Aroma Therapy For Healing the Spirit

"'An authoritative and unique approach to a popular subject, 'Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit' concentrates on the profound psychological benefits of essential oils.
Building on the well-established link between fragrance and mood, this beautifully illustrated and practical guide helps you to alleviate tension, anxiety and depression, within yourself and others.'

191 shiny high quality pages, split over 3 main parts:-

(1) Therapeutic Foundations:-

Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
Methods of Application
Aromatherapy Massage
Yin and Yang
The Five Elements: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal
Essential Oils and Astrology

(2) Materia Aromatica - (alphabetical)

(3) Restoring Balance:-

Blending for Balance
Nervous Tension and Agitation
Overthinking and Worry
Anxiety and Apprehension
Poor Concentration and Memory
Lack of Confidence and Self Esteem
Anger and Frustration
Disempowerment and Negativity
Problems in Relating

with a foreword, an introduction - `The Medicine of the Spirit`, an appendix and a full index, which is enhanced by bold `main subject references' and `italic illustration and caption' references.

'Aromatic plants have been used by humankind since the dawn of history........By applying traditional wisdom to aromatherapy, we can avail ourselves of a corpus of knowledge that is both immediate and profound, practical and intuitive......'

'The pond reminds us of the tree's need for moisture.
Water generates Wood

Stones determine the flow of the stream.
Earth controls Water'

From the introduction:-
'.......The book is divided into three parts:-

Part I will provide you with the therapeutic foundations to using oils and basic perspective. You will then be able to comprehend fully the discussion of the oils in Part II, and apply them, in turn, to the restoring of balance addressed in Part III.
It is here that we shall seek to answer the call for the aromatic medicine of the Spirit.......'

'All true healing takes time, and one should not expect results overnight - even when using the most appropriate oils.
Although essential oils can have an immediate effect, most disharmonies of a protracted nature will take patience of Spirit to change....' "
~ Written on 2007-09-20

"This book provides an extensive guide on the spiritual and psycological effects of Aromatherapy, but not only that. It proposes a merging of Aromatherapy with the oriental healing system based on the ying yang and elements theory. As a Feng Shui practicioner and a professional Aromathepist, I found this book deeply moving.

As other books, It gives very helpful blending hints and recipes. The new aspect, though, talks about the oils's effects on the human Qi (energy). It effectivelly discusses the oil's main element (fire, water, earth, metal, wood), in relation to the emotional aspects that the elements spring in the psyche, and the specificaly related organ.

Yes, the elements healing system part may seem basic for people that have workng with oriental medicine, but it is wonderfully explained for the newcomer. I feel this book has helped me to take my practice a bit further. I needed something more than the chemical aspects of the oils (I have several books on those), and this books was a wonderful answer to that."
~ Written on 2006-03-17

"Initially I bought this book as a gift for an aromatherapist friend,however after flipping through the pages of beautiful photos andillustrations, I ordereed a second copy for myself. The text was way overmy head, so it went on the bookcase for a few years until I enrolled onGabriel's course at ITHMA where this book is one of the set texts.
I must say it was only after doing the course that I was able tounderstood the nuances of Yin, Yang, Qi etc but the notes on individualplants should still be of interest/assistance to working aromatherapistsno matter what their background.
It's a most beautiful textbook and reference guide, but I don't think it'swritten for complete novices to either aromatherapy or TraditionalOriental Medicine."
~ Written on 2004-04-22

"Beautifully written and presented, the illustrations are warm and appealing, with clear and easy-to-understand diagrams.

I particularly liked how the different mental health conditions were listed and explained in detail with the corresponding personality traits most likely to suffer from these illnesses. In addition, a range of oils were recommended alongside each condition.

The information contained in the book was just enough to get one's teeth into without being long-winded. I found this book took an 'alternative' approach to introducing Aromatherapy and also gave it more depth by incorporating Chinese Oriental Medicine.

The book is divided into 3 parts, the first provides basic information on each oil and how it effects the psyche. The second and third parts provide information on restoring emotional balance. As a practising Aromatherapist and one who works with people who suffer from mental illness this book has been a real asset in helping me to help others use Aromatherapy in order to cope with their mental health problems and deal with the emotional trauma brought on by mental illnesses.

This book is referred to as 'a guide to restoring emotional and mental balance through essential oils' - and it really is!

I would thoroughly recommend this book to other practitioners of Aromatherapy and it represents good value for money too."
~ Written on 2001-12-19

"This book looks at aromatherapy in the context of the philosophy and application of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is not an 'easy' book, in that it doesn't give you simplistic answers, 'this is a blend for this condition' What it does do is to acknowledge the uniqueness and complexity of the individual, and encourages the practitioner to look beyond the condition to be treated and consider the individual who experiences the condition. Gabriel has truly embraced the practice of aromatherapy as a holistic modality. This book is one of a small, but thankfully growing trend which moves beyond a simple formulaic approach to the essential oils, and suggests a philosophic framework for the practice of aromatherapy. Aromatherapists are keen for their discipline to become increasingly recognised as a true holistic, complementary practice. Gabriel's approach must absolutely further and encourage this. A marvellous springboard for anyone who wants to gain deeper understanding of the essential oils and of concepts of health and healing"
~ Written on 2001-08-03