A History of Aromatherapy

Aromatic plants and oils are used by different cultures all over the world. They are used in oils, perfumes, in incense, in religious ceremonies, in cooking and in medicine. Many of the medicinal products that are in use in our modern world are originally derived from plants and herbs, all be it that today it is the synthesised equivalent that is used by the pharmaceutical companies rather than the natural product.

Aromatherapy has been used by ancient civilisations for thousands of years.

The Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Indians all used essential oils for their well-being. Hippocrates – the Father of Modern Medicine is reported to have regularly used aromatherapy baths and oils. When a Roman doctor – Discorides in 50A.D decided to further the work of Hippocrates, the result was a 5 volume book called the ‘De Materia Medica’. This book gave a detailed outline of the healing properties of plants and how they affected the body.

However, it wasn’t until the 19^th century that Europe began to reap the benefits of essential oils, when a French chemist – Rene Maurice Gattefosse, having burnt his hand reputedly plunged it into the nearest cool liquid, which happened to be a beaker of Lavender oil. He subsequently found that not only did the wound heal quickly without infection, but neither did it leave a scar. It was he who coined the phrase ‘Aromatherapy’ derived from ‘Aroma’ meaning perfume or smell and ‘Therapy’ meaning treatment.

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