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Aromatherapy
Brief History
The
roots and fundamentals of Aromatherapy can be traced
back to nearly 3000 years before Christ, when the
ancient Egyptians used the basics of Aromatherapy
in their daily lives. Historical records show that
Egyptians burned incense made from aromatic woods
and other herbs to honor their gods. Also royal harems
and guest houses used many aromatic oils very profusely
to satisfy many important guests. Aromatherapy has
its roots in the most ancient healing and therapeutic
practices. Medicinal plants are used to cure many
ailments and used in many sacred rituals to evoke
different states of consciousness.
Elaborate religious ceremonies were performed in Egyptian
temples, where the dead King was mummified and surrounded
with exotic essential oils. Egyptians believed very
firmly that essential oils have an unusual preserving
property when added with other spices. Embalming was
one of the principal uses of aromatherapy, preserving
the tissue of the bodies for thousands of years. The
oils and resins used were rich and potent, that in
the 17th century mummies were sold in Europe and doctors
distilled them for use in their medicines. Aromatherapy
truly emerged from the smoky temples of Egypt 6,000
years ago. Egypt was the birthplace of medicine, pharmaceutics,
cosmetics and perfumery. Trading was flourishing and
traders arrived for trade from all over the world
by land and sea to deliver flowers, herbs and plants.
Priestesses and priests strictly supervised the delicate
preparations in the temples and palaces, reading formulas
& chanting incantations and hymns, as substances were
measured & combined with ultimate precision. Purification
processes went on for months until the right, perfect
subtle blend was achieved.
The use of aromatherapy spread from Egypt to Israel,
China, India and the Mediterranean. Every culture,
from the most backward to the most modern, developed
own set of practices. Greek physicians and military
surgeons were employed by the Romans every where in
the empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the
science spread to the Arab countries, where medicine
men devoted them to the ancient art of alchemy, perfecting
the art of distillation and extraction.
For many centuries essential oils were the only remedies
for epidemic diseases and conditions. During the dreaded
Black Plague, very few became ill, who in fact were
associated with perfumeries and glove industries where
these oils were in profuse use. During the 19th century,
with the development of modern science, all forms
of herbal medicine disappeared until the 1920s, when
French chemist Gatefosse revived the art, giving it
the name Aromatherapy. India was one of the few countries
where the tradition was never lost, Avurveda being
the most ancient medical practice in the world today.
Aromatherapy is now used in hospitals, offices, clinics
and homes all over the world.
Aromatherapy acts as a bridge between the new and
old; most of the industries use these oils for various
blends and concoctions, which provide cure and relief
for a number of complications.
About
the Author
Richmond Va Hot Stone Massage
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