The History of Aromatherapy

Way back in the mists of time, ancient peoples through trial and error during thousands of years of unrecorded history discovered the mysterious properties of plants and trees. In more recent times this knowledge was lost, but is being rediscovered in a remarkable revival. 

The practice of Aromatherapy is at least 6,000 years old. The consensus of opinion is that Aromatherapy began in Egypt, however there are thousands of years of unrecorded human history, which pushes back the dates for civilization, so it could be much older. 

The Egyptians used a process to extract oils from aromatic plants for use in medicinal remedies. Incense appears to be one of the earliest ways of using these aromatic extracts. There are records of Frankincense being burnt at sunrise as an offering to the sun god Ra. The Egyptians also used aromatic portions during the procedure of embalming. In 4500 B.C. myrrh and cedarwood oils were used for this purpose. Well preserved mummies 6500 years later are a testament to the embalmers skills. Modern research shows cedarwood contains a natural fixative and myrrh strong anti-bacterial and antiseptic agents, which explains why mummies look so good for their age! How the Egyptians knew this is a mystery. It was also common practice for Egyptians to be massaged with fragrant oils after bathing. They were also the first to distil plants in order to extract the essential oils. Oils were used in religious ceremonies, skin treatments and perfumes as well as the aforementioned embalming . Oils were so highly prized they were offered to the gods. High priests recorded the therapeutic uses. A papyrus (ancient Egyptian manuscript), dating back to around 1555 B.C., describes remedies for a number of illnesses. The methods described for curing these ailments was so accurate it forms the basis of modern Aromatherapy. 

The Greeks continued with the use of aromatic extracts and developed their applications for medicinal purposes. Pedacius Dioscorides, a Greek physician, compiled a reference book of herbal medicines called "De Materia Medica". This book was used in the Western world for at least 1,200 years. In fact, some of the remedies suggested by Dioscorides are still in use today, in Aromatherapy. 

The Romans based their medical knowledge on the Greeks, but went on to improve the composition of aromatic extracts. They started to import new aromatic ingredients from Arabia and East India. The Romans used oils for pleasure as much cures. Rose and Chamomile were amongst their favourites. 

Because of the rapidly expanding trade routes, Arabia and the Far East soon adopted the practice of using aromatic extracts for varying applications. It was an Arab physician, Avicenna, who lived from 980 A.D. to 1037 A.D. who first used a process resembling modern methods of distillation. The Arabs were also the first to distil alcohol. They were therefore, able to produce lighter perfumes that were not heavy oil based. 

There is much evidence to suggest that ancient Chinese civilisations, at the same time as the Egyptians, were also using aromatic extracts for medical purposes. In fact, the oldest surviving medical book in China, (dated around 2,700BC and written by Shen Nung, contains cures involving over three hundred different aromatic herbs. 

Records exist which also suggest that traditional Indian medicine, known as Ayurveda, has practiced a form of Aromatherapy for over 3,000 years. 

When the Conquistadores invaded South America, they discovered that the Aztecs used many aromatic herbs and oils as medicinal remedies. The North American Indians also used aromatic plant extracts to cure ailments. 

By the 12th century herbalism and perfumery spread to Europe. During the Great plague of 1665 Londoners burnt bundles of lavender, cedar and cypress in the streets and carried posies of the same plants as their only defence against the disease. My first reaction was ' well that didn't work very well then did it?' but who knows how many thousands more may have perished? 

Until the nineteenth century plants were used to make all medicines and remedies. Herbalists and apothecaries dispensed infusions, ointments and powders to cure everything from hair loss to impotence. Modern medicine then took over with scientists creating medicines which made the old cures seem crude and old-fashioned.

In the 1930's research began explore the benefits of using essential oils as health remedies. A French chemist, René Maurice Gattefosse, researched the effects of using lavender oil for healing skin damaged by burns. His family owned a perfumery business. One day he was working in the lab and he badly burned his arm, which he plunged into a vat of lavender oil. He was happy to discover that the burn healed quickly without blistering. He was so impressed with the result, he began a lifelong obsession of studying the therapeutic benefits of plants and went on to coin the word 'Aromatherapy' (well actually being French it was  'Aromathérapie' but we won't split hairs). He later set up a business producing oils for use in cosmetics. At about the same time another Frenchman, Albert Couvreur, published a book on the applications of essential oils in medicine. 

From these French studies, Aromatherapy as we know it today, evolved and has become extremely popular, and many treatments are accepted by the mainstream medical profession. No-one can deny the antiseptic effects of oils such as Teatree, otften used by Chiropodists amongst many others. As studies increase the use of Aromatherapy treatments will become ever more widespread. The scientist in the lab will find it difficult to get so many complex compounds into a single drop of medicine. A cure for cancer it isn't, but for making you feel good, combating minor ailments and improving mental health Aromatherapy certainly works. Who knows what undiscovered cures and secrets lie in those fruits, nuts, flowers, leaves and trees!

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