Book Review/Sending this To

[Guest guest]

Aromatic Sage when I've got five minutes... As I'm not sure WHEN that's going

to be, I thought I'd post it here for you guys to read. Enjoy.

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Backhousia citriodora F.Muell, Lemon Scented Myrtle

A review by Kathleen Petrides

 

In the world of Aromatherapy it is very hard to find a book that is not

filled with myths, half-truths, outright lies and 'hand me down' fairy stories.

However I have found a nugget of pure gold amongst the dross that floods the

book

market today. The book is called " Backhousia citriodora F.Muell, Lemon

Scented Myrtle " and is written by Dennis Archer. Unlike most books on the market

today, the information presented is backed up by a massive amount of research

and

has a comprehensive bibliography.

 

The first half of the book is filled with horticultural information on how

the tree grows, how to cultivate including precious gems of advice such as

cautioning one to keep animals with cloven hooves out of the orchard as well as

chickens as the tree's have a shallow root system which would not be able to

handle damage inflicted by such animals. However ducks and geese running around

is

fine.

 

Dennis' descriptions of the lemony fragrance of the flowers and crushed

leaves left this reader with a feeling of regretful envy that this tree is not

currently cultivated in the United States. He also explains in detail how the

wood, seed, flowers and leaves are used in cooking, therapeutically and more.

 

The second half of the book will be of more interest to those that use the

oil. Dennis describes how it's distilled, how the oil has been used in the past

and present and speculates on how it might be used in the near future. He also

presents a typical GC analysis and compares different varieties of the Lemon

Myrtle tree and what kinds of oils they produce..

 

What is refreshingly and conspicuously absent are pages of fabricated oil

recipes for those that have not the knowledge or inclination to strike out on

their own and devise their own creations. This is a book for those with a

serious

desire to learn more about Lemon Scented Myrtle, it's history and cultivation

and uses.

 

For more information on this book and how to purchase a copy go to:

http://www.toona.com.au

 

Kathleen Petrides