Aromatherapy, is a practice that uses essential oils for therapeutic benefit. This is a holistic approach to healing that uses natural plant extracts to bolster our health and well-being. The oils can be used in diffusers, inhalers, bath salts, lotions, compresses, beauty products, etc. which utilizes their aroma for therapeutic purposes. They can also be used in combination with one another to assist in one’s overall health in the form of roll-ons, creams, and salves.
Essential Oils, the key ingredient of aromatherapy, have been used for millennia throughout the world. It is believed that such oils were used by Cleopatra to enhance her beauty. It is also believed that ancient Egyptians used essential oils as a key ingredient for medicinal purposes in their powders, salves, and tinctures.
It has been documented that Emperor Huang Ti of China, studied and used essential oils for medicinal purposes. His use of aromatics was included in a book of medicine which is still used today by some practicing Eastern Medicine. Essential Oils were also used in Ayurvedic healthcare as early as 2000 BC. They are even mentioned throughout the bible, which expounds upon their worth and value, throughout its text.
The Greek physician Dioscorides tracked his use of essential oils in his book De Materia Medica; a collection of botanical information he collected between 50 and 70 A.D., while a physician in the Roman Army.
The study of essential oils advanced considerably in the 13th century, due primarily to Islamic physician, Ibn al-Baytar. Al-Baytar was from Andalusia and studied botany, chemistry and medicine. Al-Baytar traveled extensively throughout Europe, Africa and Asia, studying plants and recording their medicinal qualities. He authored the tome, Compendium on Simple Medicaments and Foods.
In 1653, Nicholas Culpeper wrote The Complete Herbal. His book covered the many conditions that essential oils treated and the numerous remedies that could be made from them. It is still one of the most widely used resources today.
In the 1800’s pharmacists prescribed essential oils for numerous illnesses. In the early 1900’s, French cosmetic chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse burned his hands and arms when an explosion occurred in his lab. His hands were badly burned and quickly turned gangrenous. He began rinsing his hands in lavender essence, which stopped the infection. This experience caused him to further investigate the medicinal uses of essential oils. He studied their medicinal potential while treating injured soldiers at military hospitals during World War I. He later coined the term “Aromatherapy”. A colleague of Gattefosse, Jean Valnet, who was also an Army surgeon, began using essential oils as antiseptics in treating wounds during the Idochina war when he ran out of antibiotics. He continued his study after the war and later published, The Practice of Aromatherapy, furthering interest in the medicinal properties of essential oils.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the study and use of essential oils as an alternative treatment and/or a complimentary treatment to modern medicine. It is not uncommon throughout Europe today for medical doctors to offer essential oils to patients to assist in their treatment as an alternative or in conjunction with other medications.
Essential oils have many medicinal properties including, but not limited to being anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and being a disinfectant when used topically. They can also work aromatically when used in a diffuser or other methods. Essential oils work this way by activating the odor receptor proteins on the surface of our olfactory neurons. Once this occurs, the olfactory neurons activate the brain’s limbic system, the part of our brain that controls mood and emotion. The limbic system also assists in controlling several unconscious physiological functions like breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.
Used alone, or in combination with other healing modalities, aroma therapy/essential oil therapy can be a valuable tool in assisting us in our journey to energetic health.
References:
What are Essential Oils and Why is Everyone Talking About Them?, February 12, 2018, http://www.ethnoherbalist.com/review-best-essential-oils
Health & Medicine, “The History of Essential oils”, February 19, 2015, www.curioushistory.com/the-history-of-essential-oils
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