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History of Aromatherapy


Published on: 05/29/ 2009 | By: Alex Quek | Rating: Unrated | Total Views: 878
About The Author: Mr Alexander Quek Poh Liak, graduated in 1986 from Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur with a Diploma in Science (with Distinction in Chemistry and Mathematics) and a Bachelor of Science Degree (Magna Cum Laude) from Campbell University, North Carolina, USA. He has more than 20 years experience in the Chemical Industry, especially in Personal Care and Household Care industries.
Website URL: http://www.alexquek.com
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  • Aromatherapy was used by the most ancient civilizations and is reputed to be at least 6000 years old. It is widely thought that Aromatherapy began in Egypt.

  • The Egyptians used a method known as infusion to extract the oils from aromatic plants and incense was probably one of the earliest ways of using aromatics.
  • Frankincense was burned at sun rise as an offering to the sun god, Ra and myrrh was offered to the moon.

  • The Egyptians were experts at embalming using aromatics to help preserve flesh.

  • The Egyptians used to be massaged with fragrant oils after bathing.

  • The Greeks continued the use of aromatic oils and used them medicinally and cosmetically.

  • A Greek physician, Pedacius Dioscorides, wrote a book about herbal medicine and for at least 1,200 years as the Western world's standard medical reference. Many of the remedies he mentions are still in use today in Aromatherapy.

  • The Romans took much of their medical knowledge from the Greeks and went on to use and improve the ability of aromatics with Rome becoming the bathing capital of the world. After bathing they would be oiled and massaged.
  • The Romans started to import new aromatic products from East India and Arabia through the opening up of trade routes. 

  • During the crusades the knowledge of aromatic oils and perfumes spread to the Far East and Arabia.
  • It was a physician called Avicenna who lived from A.D 980 to A.D. 1037 that is understood to have first used the process known as distillation to distill essence of rose, although it probably took many years to perfect the process.
  • The Arabs also discovered how to distill alcohol around the same time making it possible to produce perfumes without a heavy oily base.  

  • There is a strong possibility that the ancient Chinese civilizations were using some form of aromatics at the same time as the Egyptians.

  • Shen Nung's Herbal book is the oldest surviving medical book in China which is dated about 2700 B.C. and contains information on over 300 plants.

  • The Chinese used aromatic herbs and burned aromatic woods and incense to show respect to God.

  • Traditional Indian medicine known as ayurveda has been practiced for more than 3,000 years and it incorporates aromatic massage as one of its main aspects.
  • The North American Indians also used aromatic oils and produced their own herbal remedies.
  • It wasn't until the 19th century that scientists in Europe and Great Britain began researching the effects of essential oils on bacteria in humans.


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