The History and Benefits of
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the therapeutic inhalation of
the natural fragrance from volatile plant
oils, essential oils, infused oils, and herbal
preparations, and is one of the ways those with
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia can
use natural fragrances to enhance their
wellbeing. Some mistakenly think that
aromatherapy is simply a carry-over hippy
practice of burning incense that’s been wrapped
up in a new name. But, while the term
aromatherapy is new, the practice has been
around for thousands of years.
Many believe the Chinese, through their
practice of burning incense, was the first
culture to use aroma to induce a feeling of
psychological and physical wellbeing, harmony,
and balance. The early Egyptians, and perhaps
those in Persia and India as well, used a type
of rudimentary distillation machine to extract
cedarwood oil.
Egyptians used oils from cedarwood, cinnamon,
clove, myrrh, nutmeg, and various herbs when
they embalmed the dead. The Egyptians didn’t
limit use of those and other fragrant
preparations to embalming, however. During this
time when the distillation primarily focused on
extracting aromatic floral waters rather than
essential oils, the Egyptians were able to
create infused oils and other herbal
preparations that were used for body fragrance
and cosmetics, and medicinal and spiritual use.
The Greeks, who credited the knowledge of
perfume as a gift from the gods, recognized the
aromatic and medicinal benefits of plants.
Hippocrates, often referred to as the “father of
medicine,” used fumigation -- the practice of
employing smoke or fumes to exterminate or
disinfect. This is relevant because it is
believed that the Egyptians (who many
acknowledge as the ones who imparted their
knowledge of perfumes to the Greeks) came up
with the term perfume, from the Latin per fumum
which translates “as through the smoke.”
An early Greek perfume called megaleion
included myrrh in a fatty-oil base and was used
for its aroma, its anti-inflammatory properties,
and its ability to help heal wounds. During the
age of the Roman Empire, De Materia Medica
written by Discorides describes the medicinal
and other properties of approximately 500
plants.
Throughout history, men have used fragrance
as often as have women. The ability to better
distill essential oils came about in the 11th
century due to the invention of the coiled
cooling pipe distillation process; however, it
took until the 13th century for what could be
considered a pharmaceutical industry to occur.
It is speculated that perfumers’ who were in
constant contact with natural aromatics enabled
them to avoid the
Black Death that killed so many in the 14th
century. By the 16th century, essential oils
were available from apothecaries established for
that purpose.
The 20th century ability to distinguish the
components of essential oils in order to create
synthetic chemical equivalents now causes
problems for a small segment of the population.
For therapeutic aromatherapy to be effective --
and without risk to those who deal with Multiple
Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) or Environmental
Illness (EI) that is often associated with
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia,
it is important to distinguish the difference
between natural essences like essential oil and
synthetic fragrances and perfumes that are often
derived from a petroleum base.
BOOKS ABOUT AROMATHERAPY:
375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols
by Jeanne Rose
Advanced Aromatherapy: The Science of Essential
Oil Therapy
by Kurt Schnaubelt
The Complete Book of Essential Oils and
Aromatherapy
by Valerie Ann Worwood
Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy
by Suzanne Catty
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils:
The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in
Aromatherapy and Herbalism
by Julia Lawless
Medical Aromatherapy: Healing with Essential
Oils
by Kurt Schnaubelt
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