The History of Aromatherapy: From Ancient Times to Modern Day

    Introduction

     Aromatherapy, the use of plant extracts for their therapeutic properties, has a rich and fascinating history that spans across different countries and time periods. From ancient civilizations to modern-day practices, the use of aromatic oils for healing and well-being has been valued for centuries. Essential oil use dates back to the Old Testament of the bible, where 30 plus different essential oils and oil producing plants are mentioned, in the form of ointments, balms, perfumes and fragrances. 

• Mark 6:13: "They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them."

   The Egyptians believed healing took place in the body and in the mind. They regularly used essential oil massages and herbal baths with various oils. The Hebrews used aromatic rituals for the purpose of purification and healing. Huang Ti an ancient Emperor of China wrote a book in 2695 BCE on internal medicine and included several aromatic oils, herbs and plants for healing. The Greeks viewed Essential oils as a "gift from the gods" and believed that each unique Oil and plant essence had spiritual value and a practical method of application. The Romans heavily believed in aromatic oils within baths and that soaking up these oils was a big part of Roman culture, especially in Pompeii. As you see essential oils have existed throughout time for centuries and some of this knowledge has been lost throughout modern times. In this blog post, we will explore the historical uses of aromatherapy and aroma-based healing techniques, shedding light on its significance throughout history.

                                        Ancient Egypt and Essential Oils

     One of the earliest records of aromatherapy can be traced back to ancient Egypt. In the Predynastic period of Egypt (6000 B.C.E - 3100 B.C.E) they very much believed in cosmetics, perfumes, toothpaste, deodorants, ointments, creams and oils to help with all types of symptoms and conditions. Spiritually they believed a clean physical body leads to purity within the soul. Often all mummies created were to preserve the beauty and cleanliness of the physical body so it can transition with ease into the afterlife. Tombs were often found with Plant extracts. A newly found burial in Saqqara, Egypt contained nearly 30 ceramic pots filled with Juniper bush extract, Cedar and Cypress tree oil, and various animal fats and beeswax to help with preservation. Mainly tree resins and oils have been found to play a huge role in the mummification process.

Queen Cleopatra - One of the most well known queens revered for her irresistible charm, beauty and courage. She often took "milk baths" containing donkey milk, (donkey milk is an exfoliant known for removing dead skin cells) Frankincense, Myrrh, Rose water, Daisy, Pure salt mined from caves, Royal jelly and jasmine. For her hair she would use honey and Castor oil. She was a strong believer in cosmetics and cleanliness.

                                    

     The Egyptians were known for their reverence for essential oils, which played a significant role in their religious rituals and beauty practices. Aromatic extracts of plants were considered divine and were used in embalming processes, fragrances, and healing arts. The Egyptians believed that these oils had powerful properties that could enhance both physical and spiritual well-being.

                       

              Here is a Pharoah Anointing someone with a plant based extract. 

Kyphi - An ancient perfume for the advanced members of society. The scent was often described as "enlightening" and was used in alters and temples as offerings to higher deities. Often used in incense, it was one of the first perfumes created worldwide as Kings and those who could afford it would wear Kyphi. A unique blend of Frankincense, Myrrh, Pine, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Saffron, Juniper, Mint and more. All of these aromatics stemmed from plants and were exquisitely crafted with time and effort.

                        Aromatherapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine

     In traditional Chinese medicine, aromatherapy is an integral part of herbal medicine and acupuncture. As every herb and spice has a unique effect and property capable of healing. Some herbs are cooling, while others are warming, some are cleansing while others are toxic, some are energetic and invigorating while others are sedative. The Chinese recognized the therapeutic properties of aromatic plants and their ability to restore balance in the body. Balance was a big part of Chinese culture, the classic Yin and Yang represented not only the balance of masculine and feminine but the overall balance within the body and soul. 

Acupuncture - An ancient technique of healing that originated in China thousands of years ago. Based on the concept of balancing the body's vital energy and life force known as Qi (pronounced Chee) which flows along pathways in the body called meridians. This is our bodies main energy source that all other parts of the body function from. Traditional Chinese principals believed that imbalances or blockages in the flow of Qi can lead to various physical and mental health issues. An acupuncturist would use tiny needles into specific spots along the body's meridian to unblock, stimulate and balance the flow of Qi to restore harmony and promote healing to the body.

         

     Within acupuncture essential oils are well known to go hand in hand to enhance the effects. Oils would be applied directly to the acupuncture point on the body before needle insertion. This technique allows a specific meridian to be activated and remove all blockages or accumulation of phlegm, bacteria or any negative build ups within the bodily area. Acupunctures main purposes are to balance Yin/Yang, regulate the flow of Qi, promote blood circulation and vitality, pain relief, to calm the nervous system and help reduce stress, anxiety, insomnia and emotional imbalances. Modern acupuncture very much follows these principals and core beliefs.

     Besides topical application of oils, most acupuncture practitioners use aromatherapy and a diffuser within the room to promote a calm sense of well-being. (Important to note, topical use of essential oils is different for each person as everyone's body reacts differently to various substances and one's level of individual sensitivity) Aromatherapy has been incorporated into various treatments throughout the world to alleviate pain, promote calming effects, help with sleep problems, promote blood circulation and improve overall health. The combination of aromatic oils, acupuncture, and herbal medicine formed a holistic approach to well-being in traditional Chinese medicine.

                                Ancient India: Indus valley civilizations

     A classic debate between which ancient civilization first started using Essential oils and plant extracts between Ancient Egypt and the areas of Pakistan, South India and south Asia in general. The Indus valley civilization is often the origin of many ancient Indian history. Stemming from the Aryans, some of the first humans to settle into land are credited as being the "first civilized people of the world" making settlements in Mesopotamia in 14,000 BCE. Humans of this time lived in small circular huts and hunted for food until around 8,000BCE with the development of agriculture and farming, as well as the domestication of animals. Most historians believe the first civilization to be in south Asia around 6,000BCE called the Harappans they were Indo-Aryans as they developed on the Indus river valley. Here is where Ancient India comes into play. The Harappans eventually began to integrate with other humans from India and thus comes along the Vedic period.

                                  

The Vedas are the oldest and most sacred text of Hinduism. Not only providing religious insights but also scientific insights which are still used by modern science, stating the existence of Atoms and Electrons, algebra, square roots, concepts of time, architecture, gravitational force, the motion of earth, light of the moon and more! These concepts that originated in ancient India were eventually passed to other parts of the world through various civilizations explorations and conquests. This knowledge reached Europe from interaction with Arabic settlements and was subsequently claimed to be discoveries from the scientists of the western world. During the Vedic period (1500BC - 650BC) the practice and knowledge of science flourished in areas like astronomy, astrology, physics, mathematics and cosmology. In around 1500BC is when the Veda period was created.  

The Vedic period layed the foundation for much of Hinduistic beliefs and practices. Transitioning from the old bronze age into the new Iron age.                                                   

     The Vedas mention up to 700 different types of plant matter, such as trees, herbs, flowers, roots and barks. They are classified in 3 ways 1. Vriksha (tree) 2. Oshadhi (herbs useful to mankind) 3. Virudh (minor herbs). The knowledge about the origins and significance of plants are often attributed to the Vedas. The oldest healthcare system on earth is derived from the Vedas called Ayurveda.                                    

 Ayurveda - Is derived from the Sanskrit words Ayur meaning 'life' and Veda meaning 'knowledge' as Ayurveda is the knowledge of life. Ayurveda believes to live a healthy life one must have balance between mind, body and soul. often putting great emphasis on prevention such as the prevention of disease, prevention of negativity and prevention of limiting mindsets. That one must be mindful and aware of the impact of their diet and hobbies or thoughts and their lifestyle as a whole.

     Ayurveda emphasizes how everyone has a unique physical and psychological foundation and knowledge of your unique mind, body and consciousness can help to create balance. Just as we all have different fingerprints, we all have different energy patterns which is an individual combination of physical, mental and emotional characteristics. That is a slight summary of ayurveda please refer to another blog post dedicated to just Ayurveda as the ancient Indian system of medicine, places great importance on the use of aromatic oils for healing. Aromatherapy is used in various Ayurvedic treatments to promote relaxation, rejuvenation, and harmony. The use of aromatic oils, such as sandalwood and lavender, is deeply rooted in Indian culture and continues to be an essential part of Ayurvedic practices.

                                     

                                         

                                         Aromatherapy in Europe

The influence of Greek, Roman, and Persian cultures greatly shaped aromatherapy practices in Europe. The Romans were known for their extensive use of aromatic oils in baths and massages. The Greeks recognized the therapeutic properties of essential oils and their impact on physical and emotional well-being. Similarly, the Persians incorporated aromatic plants into various healing practices. These ancient civilizations laid the foundation for the development of aromatherapy in Europe. 

René Maurice Gattefossé is a famous French chemist and was in the laboratory working in his family's cosmetic firm as a perfumer, and he was splashed by boiling incense that caused a small explosion and 1st degree burn on his hand. He quickly dunked his hand in the nearest bucket of liquid, and it happened to be lavender essential oil. Within the next 2 days his burn healed very quickly and was amazed by how the lavender oil healed his hand on its own. This grew his fascination and began experimental use of essential oils on soldiers during World War 1. He used Lavender, Thyme, Clove and Lemon for their antiseptic properties and was pleasantly surprised by the increase in the healing rate of wounds using essential oils compared to other treatments at that time. He went on to write several books about aromatherapy and various uses of different oils claiming essential oils to cure skin cancer, facial ulcers, bug bites and rashes. The antibacterial properties of plant oil can kill microorganisms. During WW2 Jean Valnet a French doctor also used essential oils to heal soldiers. In the 18th century Eu de Cologne began using essential oils to create perfumes.                                                        

Greece - Ancient Greece back in 1850BCE used a "Hydrodistillation" technique which is a known method for extracting oils from plant tissues. Hydrodistillation is among the oldest and most basic oil extraction method.

Hippocrates - Is widely regarded as the father of modern medicine, as many modern cures can date back to Hippocrates. There was very little information on disease in 460BCE and he made great discoveries and advancements in the medical field while also being ethical and virtuous. A Greek physician and teacher who wrote many treatises and books, he was very influential to the famous philosophers of his time such as Plato and Aristotle. One of his most famous books Hippocratic Corpus was a work of science, medicine and philosophy put into one, although it wasn't written by Hippocrates himself it was a collection of his work written by at least 18 different scholars of that time who used his knowledge and name. It included how to identify symptoms of disease, how to properly diagnose disease, different illnesses, theories of ethical means within medical practice, scientific observations and how healing is an art form. To quote Hippocrates "The art of true living and the art of fine medicine combined."                           

                                                                                                                                                              

     Although he did not use essential oils directly, he was a strong advocate for the properties and benefits of plants and nature and has inspired generations to come and much of modern medicine knowledge and practices can date back to him.

Aspirin - one of the first pharmaceutical drugs to be invented was derived plants. The drugs key ingredient is Salicylic acid which is found in a common European shrub, Spiraea. Found in trees and shrubs of the spiraea family this includes Willow, Meadowsweet and Myrtle. As these plants have their own history, Myrtle was used in ancient Greece for its pain relieving and purification properties. Meadowsweet is one of the three most sacred herbs according to the ancient Druids. Known to treat joint pain and gout, help with inflammation, indigestion, arthritis and skin diseases.

Steam distillation - In 1,000AD a great Persian physician named Avicenna invented a pipe for steam distillation. A breakthrough in aromatherapy and creating essential oils.

                                  Religious Texts and Essential Oils

Throughout history, religious texts from different cultures have mentioned the healing benefits of essential oil extracts from plants. The Bible, for instance, references various aromatic substances, highlighting their significance in ancient times. These texts not only provide insight into the historical use of aromatherapy but also emphasize the cultural and spiritual value placed on aromatic oils.

Ebers Papyrus - One of the oldest and most important Egyptian medical books is a 110 page scroll of herbal knowledge written in 1500BCE that has over 700 different plant formulas and species used for therapy and healing matters.

The Bible - Within the Old and New Testament, there are over 600 references to plants and herbal use. To name a few are Frankincense, Myrrh, Spikenard, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Spikenard, Hyssop, Cedarwood, Sandalwood and Balsam. The bible uses terms like scents or smells, aromas, ointments, perfumes, and incense. The herb Myrrh is quoted in the bible 156 times.

Genesis 1:29 "I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth. on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing" In Genesis 43 Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy some grain from their brother Joseph to help stop the famine. Jacob, trying to appease the ruler includes Myrrh as a present. "a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds." 

Quran - There are at least 15 different plants mentioned in the Islamic Quran. Myrrh and Frankincense are again mentioned and emphasized by Muhammad. He also mentions the use of Citron, Saffron, Camphor, Indian Frankincense, sweet Basil and Sage. 

The Vedas - As mentioned before the Hindu Vedas mention the largest plethora of plants and herbs which is more than any other sacred text. They praise the aromatic use of plants in ceremonies, rituals, meditation, sleep and as medicine for spiritual and emotional healing. Myrrh, Giner and Tulsi (holy basil) are some of the most revered herbs, known for their healing properties. The Vedas believed Tulsi to be "Belonging to Vishnu" (Vishnu is one of the most worshipped deities in Hinduism who preserves and protects the cosmic order from evil) that it is viewed as the "mother medicine of nature" in modern India. Myrrh is a gum resin and in the same genus as Frankincense they are both apart of the Burseraceae family otherwise known as the "incense tree family" which includes 540 different species of woody flowering trees and shrubs that all produce a resin or gum from nearly all plant tissue. 

Very interesting that Frankincense and Myrrh are in the same plant family, and they are probably the two most used and well known herb/oil throughout all of the different cultures and advanced ancient civilizations across the world. Not to mention that there are two different areas where Frankincense grows (India and Africa) and two different places where myrrh grows (Africa and Middle east). These plants are very close to Jerusalem and Mecca and Egypt, all of these sacred and holy lands that at one point in time used these herbs very religiously and it was significant across various cultures. Kinda makes you wonder what they knew, or what the collective belief was at that time.

 

                                    Topical Use of Essential Oils

The application of essential oils topically for pain relief and specific injuries has a long history. Ancient cultures recognized the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of massaging the oil directly into the skin, or anointing someone with oil was used as a spiritual event. Much of cosmetics in the past has been linked to essential oil and plant use. Including natural oils like coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil and Argan oil are some of the most popular. These are all carrier oils which is very important in the topical use of concentrated plant essence. A carrier oil is used to dilute the pure essential oil down to a percentage where it is safe and medicinal to use. Any essential oil can become a topical or anointing oil, you just have to add a carrier oil as a base and do a proper ratio between carrier oil to essential oil. This is how you can make homemade lotion with essential oil in it, or you can spice up your aloe and blend that together with some olive oil or coconut oil along with an Essential oil known to help skin irritations such as a pain relieving peppermint or a calming eucalyptus there is always creative ways to heal! 

 

          

                                                   Overview

     Plants are our friends! They have been around earth for millions of years, the different societies have used them extensively throughout time in so many different ways of medicinally, religiously, culinary and of course alcohol. and to think majority of all medicine are derived from plants in some way or another. Plants make up majority of the earths land with over 380,000 different species of plants! we all live on such a diverse and beautiful planet. Thank you, mother earth for all that you do for us :)