Aromatherapy is the use of essential oil from plants, trees and flowers to promote physical and mental well-being. The oils are used in baths, massage therapy, tinctures or inhaled through diffusers. Different oils are used for different ailments. Tea tree oil, for example, can alleviate coughs and skin conditions while geranium oil may relieve stress and ease anxiety. Although the term "aromatherapy" is a modern one, the practice of using fragrances for medical and metaphysical purposes dates back to ancient times.
The Egyptians
The first recorded use of essential oils as therapy dates back to ancient Egypt. The Egyptians invented a machine that extracted cedar wood oil, which was used in embalming along with clove, cinnamon, myrrh and nutmeg. Women also used oils to hydrate their skin after bathing. Men and women were fond of perfume and wore cones on their heads that would melt and release fragrance.
The Greek and Romans
The Greeks discovered a fondness for perfume during their invasion and conquering of Egypt circa 48 B.C., but they were using herbs and aromas as medicine long before Anthony met Cleopatra. Hippocrates studied more than 200 herbs and documented their uses throughout his life. Dioscorides, a Roman physician, traveled throughout Europe with Nero's army to study and record the healing properties of plants. His work was chronicled in "De Materia Medica" and contained drawings of 600 plants.
The Plague Years
By the 14th century, most medicines were under the control of the Catholic church and not easily accessible to common people. Apothecaries began creating their own formulas from herbs and essential oils. During the second wave of the bubonic plague in the 17th century, those who worked closely with essential oils or relied heavily on aromatics such as perfume makers seemed to survive more often than those who had no contact. Essential oils are antiseptic by nature and may help keep viruses and bacteria at bay, according to azaroma.com.
The French
During the early 20th century, French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé accidentally discovered the benefits of lavender essential oil when he plunged his badly burned arm into a vat of the pure oil. The lavender soothed his pain, helped the wound to heal faster and left no scar. He shifted his focus to the properties of other essential oils and in 1937 published "Aromathérapie: Les Huiles essentielles hormones vegetales." Inspired by his work, French doctor Jean Valnet studied and used essential oils in surgery and as psychiatric medication. His work, "The Practice of Aromatherapy," brought modern aromatherapy to the English world.
Modern Times
The invention of modern medicine pushed the medical use of essential oils into the background, but it is making a comeback as it become more accessible to the public through online sites like aromaweb.com and guide books like "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils" by Julia Lawless. As more people are turning toward natural holistic approaches to healing, aromatherapy is once again gaining in popularity.
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