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What Is Aromatherapy?

What is aromatherapy? When we hear this term many of us have a preconceived idea. The majority of us believe it to be the burning of fragrant candles. What is the true purpose of aromatherapy?
The definition of aromatherapy given by Shirley Price, a prominent authority on aromatherapy, states:   “Aromatherapy is the controlled use of essential oils to promote the health and vitality of the body, mind and spirit by inhalation, baths, compresses, topical application and full body massage. The definition of aromatology (i.e., complete aromatic medicine) is the controlled use of essential oils to promote the health and vitality of the body, mind and spirit by inhalation, baths, compresses, topical application (as above) and selected area massage, plus external intensive use of undiluted oils and internal use via rectum, any body orifice and vagina”. With this clarification it easy to see that aromatherapy has a place in complimentary health care.
Complimentary health care is exactly what it means. It is to compliment routine health care not to replace it. You should use a reputable aroma therapist and consult your physician before initiating a program, especially if you have severe health issues.    

A Little History

Since the beginning of written history the use of aromatherapy can be found. Of coarse it was not referred to aromatherapy.
According to the orthodox view of history, civilization began with the ancient Egyptians some 5300 years ago. The oldest pyramid was built in the third dynasty, around 3000 BC, by King Zoser’s chief architect, Imtohep, who was also astronomer and physician to the king. He certainly did much to advance medical knowledge and since infused oils and aromatic unguent were so often in Egyptian medicine, we could probably justifiably label him the grandfather of aromatherapy. (www.tissarand.com/history )
The Greeks and Romans used aromatic plants and essential oils. The Greeks spread herbal plant and perfume in their living space to disinfect and control odor.
With the movement of the Roman Empire west the use of aromatic, medicinal and household plants were introduced to the European countries.
 During the middle Ages the plague ran rampant, so they employed fumigation to destroy the disease using a variety of aromatic (herbs, wood and resins). Every aromatic substance was in use to combat the Black Death. Aromatics were the best antiseptics available at the time, and the people knew it. (The Art of Aromatherapy by Robert B. Tisserand )  
In the 1900’s a French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse whose research was the use of essences in cosmetics, was involved in an explosion during and experiment, being burned badly he plunged his hand in a vat lavender oil. To his interest the hand healed at a rapid rate with no infection or scaring. The word aromatherapy was coined by Gattefosse.  

Essential Oils

Paracelsus (1493-1541) created the word essence, which equates to spirit. The term essential is applied to these oils because they contain the essence, or fragrant part of the plant. In alchemy, spirit is the personality or extract of something that retains the qualities of the origin substance.
 Essential oils are very volatile, which means they evaporate at a relatively low temperature. With this in mind care should be taken in storage of essential oils. Oxygen, heat, light and moisture have a detrimental effect it is best to keep your oils in amber bottles in a cool low light area.
 When using essential oils it is best to extract what is needed and replace the cap quickly, this will not allow oxygen to enter the bottle. As the oil contents decrease it is advisable to transfer to a smaller bottle to eliminate unwanted air.

“God of His infinite goodness and bounty hath by the medium of Plants, bestowed almost all food, clothing and medicine upon man.”
Gerarde’s Herbal (1636)