I wish to thank my husband, Jerry Vance Fite, for supporting me with his patience, interest, kindness, and love during the writing of this book. He had to suffer through a lot of twenty-minute meals when I was on a roll. I love you, Vance.
I would like to thank our families for allowing us to have the many hours that it took to research and compile the countless recipes in this book (and to be test subjects for us more often than they know). We would like to thank our friends for believing in us and for encouraging us to go for our dreams (that especially goes for you, Betsy).
I would like to thank my daughter, Colleen Hoover, who said too many times to “go be it,” so I “went and became it,” and for giving us the courage to undertake this massive project. Every time I told her I wanted to write this book, she would reply, “So go write it.” I am sure that she eventually regretted it because this book is all I’ve wanted to talk about for over a year now. I love you, Colleen.
I would personally like to thank my daughter, Lin Reynolds, for her thorough research on these essential oils, specifically the “Therapeutic Properties,” “Medical Terminology,” and “Fun Facts” sections, and for her time and dedication to this book. Lin and I share so many of the same passions and ideals. She is a true nature’s child. I love you, Lin.
I would like to thank Michele Marie Gentles McDaniel for her input, time, research, and the many years we have spent exploring essential oils together. Chele proofread this book and made many corrections. Chele knows what oils are used for which ailments and let me in on too many recipes of hers to count. Chele has joined me on a million adventures involving herbal and essential oil quests. There is not another person on this Earth who I would rather have by my side when conducting research for alternative medicine. We have learned so much together. I love you, Chele.
I would like to thank Clara Daniel for that little bottle of oregano oil when I couldn’t shake an illness many years ago. Clara has a passion for essential oils that runs deep and an uncanny ability to know when someone needs them. She is a gifted healer in her own right. If not for her, my love of herbs may never have crossed over to essential oils. Thank you, Clara.
Most of all I would like to thank my mother, Vannoy Kirkpatrick Gentles, for her unflagging support and her dedication to her children. We love you, Mom. Thanks for supporting us every time we embark on a new quest … no matter how crazy it sounds. Every time we call you and say, “Do you want to…” you answer, “Yes!” before we even finish our sentence. We love you and Daddy so much.
I would like to thank the people at St. Martin’s Press for their desire to take a chance on me and my book. This has been the most exciting endeavor of my life. And a huge thank-you goes to Courtney Littler, my editor, who took a chance on a lady in Texas who loves natural healing. I would also like to thank Liana Krissoff and the entire team at St. Martin’s Press for their meticulous editing, assistance, and patience … lots of patience.
I would like to thank the amazing team of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management for their support and efforts concerning this book and the entire process. I especially want to thank Jane Dystel for always being accessible to me and answering any questions that I have. Jane, you are the agent that all other agents strive to be. I love you forever.
I want to thank all of the men and women who researched, wrote, and published books, blogs, and Web sites previously about essential oils, because I learned, studied, practiced, and benefitted from every word you wrote, and thousands of other people have benefitted in numerous ways from your work.
A lot of respect goes to all the women and men in the centuries before us who have used plants, herbs, and oils in a quest for a healthier life for themselves and their children. To that first person who took a bite of peppermint when they had a tummy ache, to the person who took a whole acre of lavender flowers and distilled them into a little bottle of potent oil, I thank you.
Vannoy Fite