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The Origin of Aromatherapy
The use of aromatic plants seemed to be as old as the world as plants such as fennel, coriander seeds, cumin and many others are regularly found at the site of ancient burial grounds. Many ancient texts from Asia to Ancient Egypt and much of the Mediterranean area, often describe the various procedures and rituals involved in the making of healing ointments, medicated oils, poultices and healing perfumes.
The practice of using aromatic fumigations to uplift the spirit and help cure diseases has also been used by the world's greatest civilisations throughout history. References in some of the old texts to 'magical perfumes' that enhance personal attraction and promises happiness are numerous. Spiritual perfumes for religious ceremonies have also been used in history particularly in Ancient Egypt and in Tudor England.
Modern aromatherapy as we know it today is a 20th century development. The term 'Aromatherapie' came about 65 years ago and is attributed to the French chemist R. H. Gattefossé whose family owned a perfumery business. This famous story deserves to be retold again. As Gattefosse was working in his laboratory one day, he suffered a burn to his hand and as it was not healing very well, he decided to plunged his hand into a vessel containing pure Lavender essential oil. The burn healed quicker than expected and without a scar. It is this event which set Gattefossé on a lifetime study of the therapeutic properties of plant oils. Lavender for burns has been a traditional remedy in Provence (France) for hundreds of years.
Aromatherapy today
After Gattefossé, other pioneers such as Dr. Jean Valnet, who used essential oils to treat wounded soldiers in the Second World War, expanded on his research. But modern aromatherapists, owe a lot to Marguerite Maury who developed the Aromatherapy treatment as we know today. She devised her own massage technique using it to apply specific blends of essential oils. She too also had a strong belief that it was important to treat Body and Mind together rather than just the parts.
Aromatherapy is now widely accepted as a comprehensive natural therapy by most healthcare professionals.
Benefits
Three keywords come to mind when assessing how aromatherapy could benefit you:
Prevention of ill health, Support while unwell & Recovery once the crisis has passed
Aromatherapy's popular appeal with the general public is due to a large degree to its beneficial effects in improving health while giving a pleasant sense of well-being. The essential oils are also very easy to use in the home for everyday problems such as small cuts, common colds, muscle aches, etc.
Aromatherapy can be beneficial for a wide range of individuals and problems. It has been found to be particularly helpful in stress-related problems such as:
- skin problems
- poor digestion broken
- sleep patterns
- lack of stamina
- aches and pains
- anxiety
You don't need to be ill to benefit from aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can benefit anyone Whether you are stressed or just wish to feel deeply relaxed, aromatherapy can give you a peaceful sleep and help increase your vitality. This in turn can help you to keep healthy. If you are unwell, aromatherapy can help your body to help itself and speed up recovery.
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