Aromatherapy The Story

"Adrift in a warm and gentle sea of heavenly flowers, woods, herbs and spices”……………Cleopatra

There is nothing more magical than lighting your vaporiser, the fragrance of your favourite essential oils wafting around the room, relaxing you and setting the mood for the day or evening. After a long tiring day, soaking in a bath enriched with Essential Oils, listening to relaxing music to put you in a magical frame of mind for the evening.

This however, is not new. The use of essential oils predates written records, and is reported to go back as far as Neanderthal Man. Archaeological evidence shows us that the ancient civilisations of Assyria, Babylon, China, Crete, Sumeria and Egypt used essential oils.

The use of Essential Oils is written in the Bible with God directing Moses to “make a Holy Anointing Oil from flowing Myrrh, Sweet Cinnamon, Calamus, Cassia and Olive Oil.” Once this was made it would have proven to be an EXTREMELY POWERFUL anti-viral, antibiotic substance. I believe that the verse in Ecclesiasticus 38:4 says it all “The Lord created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them”.

Now lets go back in time………………

CHINA

In both medicinal and cosmetic areas of usage, the Ancient Chinese had an extremely high level of understanding. It is reported that the oldest known medical document composed in China was written in 2000bc by the then Emperor - Kiwang Ti. He wrote about the healing attributes of Pomegranate, Rhubarb and Opium. The Chinese always talked about their remedies in terms of Yin and Yang. Yin being feminine, is associated with wetness, darkness, cold and passivity. Yang being masculine associated with light, motion, heat and dryness. These elements were always balanced in any treatment afforded to patients.

INDIA

ROME

Aromatherapy was used widely in public bathing and massages. The Romans used essential oils on almost anything, their hair, bodies, clothes, in their homes, on their flags, etc, etc. It is also claimed that Cleopatra used essential oils on the sails of her barge. Because of this extensive usage, the Romans had their own perfume districts, in several of their major cities

GREECE

A beautiful Nymph attending Aphrodite the Goddess of Love was said to have brought the Greeks perfume, as they believed that it was heaven sent. Because of their religious beliefs, the Greeks ascribed divinity to all plants, believing plant essences to be pure spirit. They used oils on all parts of their bodies.

AND THEN??????

Rome fell and with it we lost some beautiful essences. Arabia was making strides in the Chemistry of Science, and the Dark times of the Middle ages began, along with it the Great Plagues. These occurred because of the terrible lack of hygiene. However, those working in Britain and Europe at those times with Essential Oils, Herbs and Perfumes were almost never effected.

SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURY

The Father of Botany, William Turner a Herbalist started to treat people and record his findings. He treated people in terms of hot or cold. For example, too much internal heat such as a fever, he treated them with cooling Essential oils say like Peppermint or cooling herbs. Time went by and the 17^th Century rolled in with what was known as the Golden Age of Herbal Medicine. Nearly all the Essential Oils we consider important today were found by this time!

Nicholas Culpeper, the great Herbalist and Physician lived in this time. He wrote many books on herbs and essences still highly thought of by to-days Aromatherapists.

Source: Oils of the Earth Pty Ltd - Training Manual - reference Maggie -

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