Essential Oils for the Whole Body: The Dynamics of Topical Application and Absorption

(Paperback)

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Description

A practical guide to the topical application of essential oils for physical and emotional health and healing

Well known for their aromatherapy applications, essential oils also have outstanding healing abilities when absorbed through the skin. Applied topically they work well for wound healing, arthritis, inflammation, and skin conditions. Because all of the cells in the body are interconnected, they also affect underlying organs, systems, and soft tissues, influencing hormone release, gently relieving pain and stress, and offering antimicrobial protection against pathogens, viruses, and bacteria.

Focusing on 15 essential oils that form a safe and effective tool kit for treating a broad range of ailments and conditions, from acne, anxiety, and asthma to psoriasis, shingles, and painful periods, Heather Dawn Godfrey explores how these essential oils complement and support each others healing properties and can be blended together to offer dynamic, customizable treatments for each unique individual. She examines the bodys many absorption pathways, explaining how even the internal organs have odor receptors and how applying essential oils in different ways has specific influences on the bodys systems. Offering guidelines for safe application, including recommendations for children and the elderly, the author provides easy-to-reference charts and tables to select the appropriate oil or oils for each situation, and she explains which essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy and by those with specific conditions such as cancer.

Presenting scientific profiles for the 15 main essential oils discussed, Godfrey also explores complementary therapies that increase the effectiveness of essential oils, including Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, and she details the colors, chakras, gemstones, and crystals that correspond with each oil. She provides recipes for proper dilution and the best carrier mediums, including creams, compresses, lotions, and ointments.

Written for both healthcare professionals and for self-care, this hands-on guide will allow you to effectively treat acute and chronic conditions as well as incorporate essential oils into daily life for physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Reviews

An impressive and comprehensive presentation of what essential oils are, how they work, and how to use them, not only for physical illnesses but also on the psycho-emotional level. A great book on essential oils! * Christopher Vasey, ND, author of Natural Antibiotics and Antivirals *
. . . offers a beautiful bridge between the science of aromatherapy and esoteric application. Godfrey presents a truly holistic approach that explores how to support the whole self, from the physical to the emotional and spiritual. * Candice Covington, author of Essential Oils in Spiritual Practice *
A lovely book packed full of information about the form and function of the human body and the ways essential oils can interact with it. This book builds on the authors previous work, Essential Oils for Mindfulness and Meditation, to create an invaluable guide for those who wish to understand essential oils and use them creatively and safely. * Sophie Olszowski, PhD, director of SPZ Associates Ltd. *
In times when most aromatherapists are going back to using simple recipes based on the biomedical paradigm, this book opens up another way of looking at topical applications and absorption dynamics. These areas are actually more complex than mechanical interpretation allows and require a book with a holistic, and even spiritual, background combined with scientific insight. It will surely build stronger relationships with the whole body. * Martin Henglein, naturopath, aromatherapist, and osmologist *
"This book focuses on just 15 essential oils to comprise a 'tool kit' that treats a broad range of ailments. The profiles take an in-depth approach, pulling in science and safety while discussing how the oils complement and support each other to treat body systems. Pathways essential oils use in the body are explained for a better understanding of dilutions, safety, and methods of application. Charts and tables point to selecting the appropriate oil in each situation. Appropriate treatments are given for pregnancy, cancer, children, and the elderly. There are only a few formulas, but plenty of very useful charts throughout the book aid in creating them." * American Herb Association Quarterly *

Author Bio

Heather Dawn Godfrey, PGCE, BSc, is an aromatherapist, fellow of the International Federation of Aromatherapists, and an aromatherapy teacher. She has published a number of articles and research papers exploring the benefits of essential oils. The author of Essential Oils for Mindfulness and Meditation, she lives in Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK.