Wellness Review

Guest post by Catherine Von Hatten

Aromatherapy: Essential Oils for Vibrant Health and Beauty by Roberta Wilson

If you are looking for a good resource to help you use your essential oils effectively, you can’t miss with Roberta Wilson’s comprehensive guide. Wilson is a skin-care specialist, herbalist, aromatherapist, educator, and international speaker who has been researching the healing power of nutrition and botanicals for more than thirty years.

The book begins by defining aromatherapy…what it is and what it is not. In today’s markets, anyone can sell anything and call it aromatherapy. Wilson gives specific tips on what to look for to ensure that you are buying therapeutic grade essential oils and using them appropriately. She reviews the history of healing with oils, discusses how essential oils are derived, and how they work in the body.

Aromatherapy introduces forty-four specific essential oils. Wilson provides background on how each oil has been used in the past, including both folklore and herbal heritage for each. She then outlines medicinal uses, beauty benefits, emotional effects, and precautions to consider. This section of the guide is an invaluable reference when looking for the specific benefits and/or uses for essential oils.

The third section of the book focuses on uses for aromatherapy and how it can benefit our lives. Wilson explains many possibilities including everything from air fresheners to facial steam baths to massage. She gives recommendations for making your own skin care products and lists oils that are particularly beneficial for particular skin types.

Finally, Wilson provides a fourth way to access the information in the book. She lists common conditions that benefit from aromatherapy. In this section, you can look up acne or anxiety, indigestion or stress and find suggestions about the use of essential oils to relieve the condition. She even gives recipes for blends she recommends for each issue.

The book is easy to follow and has so much helpful information, you will find yourself going back to it again and again. It’s a great resource for integrating essential oils into every day living.