INTRODUCTION
Plants are magic. They’re the unsung heroes of our life here on earth, cleaning our air, fortifying our soil, and, when properly used, healing our ailments. Essential oils offer us direct access to the curative power of plants, by distilling them to their essences and making their myriad benefits readily available, accessible, and, for the most part, affordable. They give us the ability to take our health into our own hands, and give us natural, easy ways to address a wide range of issues from the mental and emotional to the physical.
Natural plant remedies have been employed by humans for millennia, used for both preventative and reactive care. Today, even with all the wonders and benefits of modern medicine, essential oils are a marvelous way to tap into the natural world and help cultivate the knowledge and intuition necessary to enable us to tune in to ourselves, and take care of minds, bodies, and spirits.
If you are curious about essential oils, this book offers a general, easy-to-understand overview along with brief synopses of seventy specific oils: a perfect introduction to a timetested way of healing.
THE OILS
A guide to working with essential oils
LAVENDER
Lavandula angustifolia
Use it for: Treating insomnia, easing anxiety, alleviating headaches and migraines, promoting calm, soothing muscle tension.
Blend it with: Blue chamomile and Roman chamomile are similarly soothing and relaxing; eucalyptus and tea tree share lavender’s antiseptic qualities; the citrus scent of sweet orange pairs well with lavender’s floral fragrance and adds a sense of well-being.
What is it?: Lavender oil is steam distilled from the flowering tops of Lavandula angustifolia, a tall-stemmed bush that blossoms with flowers in varying shades of purple. Because of its versatility, lavender is indispensable when building an essential oil collection—it has as many physical benefits as it does mental and emotional.
Be safe: Lavender may cause drowsiness.
TRY IT OUT
Direct inhalation: To ease headache pain or stave off the oncoming effects of a migraine, rub 1 drop of lavender between your palms, place hands over your nose, and inhale deeply.
Massage: Tend to muscle pain and tension by creating a massage oil. Add 15 drops of lavender to 2 tablespoons (30ml) of a carrier oil (scale up as needed). Blend and massage directly into skin.
Indirect inhalation: To encourage a deep and restful sleep, add a couple of drops of lavender to your pillowcase before going to bed.
Copyright © 2019 by Lisa Butterworth. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
