Gattefosse's Aromatherapy

Book excerpt: Here is the missing link in Essential Oil literature, the first modern work written by the man who coined the word 'Aromatherapy.' In July 1910 René- Maurice Gattefossé discovered the healing properties of lavender oil after severely burning his hands in a laboratory explosion. This led him into a lifetime of research into Essential Oils. His remarkable book was first published in 1937 and has been out of print for many years. Now translated, it has been edited by Robert Tisserand, author of three books on aromatherapy (including the best-seller, The Art of Aromatherapy), editorial adviser of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and editor of The International Journal of Aromatherapy. The book is a fascinating blend of ancient and modern knowledge and aromatherapists will find it an essential tool of reference. Extensive notes are provided by Robert Tisserand at the back of the book. Chapters include those on human smells and animal smells, toxicity, the properties of essential oils and their constituents, the treatment of many diseases, and over fifty case studies from doctors.