History of Aromatherapy

For thousands of years the ancients have been using aromamatics in medicine beauty and religion.

Aromatherapists still use the same essential oils and resins that have been written about and proved to be effective over hundreds and thousands of years.

Frankincense is a well known example. The Egyptian used Frankincense in skin preparation. It was so good they used it to embalm the bodies of their royalty. 3,500 years later they are still preserved!

2000 years ago astrologists visited the child Jesus bringing expensive gifts of Frankincense and myrrh.

In the middle ages Frankincense was used in churches to pray and meditate. The Medical men used it for respiratory complaints and wounds scars etc. Frankincense is still used to day for these conditions.

The following is taken from:
Complete Aromatherapy Handbook, Essential Oils for Radiant Life
by Susanne Fischer-Rizzi

Though Aromatherapy was practiced widely for many centuries, over time it was forgotten. The last few centuries, however, have brought renewed interest in this form of healing, especially in Great Britain, France, and Italy. The French chemist Dr Rene-Maurice Gattefosse is considered the father of modern aromatherapy. He coined the term aromatherapy and used it as the title of a book he published in 1937. Gattefosse was particularly interested in cosmetic and medicinal aspects of essential oils. The French physician Dr Jean Valnet was very impressed with Gattefosse's findings. He used essential oils in the treatment of war injuries during World War II to disinfect and heal. He in turn published a book in 1964 called Aromatherapie, Traitement des maladies par les essences des plantes. Valnet was particularly interested in teaching physicians the use of essential oils. Today, more than a thousand physicians in France use essential oils in their practise.

Two of Valnet's students, Marguerite Maury and Micheline Arcier, brought aromatherapy to Great Britain, where it received much attention and gained great popularity - even with the Royal Family. England today has many professional aromatherapists, as well as a few schools that offer courses in it, and several clinics where the therapy is used.

Between 1920 and 1930 Italian scientists conducted experiments dealing with the psychological effects of essential oils. An article published in 1922 by Dr Renato Cayola and Dr Giovanni Garri discussed the effects of essential oils on the nervous system. Both scientists had studied their stimulating as well as calming effects, measuring blood pressure, breathing frequency and blood circulation rate. They also observed the bacteria-destroying capacities of essential oils.

Professor Paolo Rovesti, at the University of Milan, conducted research on the psychological effects of essential oils. Rovesti, who treated patients with depression and hysteria, recommended the following combination: jasmine, sandalwood, orange blossom, verbena and lemon oil. For the treatment of anxiety, he suggested: bergamot, neroli, cypress, orange leaf, lime, rose, violet leaves and marjoram.

Today, people all over the world are paying attention to the healing effects of essential oils, as scientists conduct research in an attempt to learn more about the effects of these aromas.