HISTORY OF AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy is derived from two words. Aroma - meaning fragrance or smell and Therapy - meaning treatment. First used by the ancient civilizations, aromatherapy is reputed to be over 6000 years old.

It is believed that aromatherapy was first used in Egypt. A medical papyri, dated around 1555 BC contained remedies for all types of illnesses and the methods of application are similar to ones used in Aromatherapy and Herbal medicine today. The Egyptians used a method known as Infusion, to extract the oils from aromatic plants and incense was probably one of the earliest ways to use aromatics. Frankincense was burned at sun rise as an offering to the god, Ra and Myrrh was offered to the moon. The Egyptians were experts at embalming using aromatics to help preserve the flesh. They are still around to this date. The Egyptians were used to massage and the use of fragrant oils after bathing.

The Greeks continued the use of aromatic oils and used them medicinally and cosmetically. A Greek physician, Dioscorides,wrote a book about herbal medicine and for at least 1200 years was used as the Western world's standard medical reference. Many of the remedies he mentioned are still in use today in the field of Aromatherapy. The Romans took much of their medical knowledge from the Greeks and went on to use and improve the ability of aromatics, with Rome becoming the bathing capital of the world. After bathing, they would be massaged and oiled. The Romans opened up the world trade routes and started importing new aromatic products from East India and Arabia.

During the Crusades, the knowledge of aromatic oils and perfumes spread to the Far East and Arabia, and it was a physician known as Avicenna, who lived from A.D. 980 TO A.D. 1037 that is understood to, be the first to have used the process known as distillation to distill the essence of rose. It probably took many more years before it was perfected. The Arabs also discovered how to distill alcohol around the same time, making it possible to produce perfumes without a heavy oily base. There is a strong possibility that ancient Chinese civilizations were using some form of aromatics at the same time as the Egyptians. Shen Nung's Herbal book is the oldest surviving medical book in China, which is dated about 27-- B.C. and contains information on over 300 plants. The Chinese used aromatic herbs and burned aromatic woods and incenses to show respect to God.

Traditional Indian medicine known as Ayurveda has been practiced for more then 3000 years and it incorporates aromatic massage as one of its main aspects. The invasions of South America by the Conquistadors brought the discovery of more medicinal plants and aromatic oils as the Aztecs were well known for their plant remedies. The Spanish were amazed at the wealth of medicinal plants found in Montezuma's botanical gardens.

The North American Indians also used aromatic oils and produced their own herbal remedies. It wasn't until the 19th century that scientists in Europe and Great Britain began researching the effects of essential oils on bacteria in humans. A French chemist, Rene Gattefosse, began his research into the healing powers of essential oils after burning his hand in his laboratory. He quickly immersed it in Lavender oil and was impressed as to how fast the burn healed. In 1937 he published a book about the antimicrobial effects of the oils and coined the word "Aromatherapy". 

A French doctor, Jean Valnet discovered Gattefosse's research and began experimenting with essential oils. About the same time, Margaret Maury, a French biochemist developed a unique method of applying these oils to the skin with massage. Michele Arcier, now living in London studied and worked with Margaret Maury and Valnet and their combined techniques created a form of Aromatherapy now used all over the world.

Created: James Hobart |

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