Book Revew: Just the Essentials: How Essential Oils Can Heal Your Skin, Improve Your Health, and Detox Your Life by Adina Grigore

The author of Skin Cleanse returns with a comprehensive guide to the ultimate ingredient for living an all-natural, plant-based lifestyle: essential oils.

For millennia, essential oils have played a key role in health and beauty rituals. From references in the Bible (frankincense and myrrh) to Hippocrates (who documented the effects of oils from over 300 plants) to Ancient Egypt (Cleopatra pioneered the use of fragrance), essential oils have been revered throughout human history for their healing powers and their unparalleled scent.

But in modern times, they’ve often been misunderstood, underappreciated, even cast as "dangerous"—and relegated to the dusty shelves of health food stores. That is, until recently. Today they’re back in the spotlight as increasing numbers of consumers are looking for all-natural alternatives to skincare products and opting for fragrance-free detergents and soaps, natural remedies for common ailments, and toxin-free home cleaning solutions.

Enter Adina Grigore, owner and founder of the wildly popular all-natural skincare line SW Basics. A former essential oil skeptic, Grigore learned everything she could about these potent plant-based compounds when she began formulating her products. And what she learned was that essential oils are some of the most powerful, healing, health-promoting compounds found in nature. That, and they smell pretty great too.

In Just the Essentials, Grigore offers a 21st-century guide to these ancient oils, offering a fresh, fun, and authoritative overview of what they are and how they can be easily incorporated into anyone’s life. From plant-based medicine to all-natural skincare to safer and cleaner household products to aromatherapy, this handy and entertaining guide provides detailed advice for a wide array of oils, safety guidelines, and a range of do-it-yourself recipes to get started. Inside you'll discover such fun facts as:

• Tea tree oil is a powerful antibacterial that is proven to be as effective for treating acne as benzoyl peroxide; it also kills oral bacteria and is a life-saver for tooth infections.
• Cinnamon oil is a circulation-booster that helps to ease everyday aches and pains as well as headaches (even migraines).
• Peppermint oil is brimming with antimicrobial properties; peppermint oil can be used for everything from alleviating digestive problems to cleaning your kitchen counters.

With lists of the best oils for beginners; instructions for diffusing and safe handling; and DIY recipes from dish soap to toothpaste to facial masks, Just the Essentials makes it easy and enjoyable to reap the many benefits of these pure plant extracts.

If you have seen my Twitter and Instagram, you will know that I am obsessed with essential oils. Two years ago a friend convinced me to give them a try for my anxiety. My anxiety was through the roof. I was taking the maximum about od medication, but I still had some that got in the way of living. So I ordered a starter kit from Young Living and told myself if they don’t help my anxiety at least my apartment would smell amazing.

After using them for six months ( remember they are NOT miracle oils you have to use them often and for a while before the full effects show up) I noticed that my anxiety was way down. I was getting more writing done and generally felt better overall.

It’s sad that I don’t know about them still, I mean I know Peace, and Calming does calm me down but knowing enough to know what to get for what I want it for? Nope, I knew next to NOTHING.

I was scrolling through Instagram and saw this book on A Beautiful Mess stories, and I saw it on my TBR list, and the library here even had it!

It took me a while to get to it as I had a really bad manic episode and I couldn’t focus for shit. My brain finally calms down, and I was able to read the book.

Overall I feel that this book was beneficial. I never knew that certain oils have limiones that help with anxiety! Putting on orange or lemon in my diffuser and pretending I was n a tropical island instead of Central Appalachia played a role in me not being as anxious as usual in the winter.

One thing I did disagree with was when she said that you couldn’t take oils internally. I agree up to a point. I mean yeah don’t run to Walmart and get the cheap shit then start drinking it. BUT I have been putting oils in my water to flavor it and to help soothe my tummy among other things. I only use the vitality oils though. You do have to be careful, but honestly the lemon and orange and peppermint oils have been vital for me drinking 90 plus oz of water a Day.

The book also has recipes if you like to DIY. I HATE DIYing. Lucky me that Young Living makes alll the stuff you could ever want.

I have to say that this is an excellent book for beginners as it goes into detail all about oils.  I learned a lot from this book. I have already recommended t everyone I know that uses oils.

Have YOU ever tried essential oils? If you did how did you like them?