From the editor : This is a compendium of practical and exotic herbal lore that is guaranteed to turn you on to the fact that plants and animals have been used for thousands of years in various ways to make people healthier, and to help them to live longer and more creative lives.

When Jeanne Rose talks about herbs, people listen and it is no wonder after over thirty years of study, practice, teaching and writing during which she has become an institution. In this book, she has brought together a tremendous amount of information and whatever you may want to know about aromatherapy is here. You can find a list of essential oils for treating a certain condition, or a list of conditions treated by a certain essential oil and each oil is described in detail in a subsequent chapter with precautions and instructions for use. These three elements constitute about one third of the book. It contains an impressive number of recipes. The charts include treatments for conditions such as heart failure, stroke, syphilis and paralysis yet the tone of the book is informal and obviously intended for a general audience. This is one of the few books to give details of distillation, to explain arcane perfumery terms, to list in detail the herbs of perfumery.

The book has a great index and detailed table of contents. It is enhanced by illustrations. There are recipes for sachets, bug repellants, herbal baths, and incense.

The many reprints of this book over the years testify to the usefulness of the compiled information.

Pages: 323
Special Interest: Herbs, Natural Alternatives, Health, Holistic, Beauty.