Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic, controlled use of plant-derived, aromatic essential oils to promote physical, psychological and spiritual well-being. It is sometimes used in combination with massage and other therapeutic techniques as part of a holistic treatment approach.

History of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy has been in use for as many as 40,000 years according to some authors. It has been suggested that the Australian aborigines we the first to use native plant oils for medicinal uses. Most sources, however, document that aromatherapy began between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago in ancient Egypt. The earliest written record of the application of plant oils for the treatment of illness dates back to 2650 BC when Tisserand wrote his book, "The Art of Aroma Therapy". The methods he described in this manuscript are very similar to the modern practice of aromatherapy used around the world today.

The ancient Egyptians used plant oils in religious ceremonies and rituals of all types including embalming, purifying, fumigating, cleansing, healing, beautifying, and bathing. The Greeks followed the Egyptians using plant oils both medicinally and cosmetically. The crusaders are credited with bringing the perfumes and oils of Arabia back to Europe and as the trade routes began to open up, the Romans started to import new aromatic products to Europe from the Far East. The Romans, who adopted much of their medical knowledge from the Greeks, mastered the art of aromatics as they became known as the bathing capital of the world.

During the Middle Ages, the antiseptic and bactericidal properties of essential oils, as well as their positive effects on the immune system were recognized during the European plague. Then, in the 19th century, European scientists began researching the antibacterial effects of essential oils. In 1937, Rene Maurice Gattefosse published a book about the antimicrobial effects of essential oils and today is credited with coining the term aromatherapy. Soon after, in 1964, Dr. Jean Valnet began his own research and published a book titled "Aromatherapie" . The true practice of aromatherapy, however, is credited to Madame Margaret Maury, a French biochemist who developed the method of applying oils to the skin with massage. Marguerite Maury, translated the work of Gattefosse and Valnet into formulas and recipes. She researched the effects that oils had on the body both mentally and physically. Maury developed the method of delivery and applying essential oils by massage and later set up an aromatherapy clinic in London during the 1950’s. Micheline Archer joined Madame Maury and together they created the modern form of aromatherapy that is practiced around the world today. In Europe, aromatherapy is incorporated into the tradition health care community. European countries have professional licensing standards and require a prescription for oral doses. Aromatherapy was introduced to the United States in the early 1980s in California.

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