The History Of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy
by jspad

Article by Anne Morris

Aromatherapy has been with us for thousands of years, probably since ancient times when Egyptians made incense from aromatic herbs to honor their deities. There are also references in ancient Chinese texts to the use of infused oils for massage from as far back as 2650 BC. It was not only in ancient Egypt and China that aromatherapy was practiced, for Hippocrates wrote of using aromatic herbs as well.

Hippocrates is known as the Father of Medicine and lived in Greece around 2500 years ago. He advocated the use of making massage oil infused with the aroma from flowers and herbs, as well as the benefits of aromatic baths. It was during this time that aromatherapy made great advances as a healing modality.

During the time of the Black Death in England in 1603, it was observed that those who gave in to the plague tended to work with perfumes and aromatics. This sparked interest in the effects of aromatherapy and scientific writings from the time indicate aromatherapy was studied extensively for its healing properties.

By 1800, aromatherapy was firmly established world wide and was used for both cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Rene-Maurice Gattefosse is often referred to as the Father of Aromatherapy. He was a French chemist and he accidentally discovered the healing properties of lavender oil when he used it to treat a burn he suffered in his laboratory.

This fueled his interest and he went on to study aromatics and even coined the term 'aromatherapie' which the art is still known as today. His work garnered the interest of a French doctor by the name of Jean Valnet who also conducted research in aromatherapy and its use in the treatment of medical and psychiatric conditions.

Madame Marguerite Maury, who also lived in France studied the works of Dr Valnet and she formulated the first holistic aromatherapy approach.

Since that time, the practice of aromatherapy has spread around the world and gained immense popularity as an alternative form of healing the mind and ! body. Ar omatherapy is commonly used to combat stress and promote harmony and tranquility within the body to lead to a state of well being.

One can be treated with aromatherapy in a spa or from a alternative health practitioner. It is also quite easy to treat yourself at home by using either prepared aromatherapy products or creating your own by using essential oils, or flowers and aromatic herbs found in nature.

About the Author

Anne Morris provides articles on aromatherapy. You can find more of her work at the site aromatherapy-zine.com.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Take enough amounts of MSM supplements and keep your body clean and healthy.

Image
by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Article by Mike Sulphur is one of the basic elements of life and is known as the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. It helps to maintain the proper acid alkaline balance of the body and also plays an important role in the creation and regeneration of the body tissues. MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is found in, and used by, every cell in the human body. Our skin, hair and nails contain sulphur and you can even smell it if you have ever burnt your hair. Sulphur has a beautifying effect on the skin and causes acceleration of hair growth that it can be considered as the most beautifying of all nutrients and the best cosmetic in the world. Even though small amounts of MSM are available in foods like eggs, milk, meats, raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds the heat from cooking or pasteurization may destroy MSM in them making it useless t
Keep reading

Beating Psychological Erection Problems Increase Libido - Chinese Holistic Herbs That Work Quickly

Image
by MarkinDetroit Article by keriquintyne The ability to produce large amounts of semen when you ejaculate is something most men think is only possible in porno movies! Not true! This article will give you a few tips for increasing semen volume and help you develop an increased sense of virility in the bedroom. A big penis has always been a symbol of male fertility and masculinity. Men haven't started to think about penis male enlargement in recent years men have thought about it for thousands of years. There is no question that women find men with big penises as more sexually attractive and if you have a smaller manhood then you got every reason to worry about it. Every guy wants a bigger penis. Fact! From the second that they start puberty to the moment they hit manhood they are looking and hoping for a way to make their penis grow just that little bit more. Many questions t
Keep reading

Global Food Consumption [Interactive Infographic]

Image
It should come as no surprise that people in developing countries consume fewer calories than the developed countries of the world. Also unsurprisingly, the income level of inhabitants of developing countries is far lower than in the developed world. However, the disparity of the percent of household income spent on food may surprise you. Food Service Warehouse , a restaurant equipment and supplies web store, put together an interactive display that explores global food consumption and income spent on food. Click below to check it out: After working on a more light-hearted graphic about the world of competitive eating , Food Service Warehouse (FSW) took interest in the average caloric consumption around the world. While no countries are consuming anywhere near the estimated 20,000+ calories that Joey Chestnut ate in a hot dog eating contest, many of the high-consumption countries are well above the average recommended daily amount (according to the FAO, roughly 2,400 calories per d
Keep reading