History of aromatherapy goes back to the Ancient Times. Practices incorporating different herbs, aromatic oils, and essential oils have been used for centuries to promote physical and mental wellbeing. Ancient civilisations would rely on them for spiritual healing, cleansing, and rituals, as well as for their medicinal, culinary, and perfume properties. Although widely used, those practises didn’t really have a name. The actual term “aromatherapy” didn’t appear until the middle of the 20th century.
What is aromatherapy with essential oils?
Aromatherapy is a holistic treatment based on the use of essential oils which aroma is said to promote relaxation, mind and spirit healing as well as improve physical health.
history of aromatherapy
The first known use of herbs for their healing properties probably dates to the Ancient Egyptians, who would use a mix of different oil blends during the embalming process and healing rituals. It was also used by pharaohs and wealthy people for several purposes, among which are:
Relaxation and relieving anxiety
Elevating the mood
Increasing the spirits of the warriors
Aphrodisiac
And as a natural perfume
Essential oils are also mentioned in the Bible, where baby Jesus was presented with the gifts of frankincense and myrrh.
Ancient Indian Ayurvedic practises also praise using different herbs for massages and in food as a part of the practise to heal the body from within. Pepper, ginger, and cumin are only a few of the plants that have been used in India for medicinal and spiritual practises for over a thousand years.
In ancient Greece and Rome, essential oils were used in bathhouses for relaxation and rejuvenation purposes.
Later on, in Greece, the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, turned healing into science. He was the first one to say that diseases have an external reason rather than being the punishment of gods. That’s why the treatment should be focused on dealing with the actual internal reason. Interesting fact is that he was recommending using essential oils daily by taking a bath with them and use them for the aromatic massages as a part of prophylactic treatment, highlighting their therapeutic properties.
Another important figure in medicine, Avicenna, also believed that essential oils were very important for human health. He improved the machine for distillation by adding a spiral cooling tube to it. This way, the process of extraction of essential oils became more efficient and easier, which led to more widespread usage. Avicenna’s contributions to steam distillation were significant in the evolution of aromatherapy.
In his works, Avicenna wrote about the healing properties of camomile, cinnamon, dill, and mint.
Dioscorides’ ‘De Materia Medica’ documented various plants and their medicinal properties, underscoring the long-standing tradition of utilizing plant extracts for health-related applications.
Ancient Roots of Aromatherapy
Ancient Egypt and the Use of Fragrance Rituals
Ancient Egypt played a significant role in the development of aromatherapy, employing aromatic plants for religious ceremonies, medicine, and cosmetics. The Egyptians were masters of using fragrant oils and gums such as cedarwood, frankincense, and myrrh in their embalming processes and prescribed remedies for various ailments. They believed that these aromatic herbs and oils had the power to connect them with the divine, cleanse the body, and protect against illness. The word “perfume” itself comes from the Latin “per fumum,” meaning “through smoke,” which was a common method of using aromatic herbs, scented woods, and barks to drive out “evil spirits” from sick people. This practice highlights the deep cultural and spiritual significance of aromatic plants in ancient Egyptian society.
Ancient Greece and the Influence of Hippocrates
Hippocrates, often regarded as the father of medicine, significantly contributed to understanding aromatherapy through his documentation of the therapeutic advantages of plant essential oils in ancient Greek texts. He believed the entire body was a single organism and used mild physio-therapies, baths, massage, and internal use of herbs. Hippocrates considered the use of aromatic plants, including lavender essential oil, for their healing properties and medicinal benefits. His approach differed greatly from that of the Egyptians, who had a “prescribed” method of treating any given disease. Hippocrates’ holistic approach emphasized the importance of balance and natural remedies, laying the groundwork for modern aromatherapy practices.
The Spread of Aromatherapy Knowledge
Trade and the Spread of Aromatherapy Knowledge
The knowledge of aromatherapy was disseminated across ancient civilizations through trade. As merchants and traders exchanged goods and knowledge, the understanding of aromatherapy spread across cultures, including those in Europe, India, China, and the Middle East. The use of aromatic plants, essential oils, and medicinal herbs was shared among different cultures, leading to the development of traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, and other holistic approaches to health. This exchange of knowledge not only enriched the medicinal practices of these cultures but also led to the discovery of many more essential oils, such as lavender oil, and the development of carrier oils, such as vegetable oil, to facilitate the use of essential oils in therapeutic practices. The global spread of aromatherapy knowledge underscores the universal appeal and enduring significance of aromatic medicine.
Origins of modern aromatherapy with aromatic plants
aromatherapy
During 19th -20th century aromatherapy lost its popularity. Medicine started to develop at a very fast pace, and a lot of more modern treatments have appeared that are more effective than herbs in treating certain conditions.
Though a new wave of popularity emerged in the middle of the 20th century when French chemist and scientist René-Maurice Gattefosse published his work on the benefits of using essential oils. The famous story about using lavender oil on a burn is about him. The scientist burned his hand, and to cool it off, he instinctively put his hand inside the first vessel with liquid that was nearby. The liquid was, luckily, lavender oil, which straight away eased the pain, and the burn healed very fast after that. This led Gattefosse to further explore the healing properties of lavender oil.
French doctor Jean Valnet used the research of his colleague to treat soldiers during WWI with essential oils. Not only did he use them to dress their wounds, but he also used them to improve the mental health of the soldiers.
Thanks to their works aromatherapy in France got studied extensively and some doctors even now prescribe it to their patients.
In the popularity of using essential oils, an important role was also played by Austrian biochemist Marguerite Maury, who was very interested in the cosmetic properties of essential oils. She mixed different essential oils and used them for massage.
Modern times in modern medicine
aromatherapy
In modern times, scientists keep researching ways of using essential oils and their potential benefits. Although right now it is used mostly as an addition to traditional medicine, there are still a lot of things people could benefit from when using essential oils.
For instance, we know that lavender has an antiseptic and calming effect, that rosemary is a great antioxidant, and that tea tree is a great natural way to get rid of nail fungus.
It is important to dilute essential oils in a carrier oil to prevent skin irritation and dermal toxicity. Using a carrier oil can mitigate adverse side effects, especially with phototoxic essential oils.
With increasing popularity of aromatherapy and general usage of natural non chemical products – more and more types of oils started to emerge on the market. However, to be sure that you will get all the benefits, you need to make sure that the oil you’ve chosen is 100% pure and natural, instead of cheaper synthetic versions or less beneficial mixtures.
Choose wisely and enjoy the ancient secrets of wellbeing.