Quick Facts About Aromatherapy History

Natural plant oils not only bring an alluring scent into the air, but also offer medicinal help when needed. The practice of using natural scents to treat medical ailments is one that dates back thousands of years. In this article, you will learn a little more about the history of aromatherapy, touching upon the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Quick Facts

·    Hippocrates recorded that the Greeks were well aware of the significance of natural oils. They preferred to tap into their therapeutic properties that the oils possess by creating sedatives and stimulants.

·    Both the Greeks and the Romans of the ancient world used aromatics in their rituals and ceremonies. Without oils, the people may have not luxuriated in the baths of the past. During this time, the popularity of massage and treating the exterior of the body grew.

·    Europe saw a great decline in the use of essential oils when the fall of the Roman Empire took place.

·    In the past, decorative perfume containers were shaped to carry oils , often depicting the gods and goddesses of their culture. Some people carried small pots of aromatics with them. It was not uncommon to see small vessels with oil hanging from the necks of ancient Romans and Greeks.

·    The first culture to distill rose essence was located in Arabia when Avicenna came up with the process about 1000 AD.

·    Arabia became known as one of the best places for perfume production in the world. At the time, they would import raw materials from a variety of places about the region, including China, Tibet, India, and Egypt. They also earned a reputation for trading their products on an international basis.

·    The 12th century would mark the time when perfumery as an art form would return to Europe. There is documentation that shows that aromatics were utilized as protection against the plague. People started to believe that perfume could also make you live longer, as they noted that life expectancy rate for perfumers was pretty decent for the times.

·    During the 15th century, a handful of infamous perfumiers located in Europe emerged. They sold perfumes to their customers as a way to keep sickness away, as well as to control body odor.

·    Perfume was recognized as an aphrodisiac during the 17th century.

·    The therapeutic uses of perfume were recorded throughout the 17th century. Notable herbalists, such as Culpepper, became well known. It is people like Culpepper that start to build a foundation for the aromatherapy that we see today.

·    Essential plant oils were recognized for their antiseptic and rejuvenating properties after the late 1920’s, when a man by the name of Dr Jean Valnet discovered the effectiveness of oils on World War II soldiers. The oils had been used for the healing of their wounds and the effort proved successful.