The Aromatherapy Scene

Nobody knows exactly where and when the healing art of aromatherapy began. Nevertheless, it has its roots in the rites and rituals of earliest mankind. By analysis of fossilized pollens found in ancient habitation and burial sites of early humans, scientists have discovered traces of plant that have known medicinal properties.

The history or aromatherapy probably started in Egypt, where evidence of the widespread use of aromatic plant substances was seen in the tomb paintings of the ancient Egyptians 5000 years ago. Plant substances were used not only for medicinal, but also for perfumes and cosmetics, in preservation and preparation of food to enhance flavor and aid digestion. They were also used for their anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties to stave off illness and epidemic. Some were even found to have contraceptive qualities.

The embalming of royal bodies and High Court dignitaries involved the removal of the internal organs, which they embalmed separately and stored in canopic jars for later burial in the tomb. The intestinal cavity was cleaned with palm wine and all hollow parts of the body were filled with aromatics and spices. The body was dry-salted and left for 70 days. They then wrapped the body with gummed bandages and prepared it for the funeral procession to the tomb.

As the Roman Empire expanded the history of aromatherapy continues. The empire’s knowledge spread widely and probably arrived in Britain with the Roman legions. In the 11th Century Arabia, Avicenna, the famous court physician, recorded his use of over 800 plants in his treatments. Historically, he is an important figure in the later development of Aromatherapy because he used massage and manipulation as part of his treatment. He was also largely responsible for the refining of distillation techniques to derive oils from plants.

Medieval Europe saw use of plants in infusions, pills, potions, pomanders and nosegays, which were sniffed as protection against epidemic and pestilence.  The herbs lavender, sage and rosemary were used widely to scent linen and to protect materials against moths.

On 2nd February 1685, Charles II suffered a convulsion whilst being shaved and collapsed. They treated him with mallow leaves, violets, beetroot, camomile, fennel, linseed, cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, aloes, hellebore and cowslips.

They gave him drinks of barley water, liquorice, sweet almond, wine, absinthe, thistle, mint, rue and angelica. The treatment continued with slippery elm, peony, lavender, lime flowers, lily of the valley, melon seeds, gentian root, nutmeg, quinine and cloves. Not surprisingly, the king died a week later.

Today, aromatherapists are very aware that “too much” can be extremely dangerous when considering the possible toxic side effects of essential oils incorrectly used in untrained hands.

Modern history of aromatherapy begins at the end of the 19th Century, when a French chemist, Professor Rene Gattefosse, accidentally discovered the healing power of lavender essence, when he plunged his hand into a bowl of lavender oil after receiving a bad burn. The burn healed quickly, without forming a blister or leaving a scar. He eventually gave his treatment the name “Aromatherapie”.

His work was later extended by Dr. Jean Valnet, a French physician, who used essential oils to treat cancers, tuberculosis, diabetes and other serious illnesses. He claimed many successes. Marguerite Maury followed him, a French biochemist and beautician, who further developed massage techniques and skin-care treatments using essential oils. She continued to further develop and work in the field of aromatherapy until she died in 1968 at the age of 73. Interest in aromatherapy has continued to grow and today, rightly, it has a massive following.