History of Aromatherapy

If you’ve ever breathed the sweet balsamic scent of pine and thought of Christmas, or inhaled the rich aroma of vanilla and been reminded of home-baked cookies, then you’ve experienced the power of aroma to conjure memories and create mood. Not only can smells alter your emotional state, but they can actually support your physical health as well. Essential oils, those oils distilled from parts of plants and trees, enable you to harness the power of fragrance through the science of aromatherapy. 

Essential oils enhance emotional and mental health along with physical wholeness.

Although the use of aromatherapy in Western culture is relatively new, essential oils have existed since the very first plant, fruit, and shrub sprouted forth from the ground. The oils that are extracted from these organic sources carry the beneficial properties of each plant and are the purest form of herbal energy.

Ancient civilizations well understood the aromatic use of essential oils for health enhancement. As long as 6,000 years ago, Egyptians discovered the therapeutic benefits of massaging with essential oils. Cosmetic and skin care products became an emblem of Egypt, and fragrances, herbal oils, balsams, and resins were frequently used in religious ceremonies. Although the modern world is far distant from our Egyptian progenitors, their research in essential oils has paved the way for contemporary Aromatherapy.

It is certain that the first to use plants as healing agents were the earliest men and women. Through experimentation and trial and error, an oral history and knowledge of the different plants developed. As tribal culture developed and job specialization commenced, certain men and women would have developed a more detailed understanding of the healing and spiritual qualities of their local plants. In time these "jobs" developed into the skills of shaman or spiritual leader and healer. Often the line between these tasks was blurred.

There is evidence that the Ancient Sumerians made use of scented herbs 4000 years ago. The use of plants in their basic form as healing agents was clearly demonstrated when paintings on cave walls were discovered at "LA-SOO" in the Dordogne area in France. Carbon dating of cave samples has suggested that plants were used for healing as far back as 18,000 BC.

The increased use of plants natural juices developed worldwide. The knowledge of how to use plants is not the legacy of a single culture. The development of how to use plants for healing was restricted only by the number of native plants in any given area. The use of plants in a culture such as India or China would have been greater than that of the nomadic tribes of the desert due to the wider variety of plant life and the settled nature of the culture.

The developing use of plants and their natural substances is clearly identified in historical records. Egyptian documentation clearly indicates that in 4500 BC Egyptians used balsams, perfumed oils, scented barks, resins, spices and aromatic vinegar. A relatively short period later, in 3000 BC, Huang Ti, the Yellow Emperor of China included herbal medicine in his book on disease called "The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine".

India

India has always been very rich in herbal plants and aromatics have played an important role in traditional medicinal practices as well as religious rituals for thousands of years. The Hindus adopted the ritual use of incense from the Chinese and introduced other ingredients, including Frankincense, Sarsaparilla seeds, Benzoin and Cypress into the recipe. They were the first to use the roots of plants, such as that of the Lime tree (Tilia) and Indian Spikenard as incense materials. Strongly scented floral fragrances, such as Jasmine or Rose, also contribute to the characteristic sweetish scent of Indian incense. Fragrances like Saffron, Cassia, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Aloe-wood, Basil and Patchouli are also common. In Hindu temples, the god Shiva is offered incense every four hours, mainly Frankincense and Cypress.

However, the most popular incense material throughout the Far East is derived from the Sandalwood tree. The highest quality comes from Mysore in eastern India. In India the oil is often combined with rose in the famous perfume aytar, which is used to purify body and soul. Sandalwood, Cloves, Cardamom and Curcuma are also blended to form a powder called abir which is used during Hindu ceremonies. In Tantric yoga, Sandalwood is described as the scent of the ‘subtle body’, and is used to awaken the kundalini energy and transform it into enlightenment.

The Indian medical system, which has its’ origins in the Vedic literature is divided into three parts: Unani, which uses prayer and invocation; Sidhata, which includes knowledge of the chakras; and ‘Ayurveda’, which is the knowledge and use of medicinal plants for healing purposes. In Ayurvedic medicine, a form of aromatherapy has been practiced as one element of holistic treatment for thousands of years. Since aromatic essences also contain the life force of a plant, they can help re-activate or harmonize the prana or chi within an individual, which is vital to the overall healing process.

Egypt

Translations of hieroglyphics found in the temple of Edfu in the Valley of Kings in Egypt, indicate that aromatic substances were formulated by the priests to make perfumes and medicines. Papyrus manuscripts during the reign of Khufu about 2800 BC record the use of many medicinal herbs and aromatic essences. At that stage in history, there were no "pure essential oils" to the best of our knowledge.

The Egyptian society was based on religion. Their pharaoh was considered a god. Every action, from war to reproduction, was the responsibility of a god. Each deity had their own special fragrance, and statues of the gods were covered with scented oils to praise and to pray to them. They used perfumes and scented water for both public and private occasions. The perfumes and waters at times held a greater value than does gold in our society today. It is not surprising that the use of perfume became a sacred ritual that was honored in their religion and in other religions that came into contact with the Egyptians.

The use of plants, perfumes and "natural waters" by the Egyptians was for more than just religious rites. Illnesses, deaths and births, were all considered the result of the actions taken by the gods as a punishment for doing something that offended a god; the god had to be appeased. An illness was treated with plants, drinks, foods, perfumes and poultices made from plants. As the plants held an honored status, this represented both a religious and a medicinal relief. Papyrus documents dating back to about 2890 BC indicate that plants were used medicinally. The priests, who were the physicians of Egypt, made pills, powders, suppositories, medicinal cakes, purees, ointment and pastes for external use. They utilized plant ashes and the smoke of burning plant material. One method of crude birth control was by the use of suppositories made from plant matter and crocodile dung. Plants used for medicinal purposes included Aniseed, Cedar, Onion, Garlic, Cumin, Coriander, Castor Oil, Grapes and Watermelons, just to name a few. In the 1870’s George Ebers discovered a papyrus that clearly shows the extent of plant use. It listed over 850 botanical remedies dating from 1500 BC.

The Egyptians were also respected throughout the known world for their knowledge of cosmetology producing herbal preparations and ointments. One of these was "Kyphi", a mixture of sixteen different ingredients, which could be used as an incense, perfume or medicine. Kyphi was known to be an antiseptic, a balsamic, soothing and an antidote to poison.

Essential oils are often produced by distillation but there are no records of Egyptians using this method. It is hard to believe a culture so developed in other ways had not developed the still. There are records on clay tablets of oils of Cedarand Cypress being imported.

Shirley Price’s book "Aromatherapy Workbook" suggests that the Egyptians did do a form of distillation. Clay vessels were heated by fire which, when sufficiently hot, would have a layer of Cedarwood fragments placed in it. A layer of wool was placed over the Cedarwood to absorb the steam. As the wood warmed, the essential oils contained within the wood would begin to evaporate and the wool cover would catch the evaporating Cedarwood oil. Once all the essential oil was extracted from the plant matter, the water and aromatic oil trapped in the wool was separated.

Christian/Jewish Religious Use

The use of essential oils is recorded in the Christian Bible and in the Jewish Torah. The oils are often described as being used as gifts, being of equal value to gold, as medicines and incense, to flavor food and wine and for a host of other uses. The oils were in the temples as incense and are still used today in churches and during religious ceremonies.

In approximately 1240 BC the Jews fled Egypt. They had incorporated many of the customs and beliefs of the Egyptians in their daily life and in their religion. The knowledge and traditions they took with them included the use of herbs and plants as part of their religious and healthcare practices. Before leaving Egypt, according to the bible, the Jewish boys were protected from a plague that took all first born sons. They were protected because they painted a sign over the door of every Jewish home. That sign was made of the blood of a sheep and Hyssop oil. In the book of Exodus the Lord gave to Moses the formula for an oil blend to be used for anointing the priesthood. Myrrh, Cinnamon, Calamus, Cassia and Olive oil were among the ingredients. The Holy oil was used to consecrate Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. This tradition continued for many generations.

At the birth of Jesus, Frankincense and Myrrh were given as gifts. These oils held a value equal to gold. Frankincense is helpful as a tonic to the uterus. It relieves uterine hemorrhages, and acts as a rejuvenating mask. Myrrh aids in the healing of birth wounds to both mother and child. It was used for the purification of women and as a base in cosmetics. Both were also the bases to perfumes. Oils are mentioned throughout the bible for a wide variety of uses.

Greek

The Greek civilization developed later than the Egyptian and learned much through trading and cultural exchanges. They recognized that the Egyptians had extensive knowledge of plants and their essences and learned to incorporate their own native plants. Between 500 and 400 BC the Greeks catalogued the knowledge. Then making discoveries of their own, such as the fact that the odor of certain flowers was stimulating and refreshing, while that of others was relaxing and soporific. They were very aware of the healing effect of plant essences and Greek soldiers carried into battle an ointment made of Myrrh for the treatment of wounds.

Plant essences were widely used and one of the most famous Greek preparations, made from Myrrh, Cinnamon and Cassia, was called "Megaleion" named after its creator Megallus. It was a perfume and a healing substance used for healing wounds and reducing inflammation.

Hypocrites, the "Father of Medicine" was born in Greece around 460 BC. He wrote a treatise on herbal medicine that described the effects of over 300 plants and diodes. He established moral approaches to health and patient care.

Roman

Egyptian and Greek knowledge greatly influenced the Romans. A Roman doctor called Dioscorides made a detailed study of the application of plants and aromatics and compiled an account of his work. In 50 AD he wrote five huge volumes called "De Materia Medica" also known as the Herbarius, in which he gave a detailed account of the healing properties of many herbs. The book was translated into Persian, Hebrew, Anglo-Saxon and many other languages.

Rome employed many Greek doctors as military surgeons. One of these Greek surgeons was Galen, who became the physician to Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor. Galen initially started out as a surgeon at a school of gladiators. Training was strict and severe. Gladiators injured in training decreased their value, so care was taken not to have many injuries. The schools owned these men and wanted maximum profit. But accidents do occur and it is recorded that no gladiator died of his wounds during Galen’s term of office. Galen used plants frequently and wrote on the theory of plant medicine. He divided plants into various medicinal categories, known as "Galenic". He developed remedies and during the process invented the original "Cold Cream". The original recipe was the prototype of all ointments in current use.

Roman use of these creams, healing poultices and other medicinal remedies spread throughout their domain. The knowledge was passed from the Romans to the tribes who incorporated the knowledge into their native use of plants.

Arabic

The Arabs of the Middle East and North Africa used plant essences. They were the merchants, carrying the essences throughout the lands they inhabited. As traders and merchants, they knew the value of pure oils, they transported not only oils but also the methods of using the oils from place to place. Any new idea of how to use an essential oil quickly spread throughout the Middle East. As a direct result, the Arabs were famous for their perfumes and medications. The Arabs had experienced the use of oils by the Egyptians, the Jews, the Greeks and the Romans. No doubt exists that the essences were purified by crude means, prior to distillation, but it was an Arab that received credit for refining the process.

Ali-Ibn Sina, also know as Avicenna the Arab, lived between 980-1037 AD. He studied the use of plants and wrote books on the properties of over 800 of them. He studied their effects on the human body and recorded the results. He is credited with the development of a distillation process for distilling Essential Oils, or if it already existed in some form, with making a significant contribution to the distilling process. The basic distillation method he developed has remained unchanged to this day.

The Arabs spread their knowledge not only by trade, but also by war. During the Arab "golden era", around 623 AD, they spread their knowledge of medicine and plant use from Spain to India. They contributed greatly to the development of western culture and their knowledge of plants and their uses contributed to our knowledge today.

Crusades

The Crusades were a period ranging from 1095 until 1270 AD. During the Crusades the Pope directed that armies led by the Kings in Europe invade and retake Jerusalem and the surrounding country. Accompanying the armies were priests, the most educated class of people in Europe at that time. Some of the Knights also had some education or as patrons of the church supported the gathering of materials and knowledge that would be useful back home. They brought back perfumes and medicines, and perhaps of more importance, they brought back knowledge of how to distill them.

The healers, priests and wise men and women of the villages had been using native plants for centuries. The crude poultices and the teas they made had benefited the people. More importantly, they already had a good basis of knowledge of what plants to use for what conditions. The distillation process just made the use of their native plants more effective. Plants like Lavender, Rosemary and Thyme became widely used. As the climate modified and as Crusaders returned with plants from the Mediterranean, new plants became part of the healers’ inventory.

Middle Ages

The Middle Ages saw a very rapid growth in population. There was turmoil as society challenged the power of the church. During the Bubonic Plague (aka Black Death) in the 1300’s, Frankincense and Pine were burned in the streets. Indoors, incense and perfumed gums and resins were worn around the neck. During the Black Death era, aromatics were the best antiseptics available. People died from the plague itself and from related illnesses caused by the presence of untreated bodies, food and water contamination and other normal illnesses. It is recorded that those in closest contact with aromatics, especially the perfume manufacturers, were virtually immune. Since all aromatics are antiseptic, it is likely that some of those used were indeed effective protection against the plague or related illnesses.

Until the 1800’s, medical practitioners still carried a little cassoulet filled with aromatics on top of their walking sticks. This acted as a personal antiseptic, and was held up to the nose when visiting any contagious cases.

The Middle Ages also was a period of rapid growth in scholarly work.  Many herbal books were written during that period. One of the earliest was by an Englishman, William Turner, who is known as the "father of botany". He wrote his books in the 1500’s in English instead of Latin, this was a major push in the popularization of herbal medicine.

In 1653, Nicholas Culpepper wrote a book titled "Complete Herbal". By the 1700’s, essential oils where widely used in medicine.

Modern Era

In 1896 a wall was opened in a home in London, England. A dispensary containing many aromatic remedies was discovered. It became known as "Salmon’s Dispensary" and it was a time capsule of the remedies and cures used by the English culture in the 17 and 1800’s.

The 1800’s saw the development and speedy growth of the pharmaceutical industry. A new concept was born. The production of pills at a low cost per pill, with always the same quality and apparently the same effect, became immediately popular. The use of natural plants and their by-products quickly faded into memory. Only a few in Europe and in North America kept the knowledge alive. Even in remote areas, the new "pill" swept old ways aside. The magic bullet was discovered.

1900's

Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist worked in his family’s perfumery. In the 1920’s, Dr. Gattefosse seriously burned his hand and arm. He reacted to the bad burn by immersing it in neat essential oil of Lavender. The burn healed very rapidly without infection or apparent scarring. Further investigation by Dr. Gattefosse revealed that pure essential oils had many healing qualities. He discovered that pure essential oils had better antiseptic properties than many of the antiseptics (chemical) available at that time.

His research led to his writing a book he titled "Aromatherapie" in 1928. He is also responsible for the term "essential oil". The substance we call essential oil was in fact not oil. He called the system Aromatherapy as he was working in the perfume business. He called the substances oils as they separated from water and had the appearance of oil.

He also found that only pure essential oils had the healing properties. Oils broken down into individual components or ones that are changed by adding chemicals did not have the same properties, even if chemically they should have.  The antiseptic properties are more active when used as a whole plant in its natural form and react stronger than separated or isolated.

Dr. Jean Valnet was a French physician involved with caring for the wounded during and after the Second World War. He was having difficulty saving patients due to gangrene. He received some essential oils from Dr. Gattefosse, who recommended he try the oils on his wounded. The oils worked so well that they became part of his treatment plan for both medical and psychiatric problems.

Madame Marguerite Maury is credited with modern use of Aromatherapy and holistic care. She studied the work of Dr. Jean Valnet and used his experience and methods in applying her beauty work. She tried to blend compounds to fit her client’s gender, temperament and health problems.

Sharon

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