Let’s find out more about essential oils by examining the history of aromatherapy.
Essential oils were used in ancient times just as they are now. Read on for more on the origins of using essential oils for healing.
History of Aromatherapy
According to experts on the history of aromatherapy the use of volatile plant oils dates back to almost one thousand years ago. The term “aromatherapy”, however, has only been used since the 20th century. The Chinese could have been in the forefront of the use of aromatherapy oils. They would burn incense to ease mental and emotional frustration.
People in Egypt also used a kind of distillation apparatus that was able to extract oil from cedarwood trees. They also used clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and myrrh to embalm the dead. According to the history of aromatherapy people in Persia and India may also have used such machines to extract the volatile oils from plants for healing purposes.
Central to the history of aromatherapy and use of plant substances in general are the Egyptians. They made use of plant infusions for spiritual and medicinal practices as well as for perfuming their bodies and treating skin ailments or beautification. Later the Greeks would use many of the same practices.
The Romans also used plant essences but at this time they used mostly aromatic floral infusions. In the 11th century the coiled cooling pipe was invented by Persian born Avicenna. At this point in the history of aromatherapy it became possible to use vapor and steam to extract essential oils from commonly used healing plants.
During the 13th century, the pharmaceutical industry became a reality and this meant that more and more volatile plant oils would be distilled for sale and use. In the plague or “Black Death” of the 14th century herbal infusions were used to try to address the widespread problem. According to experts on the history of aromatherapy by the 15th century healers were using frankincense, juniper, rose, sage and rosemary.
Paracelcus was an alchemist and medical who first used the term “essence” to describe the volatile oils extracted from healing plants. According to the history of aromatherapy it was during the 20 the century that essential plant oils were used to create synthetic chemicals and drugs. René-Maurice Gattefossé, a French chemist became very involved in the use of oils for healing when a burn sustained during a laboratory accident healed quickly after thrust it into a vat of lavender oil!
The term “aromatherapy” was first used by Gattefossé in 1928. Jean Valnet, Madam Marguerite Maury, and Robert B. Tisserand were also very active during the 20th century. According to experts on the history of aromatherapy Jean Valnet used essential oils to treat soldiers during the war. Many wrote books on the uses of plant oils which are still read to this day.
During the late 20th century and the 21st century, more and more people are becoming comfortable with the use of aromatherapy oils for healing. For many years we relied on synthetic chemicals to treat our basic physical and psychological complaints. As during the history of aromatherapy we are now using more and more organic products to treat common ailments. This has been largely a consequence of the great cost and negative side effects of many modern medicines.