Aromatherapy – “ancient techniques in a modern world” is the title of our and the more you research the origin of aromatherapy, the more you realize how true this is! From the earliest times flower plants have berries and leaves have been used to heal the body and burnt twigs for their scent, which then affects the emotions or senses. It is only as time has passed to our scientific understanding is constantly confirm the contribution of natural plants to the general situation of our well being. In this article, we will trace the history of aromatherapy and the use of essential oils from ancient times to modern.
Archaeologists have found the remains of many plants known medicinal value in landfill sites and create pages early human races and often use plants may have been associated with religious or superstitious practices. The oldest recorded reference to plants used for medicinal purposes dates back to 10,000BC. The earliest humans found that berries and leaves would help wounds and leaves and roots helped sick people to feel better. Certain twigs and branches already set on fire would make people either sleepy or feel excited and some said they have “mystical” experience !!
Egyptians
3000 years BC Egyptians found a fragrance for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. They used it to embalm the dead and perfume contributed much to public and private lives. The good cause handmaidens used together with fragrant cones on their heads. They did drugs cakes, perfumes, molding materials as well as pills, powders and purees from a wide selection of trees and plants. In many pyramids huge amount of cosmetics jars have been found. Smells like Frankincense was still evident from this and there are records of cedar and cypress been performed. Plants used were included aniseed, castor oil, coriander, cumin and garlic to name a few. The wall paintings that have been discovered it is obvious that in the 3rd century BC Egypt had a primitive form of distillation.
Babylon
Early Babylonian doctors do reports on their formulas and prescriptions on clay tablets. They did not take out the amount that they use but they did give details of any measures should be prepared and taken. Merodach Baladan was king of Babylon in 702 BC and was one of Babylon’s kind of taking a keen interest in planting and use of medicinal plants. In the gardens of Babylon, the times can be found garlic, fennel, saffron, thyme, cumin, coriander, juniper, myrrh and roses .. many of these names you will find using essential oils in today’s society.
Babylonian texts such laws Hammurabi (1792-1750 / 43 BC) that described the responsibility of the surgeon and how much he should pay. Pay was good, but penalties for failure strong: “If a doctor conducts major operation in master … causing his death …. they cut off the hand”. Only wounds, fractures and abscesses treated surgically. A Sumerian clay tablet (2150 BC) describes the wound be washed in beer and hot water, poultices made of pine, prunes, wine dregs and lizard dung, and the use of bandages (for nose-bleed!). Other texts describe the symptoms and prognosis of epilepsy, bronchitis and scurvy. List of 230 drugs with plant, animal and mineral substances found in Assyrian and pharmacy records of cedar oil distillation prove that this was before the invention than previously thought.
Greece
Ancient Greece, as with ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt, played an important role in history. The most famous of all ancient Greek doctors was Hippocrates. Hippocrates recommended aromatic baths and massages to promote and maintain good health
By 1200 BC, Ancient Greece was developing in all areas – .. Trade, farming, military, sailing, crafts, etc. their knowledge of drugs developed in accordance with
Gods dominant life Greeks. Natural occurring explained away using gods. This is, however, no medicine in Ancient Greek physicians tried to find a natural explanation of why someone got sick and died.
Greeks were practicing medicine 1,000 years before the birth of Christ. In the “Iliad” of Homer, injured soldiers treated by doctors and Greek leader in history, Menelaus, was treated for arrow wounds by the doctor-in-arms, Machaon.
Greeks had a lot of medical expertise of from Egypt if they made many of their own their discoveries. Olive oil was enough and they use it to absorb the scent of flowers and herbs for both medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The Hippocrates writing references were made to a number of drugs including opium, mandrake and belladonna and food plants such as quince and rhubarb. He wrote “Let medicine be your food and your food be your medicine” – a guiding principle if applied would undoubtedly improve the lives of many people in today’s society
Another Greek named Galen knew a wide the number of “simples” he lived his remedies and he wrote a lot about plant medicines. He found the original “cold cream” formed the prototype of almost all perfumes in use today.
Another Greek, Dioscorides was responsible for writing “Materia Medica” vast volumes detailing the properties of medicinal plants. The work of these three people were translated into Arabic languages.