INTRODUCTION
JORDAN ’ S STORY
My journey with essential oils is equally personal and also involves a seemingly insurmountable battle with disease . My interest in essential oils initially was peaked after an intense study of the Bible in preparation for writing my book , The Maker ’ s Diet , in 2003 , a book that was inspired by my victory over Crohn ’ s disease .
In an effort to follow what a California nutrition expert deemed as “ God ’ s Health Plan ” in order to overcome severe Crohn ’ s disease and more than a dozen health maladies , I had voraciously studied hundreds of books and thousands of Biblical references on health and wellness in body , mind and spirit , and I began a diet of strictly whole foods consumed in Biblical times : raw , organically grown , sprouted whole grains ; organic fruits and vegetables ; fermented dairy ; grass-fed beef ; and pastured eggs and poultry . I also added a daily regimen of probiotics teeming with beneficial bacteria called soil-based organisms . Thanks to these efforts , I beat the doctors ’ prognoses and was once again living a vibrant and healthy life free of the supposedly incurable Crohn ’ s disease .
Through my studies , I was amazed to learn how valuable essential oils were in Biblical times — often cherished more than gold . I also began to understand their therapeutic value when used topically , through olfaction ( inhalation ) and oral consumption , and I began to comprehend the tremendous value and widespread application of essential oils for an extensive number of conditions and ailments .
Then came 2008 — when I was diagnosed with an aggressive metastatic cancer . Essential oils became a critical tool in the fight
14 | INTRODUCTION