Although The Encyclopedia of Aromatherapy (by Chrissie Wildwood) is not of a size you would equate with encyclopedic works, “encyclopedia” is not at all an inappropriate name.  There is quite a bit of reference information contained here!  It goes beyond what you might expect in an aromatherapy book, too, making it extremely useful.

The early portion of the book contains some basic information about essential oils and aromatherapy that will provide a beginner with the necessary background information.  There is a brief history of aromatherapy, information about what essential oils are, their properties, and the various ways they’re absorbed, and the ways they can be adulterated.  One chapter briefly addresses the various means of distilling essential oils.

Chapter four covers essential oil safety, including sections about pregnancy, nursing mothers, and young children.  In my opinion, the author takes an overly cautious view of essential oils in this situation.  However, the information is straightforward and there is still enough there to be beneficial even if you choose to disregard her caution.

The fifth chapter gives a good deal of information about getting started with essential oils, from choosing, buying, and storing them, to methods for using them, guides for measuring/mixing them easily with base oils, and a description of each of nineteen base oils.  There is also a brief section about tinctures and decoctions (herbal preparations).  Chapter six then talks about blending oils.

The second section, chapters seven through eighteen, forms the “core” of the book.  A chapter is devoted to each body system.  First, an overview of the system is provided.  Then there’s a section detailing which essential oil actions are particularly relevant to that body system.  (For instance, hypotensives for the circulatory system or carminatives for the digestive system.)  These are defined, in case you don’t know what they are. 🙂  This is followed by “therapeutic charts” for problems related to that system.  Each chart gives the description, possible causes, what might aggravate the condition (if applicable), recommended essential oils, methods of use, suggested herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, and further suggestions for the condition under discussion.  At the end of the chapter “aromatic prescriptions and procedures” are provided – specific recipes and instructions for issues relevant to the chapter.  (There are not recipes provided for everything addressed in every chapter.  But there are recipes for each of these chapters.)  The layout is easy to follow, and, where they’re useful, diagrams are included.

But wait; there’s more!  🙂  Part three addresses “mind, body, and soul.”  Some of my readers may be uncomfortable with this section.  There is a chapter about nurturing your whole self, including healthy diet and stress relief.  (The dietary guidelines aren’t all what I would recommend, but that’s pretty typical.)  The next chapter is about “developing your healing potential,” and here’s where I think some readers will balk.  There is discussion here of auras, perceiving them, clearing them, etc.  Auras are, actually, a scientific concept.  A special form of photography (Kirlian photography) can actually capture them, and I’ve read recently about some fascinating experiments that demonstrate a legitimate ability to sense them.  But that doesn’t necessarily mean that everything written about them is science-based, and some readers may prefer to simply skip this section.  The final chapter in this section is about the sense of scent, and how aromatherapy works on the mind, body, etc.

Hopefully I didn’t lose you at auras, and you’re still with me, because if you got through that section, there is a lot more practical information to come!  An entire section discusses massage.  The first chapter in this section talks about how to prepare for and give a massage (including cautions).  There are specific, step-by-step directions for giving a good massage, including photographs.  (These include bare skin, for obvious reasons, but it’s tastefully done, with the parts not currently in use being covered, just as they would be if you went for a professional massage.)  The next chapter is specifically about sports massage.  Then there’s a chapter about maternity, babies, and children.  Finally, there’s a chapter about aromatherapy massage for lovers.  This is tastefully done, as well.  Although there are some instructional photographs, nothing is indecent or suggestive.  You may, however, want to ensure your children don’t read this chapter, simply because of the subject matter.

Further sections of the book discuss “aesthetic aromatherapy” (both beauty care and perfumery) and home and garden (including some applications for your pets, and selections for an aromatic garden).

The final section of the book contains “aromatic profiles.”  In other words, it lists a number of essential oils, with helpful information about each one.  Each entry includes the plant family, other names for the plant, a description of the plant and where it’s sourced, the extraction method(s), the oil’s nature, its main constituents, its properties, aromatherapeutic uses, other oils it blends well with, the prices and availability (not exact pricing, but whether it’s expensive, medium range, etc.), and cautions (if any).  This section alone makes the book worth having, in my opinion.

The book is indexed, though not extensively.

I think this would be a useful addition to any natural home health library.

Disclosure: I was provided by the publisher with a copy of this book to facilitate my review.  They are also providing a copy for the winner of the upcoming Naturally Healthy Baby giveaway.  As always, all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.