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With
origins dating back 5000 years, Aromatherapy is truly
one of the oldest methods of holistic healing.
In
the beginning
Ancient
man was dependent on his surroundings for everything from food,
to shelter and clothing. Being so keenly aware of everything around
him, and how it could be used for survival, he quickly discovered
methods to preserve food and treat ailments through herbs and aromatics.
Aromatherapy,
as it is practiced today, began with the Egyptians, who used the
method of infusion to extract the oils from aromatic plants which
were used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes as well as embalming.
At
a similar time, ancient Chinese civilizations were also using some
form of aromatics. Shen Nung's herbal book (dating back to approximately
2700 BC) contains detailed information on over 300 plants and their
uses.
Similarly,
the Chinese used aromatics in religious ceremonies, by burning woods
and incense to show respect to their Gods - a tradition which is
still practiced today. The use of aromatics in China was linked
to other ancient therapies such as massage and acupressure.
Aromatherapy
has also been used for many centuries in India. Ayurveda, the traditional
medical system of India, uses dried and fresh herbs, as well as
aromatic massage as important aspects of treatment.
The
Greeks acquired most of their medical knowledge from the Egyptians
and used it to further their own discoveries. They found that the
fragrance of some flowers was stimulating while others had relaxing
properties. The use of olive oil as the base oil absorbed the aroma
from the herbs or flowers and the perfumed oil was then used for
both cosmetic and medicinal purposes.
The
Romans learned from the Greeks and became well known for scented
baths followed by massage with aromatic oils. The popularity of
aromatics led to the establishment of trade routes which allowed
the Romans to import "exotic" oils and spices from distant lands
such as India and Arabia.
With
the decline of the Roman Empire, the use of aromatics faded and
the knowledge of their use was virtually lost in Europe during the
dark ages.
Rediscovery
of a Healing Art:
One
of the few places where the tradition of Aromatherapy continued
was in monasteries, where monks used plants from herbal gardens
to produce infused oils, herbal teas and medicines.
At
the time of the plague and during the Middle Ages, it was discovered
that certain aromatic derivatives helped to prevent the spread of
infection, and others, such as cedar and pine, were burnt to fumigate
homes and streets.
The
revival of the use of essential oils is believed to be credited
to a Persian physician and philosopher known as Avicenna who lived
from 980 AD to 1037 AD. The Arabs initiated a method of extraction
known as distillation, and study of the therapeutic use of plants
once again became popular in the Universities. The knowledge of
distillation spread to their invading forces during the Crusades,
and the lost process was once again returned to Europe.
By
1200 AD, essential oils were being produced in Germany and were
based mainly on herbs and spices brought from Africa and the Far
East.
When
South America was invaded by the conquistadors, even more medicinal
plants and aromatic oils were discovered, and the wide variety of
medicinal plants found in Montezuma's gardens provided a basis for
many new and important remedies and treatments.
Throughout
the northern continent, Native American Indians were using aromatic
oils and producing their own herbal remedies which were discovered
when settlers began to make their way across the plains of the New
World.
Although
herbs and aromatics had been used in other world cultures for many
centuries, it was not until the 19th century that scientists in
Europe and Great Britain began researching the effects of essential
oils on humans. It was French chemist, Rene Maurice Gattefosse who
discovered the healing powers of lavender oil after burning his
hand in his laboratory. He published a book on the anti-microbial
effects of the oils in 1937 and the term "Aromatherapy" was born.
Aromatherapy
in Modern Times:
Modern day scientific research has been, and continues to be performed
which verifies not only the emotional but the physical benefits
that aromatherapy provides.
Through
research and awareness we have come to better understand and appreciate
what nature has to offer us. We know the effects of "clear cutting"
our forests and polluting our skies. And we ask for change. We realize
that in order to sustain this earth, for the generations far beyond
ours, we have to preserve, and protect it. At the same time, we
know that we need to look after ourselves.
We
are all seeking answers for the illnesses that pervade our society,
and the stresses that this fast paced modern life place on us. Conventional
medicine has given us some of those answers in the form of prescription
drugs and surgery, but still, we ask for more.
With
growing health care costs and the sometimes impersonal quality of
conventional medicine, we have turned to nature to find the answers
to our questions. We have realized that we must take personal responsibility
for our health and strive to educate ourselves on living more balanced
lives.
Therapies
and medicines that were once viewed as alternative, cloaked in a
shroud of skepticism, have risen from the shadows, providing a complement
to conventional medicine. Aromatherapy is one such example, and
a very powerful one, of a complementary therapy widely practiced
today.
For
some of us, we don't even know we're doing it. When you burned that
scented candle last week, you were practicing Aromatherapy. When
you walk through a fragrant garden, you are doing it again! In fact,
virtually all of the bath and body care products we use contain
some form of essential oils - the basis of Aromatherapy.
This
is one of the reasons Aromatherapy is so popular today. It is easy
to practice, readily available, and effective as a therapy. The
information you need to get started is right at your fingertips!
Just click on any one of our links to find out more...
Article
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