The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils: The Science of Advanced Aromatherapy

by Kurt Schnaubelt

Explores science’s new biological understanding of essential oils for improved immunity and treatment of degenerative diseases

• Explains how essential oils convey the complex natural healing powers of plants, offering scientifically proven advantages over synthetic drugs

• Offers revolutionary essential oil treatments to ameliorate the side effects of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments as well as for hepatitis, osteoporosis, liver detoxification, and the prevention of UV damage and melanoma

• Presents simple recipes and protocols for strengthening the immune system; for treatment of common ailments, such as colds, flu, herpes, and candida; and for pain management

Exploring science’s new biological understanding of essential oils and their advantages over synthetic drugs, renowned aromatherapist Kurt Schnaubelt reveals how the effectiveness of essential oil treatments stems from our common biochemical and cellular heritage with plants. He explains how essential oils preserve a plant’s complex natural life-supporting and immune-building qualities, developed through millions of years of interaction with animals and humans. Reviewing recent research in molecular, cellular, and evolutionary biology, he shows how the multilayered activity of plant essences helps maintain the integrity of our genetic code--the reason why pathogens cannot develop resistance toward essential oils as they do with antibiotics and antivirals--making essential oils a more effective and sustainable form of treatment for a variety of health problems.

Laying to rest old arguments over essential oils’ alleged toxicity and whether they can be ingested or used undiluted, Schnaubelt presents simple recipes and protocols for treating and preventing common ailments, such as colds, flu, herpes, and candida, as well as for pain management. Offering new essential oil treatment opportunities for hepatitis, osteoporosis, liver detoxification, and the prevention of UV damage and melanoma, he shows how essential oils can also ameliorate the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments as well as how even home use of essential oils for relaxation or skin care can help build one’s immunity and overall well-being.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Reference, Self Help, Education, Science, Unfinished

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Missy LeBlanc Ivey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally published in 2011.

Paid $7.59 for used paperback from Thriftbooks.com on 9/8/2022. Gave away to Goodwill.

Month of September 2022: Essential Oils (Health)

“The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils: The Science of Advanced Aromatherapy” by Kirt Schnaubelt, Ph.D. (2011) Paperback. 233 pages.

I really wanted to love this book because it is a "beautiful" book with quality, slick pages and colored photos, and color-coded side bars with extra information, making for a more pleasurable reading experience.

But, although written by a doctor, this book is not all about just the science. It seems to be more centered on the history of aromatherapy. He does reference a few researches that have been done on essential oils. You can find those listed in the Bibliography for a more in-depth study, if you wish. There are a few specific essential oil recipe blends scattered throughout the book, not indexed, but are on olive green labels. And, you will definitely need a more extensive glossary of "terms" used throughout the book. He provides a small one.

Unfortunately, the author made the cardinal mistake of adding his beliefs on evolution and the "scientific fact" that the earth began 4.5 billion years ago, which is NOT a proven fact...but always raises a red flag for me and pisses me off because they really do need to stick to the "facts" and write on the subject that this book is about. Therefore, I have to add my two scents as well. On evolution, he writes (p. 44):

"...these secondary metabolites were more or less toxic to the mammalian organism. Over time the mammals adjusted by developing an enzymatic machinery capable of processing these indigestible components, so they could safely be eliminated.” NOT TRUE!

[NOTE: Secondary metabolites are the essential oils of ALL plants that protect the plant from herbivores and diseases, whether from it’s aroma or it’s chemical composition or even its dyes. Humans, since the beginning of time, since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, have known about and used certain plants for healing...and, to be sure, we have always had livers to process foreign substances and eliminate waste from the body. It’s just been since about late 1800’s and early 1900’s that we have actually gotten serious and been able to break up and separate the different chemicals to study it’s true effects on the human body.]

According to the Bible, Genesis 1:29: “And God said, Behold I have given to you every seed bearing herb sowing seed which is upon all the earth, and every tree which has in itself the fruit of seed that is sown, to you it shall be for food.”

Therefore, our ability to digest and eliminate plant material (including its oils) have always been a part of our being.

The author is a bit “dreamy” and not very scientific in a lot of his writing. Page 126, on the use of a very potent and multi-purpose essential oil, Niaouli, he writes:

“This oil presents the open-minded individual with an interesting learning opportunity. The unfamiliar notes in this oil become more and more likable as we become aware of its benefits. It thus stimulates essential oil intuition”.

That word…intuition…is not really how I use essential oils. I don't think I have "intuition" when it comes to oils. I want to know the facts. What has been positively proven and what has not and how the heck do you use it. And I want it all referenced to specific research that has been done for me to research further, if I wish.

SECTIONS OF THE BOOK

Part 1 was Biology 101 about cells and how they function and some very science-y stuff about plants and how the body works…all of it completely over my head. A scientist or doctor would really enjoy this section.

Part 2 contains a lot of assorted history on the use and the beginnings of essential oils, leaning more towards Chinese traditions and uses…not a fun read.

Part 3 contains the meat of the book, the very reason why I’m reading this book…“Healing with Essential Oils: Strategies and Protocols”. The few chapters are based on major conditions, and one, in particular, I’m more interested in, is cancer. My mom has gone through treatment for lung cancer, four years ago, and was just diagnosed with throat cancer. So, naturally, I want to know how to use essential oils in tangent with her radiation and chemo treatment to help ease side effects.

This book lists all the different modern drugs used to treat cancer (which would have been helpful if they were included in the Index as well so that when she is administered a drug, I could then look it up to see what kind of symptoms to expect….but they’re not listed in the index). This section does list a few oils that work for different symptoms, but, there’s one major problem, it doesn’t tell you how to use the oils.

Sources for authentic essential oils

These few vendors he provides, apparently, share the same beliefs and concepts outlined in this book. I’ve never heard of the vendors he uses, including his own. They might be worth looking into:

Laboratory of Flowers: Michael Scholes
21010 Southbank Street #630
Sterling, VA 20165
Phone: (703) 433-5841
www.labofflowers.com

Nature’s Gift: Marge Clark
316 Old Hickory Blvd. East
Madison, TN 37115
www.naturesgift.com

Original Swiss Aromatics: Kurt Schnaubelt and Monika Haas
PO Box 6842
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 479-9120
www.originalswissaromatics.com

Essential Therapeutics: Ron Guba
39 Melverton Drive
Hallam, VICTORIA 3803
Australia
Phone: 03 8795 7720
www.essentialtherapeutics.com

END OF REVIEW
——————————————

BELOW ARE A FEW THINGS I ACTUALLY DID LEARN AND WOULD LIKE TO REMEMBER

1. Only 1 drop in a small glass of water is usually sufficient for daily use and maintenance. (p. 133) For example, I take 1 drop Helichrysum in a 4 oz glass of water 2x/day for blood clots. I’m not on any other meds at all. But, I’m prone to blood clots in my legs. It’s genetic and I’ve already had one when I had COVID due to the prednisone prescribed. So far, so good.

2. When you ingest a drug or essential oils or anything else, it first has to be filtered and broken down by the liver into a water-double molecule, then dispersed throughout your body’s blood and cells. If you use a suppository…yes, like in your bum…it bypasses your system and heads directly to your lungs. I NEVER KNEW THAT! This means, that essential oil suppositories can effectively be used for COPD and for severe bouts of severe bronchitis. (See pages 136-139 on suppositories, using essential oils, and how to make and use them). Interesting!

3. Essential oils for cancer: Ravintsara, Greenland Moss, Helichrysum, Niaouli, and Myrrh (p. 178-188). Some recommendations given for use after a dose of chemotherapy; others you have to guess how to use or maybe find, yet, another book with answers.

4. Niaouli seems to be a powerful multi-purpose essential oil. I need to learn more about it. A 1990 study showed that Niaouli may help protect the skin from radiation burns, but does not state how to use it. (p. 85) Maybe other books have more specifics on it.

5. German Chamomile, apparently, is recently being accredited to being an effective relief of COPD, but does not give a source for this information. (p. 17) On page 133, he states that 1 drop is usually adequate for most oils, and this includes German Chamomile to help calm a stomach and help with COPD.

BOOKS MENTIONED THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

"Simple Ways of Healing" - by Dr. Pam Taylor (p. 119)
(Dr. Taylor is a practicing naturopathic in Moline, Illinois, and has integrated the use of essential oils and aromatherapy into her practice for many years with great success.)

"Medical Herbalism": The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine" - by David Hoffmann, FNIMH, AHG (last page).

[Alva Ware-Bevacqui · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, I'm disappointed. Not by the scientific information - that part is good although a bit over my head. What I really don't like is that there's a lot of whining about how western medicine doesn't appreciate essential oils. If the author could stop defending the efficacy of essential oils and just stick to the science, it would read much better. Plus, a lot of the writing is inaccessible - I feel like I'm reading a textbook, or that again the author feels the need to prove how scientific essential oils are by sounding scientific. Maybe the book will get better....


Okay, the second part of the book about actually how to use the essential oils is very good, so to be fair I'll give it 3 stars. For future readers, just ignore the first part of the book and stick to the how to part.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An accessible and fascinating presentation of the value of essential oils in the treatment/management of common ailments and other conditions.

This book targets the lay reader with an interest in exploring essential oils for their own use, and accordingly Schnaubelt gives a straightforward overview of the relevant cellular biology and cellular evolution. He underscores the truly distinctive features and functions of essential oils, such as their multi-component & multi-targeting qualities (which separate them from antibiotics and prevent pathogens from developing resistance). Mmmmm - an untapped resource there.

As well, the effectiveness of oils in delivering quickly to particular areas of body (including some harder-to-reach areas such as deep lung tissue, or the brain) is surveyed, and I must say this was an eye-opener for me - of interest is the usefulness of these oils in situations where ingestion of medication is a problem (e.g. infants, patients with gastro-intestinal disturbances etc). Note that some modes of delivery bypass the liver so that the essential oil compounds are not broken down before they each the target organ, and therefore they can achieve maximum effect.

Of course, the effectiveness (and safety) of these oils relies on their authenticity, so it is helpful to see a chapter dedicated to how and where (YES!) to source unadulterated products. Lastly, some easy and practical (mostly) ways for the casual user to apply essential oils in everyday life are provided - not only for the purposes of healing, but also for the purposes of exploration, for getting to know what these oils can offer. A new concept that I encountered was that of 'preventive aromatherapy' - given plant oils' capacity to induce detoxification, moderate inflammation and maintain balance, there would seem a place for regular application of essential oils even for the healthy body.

In line with some of the criticisms of other reviewers, there are some sweeping generalisations about orthodox approaches to treating illness and orthodox medical practitioners - to be sure, it is true that pharmacological frameworks are too limiting for the research and appreciation of essential oils, etc, but it's probably fair to counter that some mainstream clinicians do take a broader view of what can be useful in healing than is asserted by the author, even if institutional policies are restrictive and pharmaceutical companies dominate research funding. Of course, the point is that without the wider support of these bodies, individual doctors and clinicians need to be very cautious about applying alternative therapies and are thus unlikely to achieve large-scale successes.

An affordable book, a readable book - one that brings to attention the distinguishing qualities and value of essential oils and inspires exploration of same in everyday life, in illness, and for the more serious user of oils, in further research.

[Anne (In Search of Wonder) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite book about aromatherapy, written by a chemist and aromatherapist. While detailed and informative, it does lack structure and is difficult to use as areference book. Definitely a must-read for any fledgling aromatherapist, all the same!

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was some good information, but a little too much focus on the author's theories about evolution for my liking.

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 3.5 stars book.
"The botanical garden of the University of Padua illustrates the multidimensionality of plant-human relations. Founded in the year 1545, it is the oldest academic botanical garden in the world. In the middle of the sixteenth century, there was great uncertainty about the proper identification of the medicinal plants of antiquity as they had been used by famous healers such as Hippocrates (ca. 460 BCE-ca. 370 BCE) of Greece, considered the father of Western medicine, and Galen (ca. 120 CE - ca. 217 CE), a prominent Roman physician, surgeon, and philosopher. Accidents and fraud were common, with sometimes dire consequences for public health. A decree of the Republic of Venice (the Serenissima) mandated the cultivation of medicinal plants, or, as they were called, the "unadulterated ones." Unadulterated was the term used for medicines that came directly from nature. Plants were by far the largest group of unadulterated medicines; others may have been minerals and animal products. For this very reason the first botanical gardens were called "Gardens of the Unadultered" (Hortus Simplicium). The original layout of the garden had the medicinal plants arranged in a way that reflected the complex mathematical and astrological systems of medieval medicine. To this day the garden remains an invaluable resource for the study of these forms of astrological geography and plant medicine." (pg. 60-61)

A fascinating reference book for understanding the chemical and scientific basis of Aromatherapy and although I personally found the science at times incomprehensible, I appreciated Kurt's knowledge and use of this to substantiate the veracity of the healing properties of Essential Oils. I found the layout very user-friendly, especially the tidbits of information on the edges of pages which highlighted various topics such as, toxicity myths, quotes by various contributors in the field of Aromatherapy and acknowledgment of plant pioneers and what they contributed to the Craft. There are entire sections of methodology and recipes for uses in myriad treatments such as cancer, eczema, Hepatitis B & C and countless more ailments. As this is a rapidly evolving field and due to the charlatanism of some there are certain points of contention especially in regards to toxicity, which couldn't have been addressed in 2011, and is now more widely recognized and understood. Nonetheless, as a resource for detailed interpreting of the discipline of Essential Oils, this is a beneficial read.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

While very scientific this book is an incredible way to better understand how and why essential oils work. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a wish to experiment with essential oils.

However.

I found it incredibly annoying that the author switched back and forth between the common names and the scientific names - sometimes within the same sentence. *Hopefully*, if he decides to produce another edition he will maintain consistency by supplying both the common and the scientific name every time for example: Bay Laurel (laurus nobilus).

[Heather Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book as part of my coursework. I am not sure I’d have read it as deeply if not for the course.

I really enjoyed the science and the in-depth information about the essential oils. It did drag, once all the conditions and illnesses were discussed, that part will be my reference material for case studies etc.

[Memuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary

Highly recommended and useful book.A ready reckoner for practicing aromatherapists ,consultants in carrying forward this art further with renewed confidence.

[Katharine Heimbigner-Tenor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the review of the science behind aromatherapy understandable and reassuring in it's clarity.

[Dione Riegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative. Must read for anyone interested in Essential oils

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I read Nature's Mold Rx by Edward Close, and that was a life-changing book. It described the futile attempts at mold removal in buildings compared with the amazing results of using some essential oils.

So I wanted to know why these oils worked when there seems to be no man-made treatment or cure fungus, whether in the home, in plants or in people.

So I read this book. To oversimplify, the author explains how plants, because they have no immune system to fight invaders and because they cannot travel in search of food or to escape predators, must biochemically become aware of the problem and then develop in its body the cure. So if a fungus attacks, they develop an antifungal substance.

This might seem unbelievable except for some experiments conducted on communication between plants. These are not described in this book, and I cannot remember the references, but a google search would probably find hundreds. I found a lot.

These experiments showed that plants communicate between each other both through the air using a form of radio signal and underground through a system of fine roots like mycelia.

If there is a fungus or a perceived enemy, the plant produces substances to kill the fungus or to repel the enemy. It also sends out an alarm by radio waves telling other plants to prepare by producing the required substance to protect itself.

If some plants in the field are separated by a material that blocks radio waves, then those plants will not get a communication and they are not able to prepare for the fungus until it arrives.

If the ground is disturbed and the fine root system cut, it is like cutting a telephone cable into your house. The message is not received and the plant cannot prepare itself. That is why nurseries sell a substance to increase this root growth and warn you to do minimal digging.

This information is not in his book, but it is a basis for understanding his explanation of how plants prepare for difficult circumstances by producing substances against any attack.

So the author explains how we can protect ourselves against similar enemies using the essential oils in which plants store these "weapons".

There is not a lot of information on using essential oils for specific diagnoses, but this book provides a background that can motivate people to learn more about these oils.

I am glad that I read this book before I read his book "Advanced Aromatherapy". This manual is technical and difficult if you do not have chemistry background. But The Healing Intelligence... gave me enough belief in essential oils to be willing to spend a week studying this manual. The ultimate purpose is to be able to use essential oils successfully.

Don't be frightened by the title. This is not an occult, Mother Earth type book. It is a scientific study of the nature of plants and their ability to respond to environmental conditions to survive.

It is worth reading.

[Yaaresse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good information and a lot of opinion. The author doesn't seem to have much respect for big pharma and western medicine. Considering western medicine doesn't have much respect for alternative treatments and big pharma only wants to gut alternative treatments for patents, I wasn't offended by the author's opinions so much as distracted by them.

It probably would have been a good idea to brush up on my long-forgotten basic chemistry to get more out of the book.

I read this is (library loan) ebook format on the "new and improved" Axis360 app. Since it's the first book I've read using the app, I don't know if it was the book or the app, but there was a very annoying quirk wherein it took each page a couple of seconds to come into focus. Also, I was unable to change the font size, so had to manually zoom each page. All that makes for a very irritating reading experience. If I decide to purchase this, I will likely get the print edition.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has three parts: 'Understanding the Language of Plants,' 'Exploring Authentic Essential Oils,' and 'Healing with Essential Oils.' Part One deals with the science, it's in depth but readable and contains charts and graphs to help you understand. Part two talks about authenticity and safety; I found the safety section to be very helpful and informative. I was disappointed in part three, although I didn't buy this book for recipes, these were complex and not something I will be able to create with what I have. There was substantial emphasis on cancer, making it a good resource for that specifically. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book, unless you're looking to read every book on EOs out there. It was easy to read, well written but the information wasn't anything unavailable elsewhere.

[Tarra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Broken into two parts “Understand the Language of Plants: The Science of Aromatherapy” and “Exploring Authentic Essential Oils: Recognizing Authenticity, Safety, Diversity, Fragrance,” this book is a good, if often overwhelming, guide to using Essential Oils. There is a lot of information here, but it’s a well-structured book to enable the reader to pick and choose the information they need and want to read. A lot of the science (the author holds a Ph.D. in chemistry), though informative, was way over my head and not what I was interested in. There are recipes and formulas for essential oils, which I found most helpful as to which oils to use for what ailment or desired affect.

[Gail Richmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compendium of biology and chemistry with excellent colored photographs, charts, and diagrams with seldom a page without illustration, this volume is a reference book of both plants and essential oils, or aromatherapy, for the beginner as well as the advanced student. I admit it taxed my knowledge of bio-chemistry, but as the books' later chapters are easily readable and divided into the uses for oils.
This is a comprehensive resource without being a sales tool of one particular brand of essential oil.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The science is great to see in an "alternative" realm like aromatherapy but within the science is some definitely unscientific opinions. He ridicules opinions and differing ways of using oils with very little science to prove his is better.
The science is good, but hardly absolute. I would recommend this book to others, with the caveat that you watch for the opinions laced through the chemical formulas.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

While at times this book was a little bit above my head, I learned a lot about essential oils and the science behind them. This book covered the body's response to oils and the benefits we can receive from them. He also gives some recipes and practical uses for oils as well as some spotlights on specific oils. Lastly, he covers specific diseases like cancer, autoimmune and hepatitis and the roles oils can play with treatment.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of the scientific and evidence-based information on EOs. This book was informative in terms of scientific and historical information. Not the most practical book in terms of means of application and formulation of EO recipes, blends, etc.

I am still searching for the perfect EO book that combines proven and documented (I'm tired of the anecdotal) evidence with a practical guide for application.

[Nadine Pacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book should be banned. It is written in such a way that, while he doesn't actually say oils cure anything, disease information is given adjacent to use of oil information. This would make it very easy for the unwary to believe that this Ph.D. (of what, from where) is reporting cures for very serious diseases like Herpes, HIV and Hepatitis.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative - technical in parts, practical in parts. Lots of evolutionary theory. I would say this book is more for someone wanting to study Aromatherapy more in depth than just a lay person who wants to learn practical uses for essential oils.

[Daryn Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explains the science aspects of aromatherapy in a way that was easy to understand. Talks about where plants are from, why they work and how they work. Definitely need to have a little understanding in aromatherapy and have an interests in it.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very textbook-like, and over my head at times. But it was interesting reading about the chemistry and biology backgrounds, as well as how to get started experimenting with oils. Overall, I think it was very helpful, if a bit dry.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two sections were too scientific, were very wordy but didn't actually say a lot. The rest of the book was excellent. It was addressed more to the layperson and had good solid ideas and instructions on how to use the oils medicinally.

[Jenny K · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book on essential oils is very scientific. I'm mostly interested in practical application, so it wasn't very helpful for me. It did have several sections about using essential oils with cancer, so could be a good reference for some.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informational. The author was great in making the material interesting and entertaining to read.

[Rachel Maxwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very scientific. Not much helpful info

[Kk · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not care for this book as it was not very interesting. Very dry and uses alot of medical and scientific terminology regarding essential oils. Did not finish the book.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough, includes citations, and easy to use (not too technical). I borrowed it from the library, but it is definitely a keeper. I'm going to buy a copy.

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provocative. The world of essential oils is still new to me, and this scientifically-focused work was helpful in getting a better grasp of the topic.