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