• IntroductionThe first aromatherapyIs natural safe?Why are waters not used more?Sourcing good materialsAdvantages of distilled watersWhat is their composition?Scientific proof - what is it?Other water based plant extractsChapter One: Historical backgroundEgypt - Nile, Edfu, priest embalmers, architectsAromatics worldwide - China, India, Middle East, Jewish, Greek, RomanDevelopment of distillation - golden age of the Arabs, alcohol, alchemistsCrusadesMonasteriesParacelsusPerfumesNew plantsStill roomsRenaissance herbalsHungary water, carmelite water, eau de cologneRise of scienceFall and resurrection of plant medicine - 20th century pioneersChapter Two: The nature of waterUniversal distillation processIntroductionBasic necessityLife and death, life givingPhysical power of waterVisual aspectWater as solvent, cleanserJudging by waterWater in the body, passage through bodyBottled waterTreatments with water - Thalassotherapy, spa treatmentsScientists who investigated water - Priestley, Cavendish, Watt, Lavoisier, LaplaceStructure of liquid water - hydrogen bonding, polar solventMolecules soluble in water, increased dilutionChapter Three: Terminology and nomenclatureIntroduction - what's in a name?How waters are obtainedCurrent terminology - aromatic water, essential water, prepared water, distilled water, floral water, hydrolat, medicated waterColloids, hydrosols, suspensionsCohobation - water oil, are cohobated waters therapeutic?Chapter Four: Prepared watersIdentifying the productNot distilledInternal useFragrant waters - methods of production, pharmacopoea, trituration, preservativesAddition of alcoholHydroessentialsWitch hazelDIY home madeChapter Five: The plants utilizedKinds of plants usedExtraction process - distillation, water quality, pH of water used, still hardware, distillation timePlants used - which parts of plantsYield of waterVolatile molecules in distilled waters - quantity, kind of molecules, artefacts in watersTherapeutic valueChapter Six: Physical aspectsKeeping qualities - storage, temperature, timeTemperatureTimePreservativesAppearanceDensitypHOdourQualityCostChapter Seven: Discussion of AnalysesDiscussion of molecules found in hydrolatsTable of molecules found in waters Chemistry of aromatic moleculesChapter Eight: Alphabetical listing of waters with description, properties and indicationsChapter Nine: Methods of use and dosageReasons for using watersUses of distilled watersExternal use - baths, compresses, douches, eyes, hair, nebulizers, skin care, creams, lotions, sprays, vaporisersInternal usesBeverages, teasCulinary useDigestive problemsGargles, mouthwashesRectal useVaccinationsDispersantsCautions and safe useChapter 9a: Recipes Common ailments: circulation, colds and flu, detoxification, diarrhoea, digestive, eyes, general health, hair, hypertension, legs, lice, lymph, nervous system, respiratory, rheumatism, skin, slimming, teeth, tonic, urinary problemsBaby and child careCulinary recipesMaking your own hydrolatsChapter Ten: Case studiesChapter Eleven: Teas, infusions, decoctionsAppendix A: Therapeutic indexAppendix B: Index of therapeutic properties of hydrolatsAppendix C: Plant list - Scientific and common namesAppendix D: Analyses of hydrolatsGlossary ReferencesIndex

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