Sunday, January 22, 2017

Aromatherapy - History of Aromatherapy

free gems

History of Aromatherapy


It is historically proved that the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Persians used to use oils that are aromatherapy. Most probably aromatic plants were also known in ancient China, but very little is known. Moreover, there is historical evidence in the Bible for the use of plants and oils for therapeutic but also religious aims.


In ancient Egypt, plant oils were trusted for cosmetics, spiritual relaxation, and for embalming and mummification of their deads. A gradually-melting solid cone that released its fragrance at that age, on special occasions women and men used to wear on their heads. The fragrance industry and aromatic medicine were developed more than in any other ancient culture as a consequence of the Egyptians’ love for aromatic plants and herbs.


The history of Aromatherapy leads us to Ancient Greece. Greeks borrowed healing that is many relaxation techniques from the Egyptians. They used herbs and oils that are aromatherapy medications and cosmetics. Asclepius (circa 1200 BC) is the first physician that is known history who experimented with herbs and plants in his surgeries. Hypocrites (circa 400 BC), “the father of medicine”, studied the beneficial effects of hundreds of scented plants and herbs. He thought that good health can be promoted with aromatic baths and oil massage and therefore surgeries should be avoided when possible. clash of clans free gems Other Greek physicians who dealt with herbs and aromatic oils are Pedacius Dioscorides and Theophrastus who prescribed herbal and remedies that are aromatic.


The Romans developed the Egyptian and Greek techniques for distillation and extraction of aromatic floral waters taking advantage of their knowledge of the natural medicines. The most well-known physician of that age was the Greek Claudius Galen (circa 150 AD) who after studying herbal medicine and treating a huge selection of wounded gladiators with botanical remedies, he became the personal physician of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.



clash of clans free gems hack

The next important step in the history of Aromatherapy was made by the civilization that is persian. Ibn Sina, a great physician of the age, known in Europe as Avicenna (circa 1000 AC), invented a pipe which steam distilled the plants and produced true essential oils and not aromatic waters as in the past.


Following the Catholic Crusaders came back from the Holly Places, many aromatics, herbal remedies and scented plants of the Middle East became well understood to Europe. But, in the era that is medieval Catholic Church rejected the aromatherapy remedies, because of their belief that every disease is a punishment sent by God. When the pandemia of the Black Death arrived to Europe, almost half of the population in Europe died. Many remedies that are botanical then tried out but without considerable success.


Along with the exploration of the East, merchants brought to Europe new aromatherapy remedies and a variety that is rich of plants and herbs. During the Renaissance in Europe, many people that are wealthy aromatic handkerchiefs to avoid unpleasant smells and protect themselves from microbes. Moreover oils that are essential used in fumigation of hospitals. At the same period of the history of Aromatherapy, physicians, pharmacists and chemists used to distillate more plants to create essentials oils and many of them published books about aromatic remedies and the use of aromatherapy essential oils for relaxation and pharmaceutical purposes.


As years went by, “apothecaries” who were herbalists and medical practitioners engaged in the formulation and prescription of pharmaceutical remedies, started to sell herbals, essential oils and fragrances. Consequently, many essential oil industries were established throughout Europe, providing oils for the pharmaceutical, flavour and fragrance purposes.


The history of Aromatherapy continues during the 20th century, when many aromatherapists contributed their knowledge to aromatherapy and created more natural products and more effective and pleasurable techniques. As mentioned before, the chemist that is french; Maurice Gattefossé was the first to introduce the term “aromatherapy” in 1928.


Reputation for Aromatherapy


A follower of Gattefossé, a French army doctor called Jean Valnet, started working with essential oils in order to treat wounded soldiers and heal gangrene during the Second World War. The idea was further developed by an Austrian biochemist named Marguerite Maury that used essential oils as an integral part of healing massage and practiced the use of aromatherapy for cosmetic benefits. The results and techniques experimented by Valnet, Maury and her co-researcher Micheline Arcier’s are considered as the basis of modern aromatherapy that today is taught all over the world.


The book that is first the history of Aromatherapy published in the English language was the “Art of Aromatherapy” written by the English aromatherapist Robert B. Tisserand in 1977. Another book that is classic to medicinal herbs is “Health through God’s Pharmac”. Its author, the Herbalist that is austrian Maria, claimed that “There is a plant for every illness”.



free clash of clans gems

Nowadays, the popularity of essential oils and aromatherapy rises especially in the Western World. Aromatherapy has become fundamental for alternative and medicine that is holistic. Numerous studies and books about Aromatherapy and the healing power of essential oils are published and more natural products are created for therapeutic, cosmetic and aromatic benefits.

No comments:

Post a Comment