British edition, "The Fragrant Pharmacy".
Review: While it goes into details on the uses of essential oils for various ailments and situations (travel, sports etc.), I found Ms Worwood's formulae very complicated, with each one using several oils. I prefer simplicity, blending no more than 2. Simplicity also ensures that one doesn't end up buying oils that one may never use again. I feel this book is better suited to the professional aromatherapist rather than home use. I recommend checking the book out at a library or local bookstore to make sure it fits your needs before making the purchase right away.

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Summary: An essential guide to essential oils
Review: Wormwood provides an easy to use guide to effectively adding aromatherapy to a health-conscious lifestyle. Avoiding the new age mystical lingo often found in aromatherapy books, she presents practical information on how to select, store, and blend essential oils for a variety of needs. The book is divided into convenient sections and has a well done index to make it simple to locate the information you're looking for. And the detailed charts provided offer a quick reference guide for folks wanting to experiment with their own blends. I can honestly say I reference this book at least once a week, and I've owned my copy for years! One of the best, most complete books on the topic available.