Elizabeth Jones is an expert when it comes to using natural oils to increase healthy living.
The Bonny Doon resident has penned “Awaken to Healing Fragrance: The Power of Essential Oil Therapy,” a book that explores the value of essential oils, focusing on their use in holistic healing and “integrative medicine.”
Jones, the founder and owner of Elizabeth Van Buren Inc., a Santa Cruz-based business that sells essential oils of lavender, peppermint, myrrh, grapefruit, lime and many others. The fragrant oils are often recommended to ease a variety of ailments and help with relaxation and stress relief.
She’s also the founder of the College of Botanical Healing Arts in Santa Cruz, which offers a 400-hour curriculum on essential oil therapy.
The book, however, is a new endeavor for the 10-year Bonny Doon resident.
Besides describing the natural chemicals in the oils, the book helps readers understand how essential oils work.
“It tells why an oil does what it does,” Jones said. “The effects of the oils are based on chemistry and science.”
For her book, Jones researched famous women in history, from Cleopatra to Queen Elizabeth I, who have used oils to help relax and energize themselves before they accomplished something great.
A pivotal example is Theodora, a poor woman from Constantinople in 500 A.D., who married Justinian, leader of the Byzantine Empire.
Before marrying the emperor, Jones explains, she learned from her mother about the use of fragrant oils.
“If life got really challenging, her mother would take a bath, because the oils are very uplifting,” Jones said.
After the marriage, there was an ugly conflict between political parties in Rome, which the Byzantine Empire had recovered under Justinian’s leadership. With her husband away, instead of fleeing, Theodora bathed in essential oils as her mother had taught her.
“She felt very strengthened and emotionally uplifted,” Jones said. “She went out and consulted with the heads of the green and blue parties and negotiated peace.”
The story of Theodora is one of 11 tales of famous women described in “Awaken to Healing Fragrance,” which was published in April. It can be ordered online from Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble Booksellers.
The book also details case studies from students at the College of Botanical Healing Arts and includes a section that describes the connection between mind and body and how oils can help with overall health.
“The essential oils are a perfect tool to bring more balance and harmony for emotional problems,” Jones said. “Some of them are antidepressants. So many people suffer from depression today.”
Jones said she enjoys her work and is a firm believer in the health benefits of essential oils combined with a good diet and other healthy habits.
“I really love to see people get healthier,” she said.
At a glance
WHAT: Elizabeth Jones book signing, “Awaken to Healing Fragrance: The Power of Essential Oil Therapy”
WHEN: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 29
WHERE: Gateways Books & Gifts, 1126 Soquel Ave., in Santa Cruz
INFO: 429-9600
