Egypt
The Egyptians were the first true Aromatherapists. They were the first to extract essential oils from plants and use fragrance in all aspects of their lives. Priests used essential oils in religious ceremonies. Egyptians in general used essential oils to fumigate sick rooms, in cosmetics, their daily baths and massages, in the embalming process of mummies as well as being left in beautiful alabaster jars and ebony coffers for the arrival of their dead into the “next world”. Essential Oils were used in the mummification process because of the antibacterial and antiseptic properties, which helped, prevent decay and decomposition. The tombs of the Pharaohs were filled with jars of essential oils they believed would render the skin of the deceased supple when they arrived into the next world. In 1922 when archaeologist entered the tomb of Tutankahamen (King Tut) there was still a lingering fragrance from the pots of essential oils placed there over 3000 years before. The quality and expense of the Essential Oils used at the time of burial was symbolic of class and wealth of the dead.
Israel
During the Hebrew’s exodus from Egypt, the Israelites brought with them the knowledge of the Egyptians. The Bible makes 188 references to various essential oils in both the Old and New Testament. The ancient Hebrews valued plant aromatics for medicinal, perfume and religious purposes. In one reference, God gives a recipe for anointing oil. “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia all according to the sanctuary shekel and a hin of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend the work of a perfumer. It will be a sacred anointing oil.” Exodus 30: 22-25. The following scripture again mentions essential oil in the bible, and its worth at that time. “Then Mary took about a pint of pure spikenard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas of Iscariot, objected. “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” John 12: 35. Frankincense and myrrh were offered by the three wise men to the infant Jesus, which again, gives a reference point of the value of essential oils in ancient times.
The Arab World
The Arab’s played a leading role in the development of aromatic healing by creating an advanced level of chemical and pharmaceutical technology. They had established extensive trade routes, which connected India, China, the Mediterranean and Indonesia with the Arab world. Spices and Essential Oils were sold and used as precious commodities. Through the trade routes these spices and Essential Oils were made available to the entire civilized world.
Without the Arab world, the knowledge of the Greeks and Romans may have been lost forever. Arabic scientists made great improvements in the technique of distillation and established a vast body of research literature regarding Essential Oils. They created the first solid soap, which was scented with aromatics. Ibn Sina, known in the West, as “Avicenna” was an Arabic alchemist, astronomer, philosopher, mathematician, physician, poet and wrote the famous Canon of Medicine. He used essential oils extensively in his practice and dedicated one of his over 100 books solely to the use of medicinal essential oils.
India
The uses of aromatics and the list of Essential Oils used in India is vast. Aromatherapy has been used in every aspect of their lives including bathing, cosmetics, perfuming, seduction, medicinal purposes and religious ceremonies. During Indian Tantric ceremonies, participants were anointed with oils of sandalwood for the men, and jasmine for the women on their hands, patchouli on the neck and cheeks, amber on the breasts, spikenard in the hair, musk on the abdomen, sandalwood on the thighs and saffron on the feet. Another example still used in India today is the use of the abhyanga, a fragrant massage used for seduction. This massage is not only used for humans but is employed to encourage the mating of male and female elephants. The female elephant is given a bath and covered in fragrance as a means to excite the male bull. India played a highly prominent role in the spice trade, offering 17 different types of Jasmine alone. The Moslem ruler Barbur, one of India’s Mogul kings declared, “One may prefer the fragrances of India to those of the flowers of the whole world.
Europe
From the 9th century to the 15th century a Medical University at Salerno, Italy emerged as a center of learning and botanical medicine. The University drew scholars from the East and the West. Italy became the leader in Europe of aromatics, cosmetics and perfumes. survival. By the late Middle Ages, apothecary guilds were being established in northern Europe. Essential Oils from the East were being used again to enhance the quality of life and improve the average European’s chance Inrestingly enough, it was the apothecaries and the perfumers who daily worked with Essential Oils that escaped the plagues and epidemics that swept through Europe. During the 18th century, the French discovered that tuberculosis bacillus could be deactivated by clove Essential Oil and that thyme helped vanquish the typhus bacteria. During
the 16th century, Europeans believed that bathing was unhealthy, so perfumes were used to cover the person’s offending odor. The French used fragrances in everything from public fountains, stationary, wines, drinking water, in their homes, on their clothes, bodies and hair. By this time many of the Essential Oils used today had been isolated and were commonly in use. During the Rococo period, a time of great excess, perfume slowly moved away from their original medicinal and religious uses and became the symbol of great excess, luxury and grandeur. In 1868 the first synthetic fragrance was produced. This was the first of thousands of synthetic fragrances that were unsuitable for medicinal use. In 1887, Dr. Chamberland in Paris published the first modern documented research of the antiseptic properties of Essential Oils. His research confirmed that Essential Oils kill viruses, bacteria and fungus. Before WWII Essential Oil research drew as much scientific interest as the exploration of other drugs. Identifying the components of natural Essential Oils was an important task. The study ultimately was central in the development of many chemical successes. Nobel prizes were awarded to Otto Wallach and Adolf von Baeyer for their contributions in uncovering the secrets of Essential Oils. Chemists isolated the active principles within plants and manufactured them synthetically. The thought was that the properties of the plants should be isolated and used separately. As the science of chemistry became more sophisticated, herbs and Essential Oils where replaced by synthetic drugs. Synthetic drugs could be totally controlled, standardized and monopolized. Essential Oils were public domain and as such not able to be patented, so synthetic won out due to profit.
China
In China, there was little distinction between spices, drugs, incense and perfume. Substances that nurtured the mind were treated the same as those used for the body. The Chinese have said, “every perfume is a medicine.” Marco Polo journeyed to China to convince the Orient to trade directly with Genoa and to bypass the 300% markup the Moslem middlemen were imposing on them. Enormous quantities of spices were needed to disinfect cities against the plague and other maladies, the taxing had become an enormous amount. When Marco Polo arrived in China, it was a busy urban civilization with advanced sciences. He was quoted as saying Hangchou, China is “the greatest city in the world, where so many pleasures may be found that one fancies himself in Paradise.
Africa
In Africa, botanicals and oils were used for years primarily to soften skin and protect it from the searing effects of the hot African sun. Regarded as way ahead of “the times” by using those oils to prevent skin disorders from occurring. Oils were also commonly used in wedding ceremonies and other religious ceremonies.
Modern Times
Aromatherapy had virtually disappeared by the beginning of the 20th century. In 1928 a French chemist by the name of Rene Maurice Gattefosse rediscovered the healing properties of Essential Oils. While working in his family’s perfumery business an explosion severely burned his hand. He plunged his hand into the first liquid near him. That liquid turned out to be lavender Essential Oil that had been being used for its fragrance and for cosmetic purposes. He was amazed at how quickly his wound healed, without infection or scarring. As a result, Gattefosse turned his scientific attention to the medicinal properties of Essential Oils and their benefits for skin conditions. During WWI, Gattefosse tried out Essential Oils on patients in military hospitals. His results using chamomile, thyme and lemon were impressive. He published his findings in his book Aromtherapie which was well received by others who went on to do their own research. Gattefosse first coined the term “aromatherapy”. Aromatherapy began as a medical therapy based on the pharmacological effects of Essential Oils. They were considered equally effective as the conventional pharmaceutical drugs. According to Gattefosse, aromatherapy was to be used to treat a symptom or a disease in the same way that conventional medicine did. He did not see a distinction between the two and believed aromatherapy to be an integral part of medicine. He was also aware of the psychological and neurological effects of Essential Oils.
Dr. Jean Valnet, an ex-army surgeon, used Essential Oils during WWII for treating wounded soldiers. He discovered that they were effective in treating wounds and burns and later found Essential Oils useful in the treatment of psychiatric problems. Valnet’s work brought credibility and authority to the practice of aromatherapy in France. He used classical methodology in his use of Essential Oils, and due to his diligence and devotion, many medical aromatherapists followed in his footsteps. In France today many medical practitioners prescribe Essential Oils in place of drugs, and insurance companies pay for them. Valnet published The Practice of Aromatherapy in 1964. It was simultaneously addressed to lay people as well as the medical audience.
The self-help and the holistic approach of aromatherapy can be attributed to the biochemist Marguerite Maury. While she was treating her patients with Essential Oils for cosmetic problems she discovered that not only did their skin clear up, but they also experienced pleasant and surprising side effects. They had improved sleep, reduced symptoms of rheumatism and
increased mental awareness. Madame Maury pioneered the technique of applying Essential Oils with massage, whereby the oils were used to treat the body in synergy with touch and smell, which, in turn, stimulated internal organs and improved the condition of the skin. Robert Tisserand’s book The Art of Aromatherapy was published in England in 1977. It was the first book to combine a medical approach of aromatherapy with a more esoteric view of Essential Oils.
After 1980, aromatherapy diversified into four basic groups: the medical and holistic medical aromatherapy practiced in France, popular and esoteric aromatherapy as found published in Western societies, aromatherapy applied during massage as practiced mainly in Great Britain, and the scientific study of fragrance encouraged by the Fragrance Research Fund, referred to as the practice of aromachology. Medical use of aromatherapy is completely prohibited
or restricted in Western societies. The fragrance aspect of Essential Oils has taken the main route in the United States. The reasons for the differences in approaches from country to country are explained by exploring the root of aromatherapy source. In France, aromatherapy was first propagated by medical doctors hence the integration of aromatherapy into conventional medicine. In English speaking countries the first available and readable book was published by a masseur, Tisserand. Aromatherapy has taken a back seat as “alternative”. No matter the size or girth of a company today, one thing is for certain; Essential Oils will never pass the FDA and enter into the mainstream medical practice. There simply is no profit, no purpose in passing FDA regulations, testing and approval for a product that cannot ever be privately held. Essential Oils are public domain and will never take over the three trillion dollar per year HMO and pharmaceutical companies. Synthetic drugs are totally standardized and monopolized. Essential Oils are not even patentable. Abundant research and scientific documentation over the years have been completely overlooked. The empirical effects of Essential Oils and results remain true today, in spite of any misconceptions we may have once held.
