Some of our favorite
Biblical passages mention healing oils. "But a Samaritan as he
journeyed came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion,
and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine upon them."
"Thou anointest my head with oil." "Then, opening their
treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh."
"Mary took a pound of oil, genuine nard, very costly, and she anointed
the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair." "And
you shall make of these a Holy Anointing Oil." "May you purify
me from sin with hyssop, that I may be clean." Paul spoke of "the
fragrance of the knowledge of" Jesus.
Essential oils
are subtle, volatile liquids with the aroma and flavor of the plant
from which they are obtained. Oils have nutritional value and healing
properties. Oils can be extracted from plants through pressing or steam
distillation. Flowers, tree bark, fruit, leaves, stems, seeds and roots
can all produce oils. Sometimes completely different oils with completely
different properties can be produced from the same plant. Pressing the
orange peel produces orange oil; distilling the leaves and twigs of
the orange tree produces petitgrain oil; and distilling orange blossoms
produces neroli oil.
The Bible mentions
231 plants by name, and about two dozen of them produce essential oils
in sufficient quantities to be commercially viable. This book lists
those 24 plants, relates what their healing qualities are, cites book,
chapter and verse where they are mentioned in the Bible, and tells you
how to use them at home.
Oils were chosen
for this book based upon these factors:
- The plant must
have been mentioned in at least one English version of the Bible.
- The plant must
produce an essential oil in commercial quantity.
- There must be
a source for organically grown, therapeutic-quality essential oil
from that plant.
Included is an
extensive glossary of chemical and medical terms for a better understanding
of how the essential oils work.
The chapter on
conditions lists hundreds of common illnesses, diseases and ailments
along with the Biblical essential oils that historically have been used
to help ease symptoms and, in some cases, cure. Modern medicine owes
its roots to plants and essential oils.
There is a comprehensive
index at the back of the book to help you find topics quickly.
And, finally, there
is a bibliography of several fine books on the Bible and on aromatherapy,
many of which were used in researching the material for this book.
The human nose
can detect more than 10,000 different aromas. The author wishes you
good smelling, good reading and good health!
