Winter Book Review: The Companion Book to Worwoods

Personally I think every household should have at least one Aromatherapy / essential oil book because it can not only be used for Aromatherapy related issues but also commercial products which many times incorporate the scent or actual essential oils as well. A very good addition to ones aromatic library and a volume every Western Aromatherapist must have on hand is Julia Lawless's "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism" ISBN 1-85230-721-8 Element books 1995.

Even though the book isn't a cookbook in the sense of detailed essential oil blending as Valerie Ann Worwood's "The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy", it does give extremely detailed and correct information about each essential oil most frequently used by Aromatherapists and lay people. In addition to the shot history segment and gems of information about each essential oil, areas provide one with the key chemicals of the essential oils and their primary actions. Even more helpful is the in-depth safety data provided including possible interactions that may occur in addition to sensitizing dangers and other warnings. A book that is all fluff and sugar-coated will not help you or the art in the long run. It has a very large and inclusive glossary and the Botanical Classifications area is huge! Showing that Lawless did her research and the information provided in the book can be backed up. The references area and bibliography are equally as impressive and helpful.

As I have said before, it's always important to see who the person is behind the words and glossy pages... not much information is given in this particular book about Lawless but she is stated as being a "qualified Aromatherapist" and "a member of the International Federation of Aromatherapists" (fellow member is Worwood). Personally I feel that she is a gifted writer and did things revolutionary for the time the book was first printed in 1992 and if it is good enough for the International Therapy Council of the UK, it is defiantly worthy of reading in the America's and all over the world. I seem to gravitate to books by properly trained Aromatherapists / authors hailing from Europe because they are truly the best. In Europe Aromatherapy has not been degraded as it has here and they are not only better trained but also more well rounded. Many have degrees in other, but germane fields

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