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!
