Sunday, November 01, 2015

Review: Aromatherapy and Herbal Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth, and Breastfeeding



Aromatherapy and Herbal Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth, and Breastfeeding by Demetria Clark
A Review by Molly Sams

Aromatherapy and Herbal Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth, and Breastfeeding is a wonderful addition to your baby book collection.  Demetria Clark is a midwife as well as an aromatherapist and works with mothers to create safe and useful aromatherapy options and herbal remedies.

What I truly enjoyed about this book is that Clark is incredibly knowledgeable and still understands the importance of basics. She walks you through why aromatherapy and herbalism can be advantageous and then helps you create your own remedies. This way you create blends, teas, and crafts that are safe and beneficial.

Clark also explains basics of aromatherapy before delving into recipes or blends in the book. While to some this may seem like a review, for new mothers learning about aromatherapy for the first time this is vital. She explains why some essential oils can be harmful and how. Though some seemed clear to me others were surprising. I appreciated that she explained differences in notes, diffusers, and even created lists for safe and unsafe herbs depending on how far along you were in pregnancy or post partum. Clark also discusses why ingesting essential oils and applying them undiluted or “neat” can be harmful for you and your child.

While the book focuses on aromatherapy it emphasizes the importance of basic herbalism as well. Clark gives several (delicious) recipes for soups, teas, and other remedies that may help you unwind after a stressful day or prepare for labor. She also gives recipes for important postpartum remedies such as poultices and sitz baths. Clark strives to find gentle herbs that will help prepare the body for birth and postpartum.

While I have never been pregnant I feel as though I have a better idea of how I could work through a future pregnancy and help other loved ones who become pregnant as well after reading this book. I also have a newfound interest in essential oils. I suggest anyone who wants to learn about herbal remedies for pregnancy and use of essential oils, this is a wonderful introduction for doing so.


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