Before progressing into Aromatherapy blends and practical usage of essential oils it is important to understand the basics of Aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy by definition “is the practice of using plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being.”
Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils distilled from the leaves, fruit, roots of plants, as well as bark from trees, moss and even, in some cases, animals, in order to create a therapeutic or emotional sense of well being.
Aromatherapy has wide ranging benefits, from its use in complimentary medicine to the ability to deliver psychological benefits such as relaxation, sensuality, the relief of nervous tension and stress relief to name a few.
Aromatherapy touches all our lives no matter where we live or what we do. A few examples of the effects of Aroma upon our daily lives can be seen in just a few examples:
A quiet walk down a path on a cool summers night, you pass a jasmine in full bloom, its scent fills the air and your mind.
On a shopping trip to the local mall you pass by a bakery selling hot cinnamon buns still hot from the oven, this drives your senses into overload!
It is lunchtime in the office and your workmate comes back with lunch; a burger and fries. Well you know how you would feel!
Whenever the aroma brings upon a feeling that’s Aromatherapy at work. The art of aromatherapy is to harness the power of plant fragrance, by way of one of the over 400 essential oils available, in order to achieve and emotional or therapeutic benefit.
The good news is that with the right essential oils, anyone can use basic aromatherapy methods without intensive training. It is vital that the highest quality essential oils are used.
The best news is that The Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Centre carries one of the largest selection of essential oils and aromatherapy products available from a single site.
The Egyptians used a method known as infusion ( this process is described later on) to extract the oils from aromatic plants and incense was probably one of the earliest ways of using aromatics. Frankincense was burned at sun rise as an offering to the sun god, Ra and myrrh was offered to the moon.
The Egyptians were experts at embalming using aromatics to help preserve flesh. The Egyptians used to be massaged with fragrant oils after bathing . The Greeks continued the use of aromatic oils and used them medicinally and cosmetically. A Greek physician, Pedacius Dioscorides, wrote a book about herbal medicine and for at least 1200 years as the Western world's standard medical reference. Many of the remedies he mentions are still in use today in 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 oiled and massaged. The Romans started to import new aromatic products from East India and Arabia through the opening up of trade routes.
During the crusades the knowledge of aromatic oils and perfumes spread to the Far East and Arabia and it was a physician called Avicenna who lived from A.D 980 to A.D. 1037 that is understood to have first used the process known as distillation to distil essence of rose ,although it probably took many years to perfect the process. (This process will be described later).
The Arabs also discovered how to distil alcohol around the same time making it possible to produce perfumes without a heavy oily base.
There is a strong possibility that the 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 2700 B.C. and contains information on over 300 plants. The Chinese used aromatic herbs and burned aromatic woods and incense to show respect to God.
Traditional Indian medicine known as ayurveda has been practiced for more than 3000 years and it incorporates aromatic massage as one of its main aspects. The invasions of South America by the conquistadores brought about the discovery of more medicinal plants and aromatic oils as the Aztecs were well known for their plant remedies and 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 Maurice Gattefosse, began his research into the healing powers of essential oils after burning his hand in his laboratory and immersing in it in lavender oil and being impressed by how quickly the burn healed. In 1937 he published a book about the anti -microbial effects of the oils and coined the word Aromatherapy. He went on to set up a business producing oils for use in fragrances and cosmetics.
Around the same time another Frenchman, Albert Couvreur, published a book on the medicinal uses of essential oils.
A French medical doctor , Jean Valnet, discovered Gattefosse's research and began experimenting with essential oils. Around the same time, Margaret Maury, a French biochemist developed a unique method of applying these oils to the skin with massage. Micheline Arcier, now living in London, studied and worked with Maury and Valnet and their combined techniques created a form of Aromatherapy now used all over the world.
Aromatherapy has been around a very long time and can be traced back to over 4000 years before the birth of Christ.
Ancient civilisations used essential oils like cinnamon, ginger, myrrh and sandalwood for their medicinal use. Over 4000 years ago Indian literature listed over 700 plant-based ingredients for their medicinal value. Traditional Indian medicine known as Ayurveda incorporates aromatic massage as one of its main aspects. This form of Aromatherapy has changed little to this day and is becoming very popular in Western Aromatherapy.
Chinese civilizations also mastered the use of essential oils and herbs. In the year 2700 B.C., a Chinese practitioner, Shen Nung authored an herbal book that is the oldest surviving medical book in existence, containing information on over 400 plants. Around the same time, on the other side of the world, the Egyptians were also developing Aromatherapy. They practiced aromatherapy in much the same way the Chinese, by herbal extraction and by burning aromatic woods and incense to show respect to their gods.
When embalming the Pharaohs, the body was first filled with a blend of palm wine infused with the herbs of Chamomile, and Galbanum, which cleansed the body before being filled with massive amounts of the oils of Cinnamon, Myrrh Cassia and other aromatic essences. Oils were then rubbed over the body before being wrapped in cloth saturated with the essential oils or Myrrh, Cinnamon, juniper and Cedarwood. This process preserved the mummy for its afterlife.
Besides the religious use of aromatherapy, wealthy Egyptians used essential oils in their everyday life. The Egyptians would use oils as perfume, bath oil, skin and hair care. Ancient Papyri found in The Pyramids of Egypt told of the practical use of essential oils in the treatment of all of illnesses as well as how they actually applied the oil. Interestingly similar to the way it is done today.
One of the earliest forms of aromatherapy used by the Egyptians was incense, created from a dried infusion of oils from aromatic plants pressed into cones. They used the incense as offerings to their many gods, a practice still used in religion today.
Along with the Egyptians, Ancient Greeks also mastered the use of essential oils, using them medicinally and cosmetically. Over 1,200 years ago, Pedacius Dioscorides, a Greek physician, authored a book on herbal medicine. Many of his remedies are still in use today in Aromatherapy.
As the Romans expanded their empire into Greece and Egypt, they learned much of their medical knowledge from these advancing societies, using and improving the science of aromatherapy. As the Roman Empire moved towards the Orient, new oils were introduced into Europe from India, China and the Arab Empire via the newly expanding trade routes.
Around 1000 A.D., Avicenna, a physician is believed to have been the first person to incorporate the process known as distillation to distil the essence of rose. Also during this period, alcohol was also first distilled by The Arabs, and then combined with essential oils, creating the first perfumes.
Spanish Conquistadors invading North and South America brought new plants and oils to Europe. The Spanish were amazed at the wealth of medicinal plants found in Incan, Mayan and Aztec botanical gardens and the knowledge they possessed concerning the use of plants in medicine. Together with the South American Indians, The Indians of North American also used aromatic oils and produced their own herbal remedies for both medicinal and religious ceremonies.
Interestingly, it was only until the early 19th century that scientists in Europe began researching the effects of essential oils on humans.
Rene Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist, began his research into the healing powers of essential oils after burning his hand in his laboratory and immersing in it in lavender oil. It was this accident that impressed him by how quickly the burn healed when treated with an essential oil. In 1937 he published a book about the anti -microbial effects of the oils and first used the word, Aromatherapy. He later went on to set up a business producing oils for use in fragrances and cosmetics.
In 1964, Dr. Jean Valnet, a French medical doctor, was impressed by Gattefosse's research and began experimenting in his clinic with essential oils as medical therapy. Impressed by Dr. Valnet’s work, Margaret Maury began to apply Valnet’s research into her beauty therapy, customising beauty treatments for her clients individually. She was the first person to set up Aromatherapy clinics in Switzerland, London and France would use oils to maintain healthy, youthful skin, now known as the day spa.
Today Aromatherapy is in greater demand then ever before.
Besides the clinical and home use, Spas are opening throughout the world catering to people of all walks of life. Spas are opening up in urban areas to cater to the stressed out working man and woman providing them with an hour of pure escapism where they are bathed, massaged, wrapped and treated in recipes that date back to the ancient Greeks, Romans and Orientals, bringing our story full circle.
Aromatherapy has also transformed resorts like Bali from budget destinations into high-class, high priced, Spa retreats for the rich providing ancient Indian Aromatherapy remedies to the stress of being wealthy!
Today the Internet is helping to spread the ancient secrets to the world through sites dedicated to educating the public on Aromatherapy as well as sites like Aromatherapyeoc.com that offer most of the essential oils available at a low cost. Together, these sites make it possible for everyone to practice Aromatherapy with the knowledge of professionals.