Book Review – Healing with Essential Oils: The Antiviral, Restorative, and Life-Enhancing Properties of 58 Plants by Heather Godfrey
Book Review
Healing with Essential Oils:
The Antiviral, Restorative,
and Life-Enhancing Properties of 58 Plants
by Heather Dawn Godfrey
Publisher: Healing Arts Press 2022
340 Pages
Release Date: August 6, 2022
When you mention essential oils, people often immediately think of diffusers and simmer pots, but the truth is, essential oils have been around far longer in organic usage. Many of us just scratch the surface when we use essential oils, rather than harnessing the full power of these natural items that offer so much more to our lives. This new book, Healing with Essential Oils: The Antiviral, Restorative, and Life-Enhancing Properties of 58 plants will open the door to new explorations to enhance your life and the lives of your loved ones.
Author Dawn Godfrey, PGCE, BSC, is an aromatherapist, a fellow of the International Federation of Aromatherapists, and an aromatherapy teacher. She is also a well-published writer of research papers on the benefits of essential oils. She brings this knowledge and practice to this book designed to break down everything you need to know in one easy-to-read reference and teaching manual that you’ll want to add to your book collection.
I’ve been using essential oils in my personal life in many ways for years now. As a mom of four, I’ve found the therapeutic uses outweigh any cost I may incur to find quality oils. Stress, migraines, colds and congestion, the list goes on of reasons I’ve added oils to our daily routines. Despite that, I know I have much to learn, and this book is truly one I’d recommend if you’re seeking more in-depth knowledge of essential oils.
Essential oils are basically considered to be concentrated oils from plants, and while that is not necessarily an inaccurate statement, oils really are so much more. This book takes us on a deep dive into the chemical properties, and how they’re derived, then turned into a usable product. It’s fascinating! It may be more than many of us need, as we can easily find oils online and in brick and mortar stores now, but “is essential oil really an oil?” can be helpful in understanding expected results if you create tinctures or combine it for health reasons or spells.
The book does a fantastic job of the science behind it all, as well as explaining the various parts of plants and the essential oils they yield. There are a lot of charts and gorgeous photographs to break up the text, which is written in a way that any layman can read without needing more than a basic understanding of plants and/or science. This volume would be helpful for both beginners and pros in the field of essential oil usage.
The author makes sure to cover safety in a way that informs without scaring; sometimes oils can seem intimidating, and there’s no need to be afraid if you’ve got the knowledge you need to try. With this book, you’ll be armed with the info on safe oil usage for every age, infant on up.
My favorite chapter is the one that includes measuring essential oils to avoid reactions and specifically covers topical uses as well as relation to carrier oils (the oil with which you mix and dilute the essential oil to help ‘carry’ it to your skin). It goes on to discuss the dynamic uses of essential oils, such as with chakras, color and gemstones; the chart breaks it down by color and includes chakras, and physical, mental and spiritual association. There’s also a chart covering the five elements or phases of movement. So much good stuff in that chapter!.
The whole book is good stuff though. I want to print out her chart of essential oil
characteristics, which lists the type of oil, evaporation rate, general fragrance characteristic, therapeutic effects and what it may support/ease (such as lethargy, depression, bodily functions, metabolism and so much more). It covers 58 plants, and their oils, in the same regard, with a few pages to each plant so you can take all you’ve learned and comfortably put it into use. Best of all? These are oils we can easily obtain, so you don’t need to hunt all over to try something new.
With winter weather, and its potential related illnesses on their way, I’m happy to have this book in my arsenal. It’s like getting an education in one book, and I’d share this with my witchy and non-witchy friends alike. It could replace several other books since it covers mystical uses in addition to natural health-focused applications. In a post-pandemic world that’s become so much more aware of the problems we face with viruses and bacteria, we could all use this book!
About the author:
In her own words:
Healing with Essential Oils dovetails with my previous award winning books, Essential Oils for the Whole Body and Essential Oils for Mindfulness and Meditation (Janey Lee Grace Platinum Awards 2022, 2020 and 2019). This book explores the journey of essential oils from development within the plant to the delightful perfumed essence within the bottle, and provides 58 individual essential oil profiles, an overview of related botany and chemistry, and so much more; your quintessential essential oil handbook.
I was introduced to essential oils when Robert Tisserand asked me to work for him in the early 1970’s. Inspired by their healing potential, I pursued professional training, eventually completing a BSc Joint Honours Degree in Counselling and Complementary Medicine (2:1), then Masters certificates in Mindfulness, and Supervision of Counselling at the University of Salford, and a post graduate certificate of education. I was employed by the University of Salford, School of Health Sciences and Social Care (now the School of Health and Society), for several years, fulfilling various roles, including Programme Lead for the B.Sc. Integrated Therapies in Practice degree, lecturer and personal tutor. My research focused on the psycho-emotional influence of essential oils on resilience, health and wellbeing, and the supportive role they may play.
I currently live in Lyme Regis, England, where I continue to run my private essential oil practice, teach and write. Please visit my website www.aromantique.co.uk to learn more about my books, current projects, blogs and articles.
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About the Author:
Donna Biroczky
Donna is a long time professional writer who blames her love for vocabulary and unique interests on being an avid reader since childhood. She is a mom of four, “Grammy” to two, and a furmom to two dogs, as well as an entrepreneur owning two businesses while residing with her husband in the suburban foothills of SoCal. She has spent time over the last few years rekindling her interest and intuition in the mystical and spiritual side of life, growing her witchy library and outgrowing her shelves with her colorful crystal selection. Her favorite room of the house is the kitchen, but you’ll often find her fireside with a book in her hands or in her yoga room practicing inversions. When at all possible, she’s traveling or enjoying nature in any form she can find it.
