History of Aromatherapy - Greece 500 Bc to Rome 476 Ad

Greece - 500 Bc

The Greeks furthered the knowledge of the Egyptians, and began recording and classifying the properties and actions of plant medicinals. It was Marestheus who first identified the stimulating and sedative properties of plant medicinals. Herodutus has been credited by some with creating the first distillation method, by recording the recipe of distillation of turpentine nearby 425 Bc. The Greek surgeon Dioscorides wrote his five volume herbal text, Materia Medica in 78 Ad. The book described the properties and uses of nearby 600 plants. This text became the main herbal reference used, and was translated into Latin, and became the approved medical text for the next 1,000 years. The aromatic plants section gave treatments for ointments and massage oils for every known condition. It also referenced foremost details for harvesting when a plant's active properties were most powerful. Dioscorides discovered that plant chemistry changes depending on the time of day, year, and stage of development. Plant harvesting practices continue to result these same practices discovered by Dioscorides in today's modern needful oil industry.

The father of holistic rehabilitation Hippocrates was an advocate of massage and recommended a scented bath and daily massage. Theophrastus of Lesbos, a pupil of Plato at the medical school in Athens, took over the school, and studied herbal medicine, aromatic plants and resins extensively. He noted that some ancient perfumes like "rose perfume" did not consist of any rose at all; and the so-called "perfume of Marjoram" from Egypt contained no sweet marjoram. Even in ancient days costly botanical preparations were adulterated. In his publication "Concerning Odors" he reports many of the corporeal and emotional effects of fragrance. He recognized that aromas have medicinal value.

Rome Ad

The Romans used lavish and opulent means for plant aromatics with baths and massage being the most well-known. By 3 A.D. Rome was the bathing capital of the world. They especially loved roses and would plant herb and rose gardens in the foreign countries they invaded. The predominant English gardens are the Roman's legacy.

Romans also used aromatic plants for charm treatments, cosmetics, hygiene, and
medical treatments. With the fall of the Roman Empire physicians fled to Constantinople with books containing the history of rehabilitation which then passed into the Arab world. Europe entered the Dark Ages when advances in aromatic rehabilitation came to a halt.

Aromatherapy For vigor

Aromatherapy utilises the important oils of plants and trees. These oils deliver a distinctly unique source of energy, both physical and spiritual. You could say that cars too evolve from separate components, and acceleration or speed is the power created as the end result. By contrast, important oils are so much more. They are a living intelligence emanating from within the aromatic plant. That is why some important oils can be described as fresh and moving or warm and earthy. Such is the comparison of manmade verses nature.

The physical side of Aromatherapy as power medicine is the breaking down of these so called components of important oils (their chemistry, biophysics etc) into antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral to name just a few physical actions. On the other hand Spiritual or subtle power is present in all organic life. It flows straight through us all and is also known among other names as qi or chi (Chinese) or as prana (Sanskrit) the lifeforce that emanates from all living things. So too the uniquely delicate power captured within the important oils such as rose or neroli reminds us of gentle love and the attractiveness that abounds not only in nature but also within ourselves. This subtle power vibrates at the souls level wrapping us in the wings of an angel.

So when we use important oils in daily life, whether straight through inhalation for a cold or in a carrier oil for a relaxing massage or naturally diffusing the oils a distinctly separate power is created within our being. Each important oil is a holistic creation that has the intelligence capable of influencing us on a physical, emotional or spiritual level. When using important oils harmonically our life force has the subtle potential to transform dynamically.

The following oils will naturally harmonize and enhance each other. Neroli (orange blossom) with it's delicate and sophisticated scent calms the nerves and uplifts the Spirit. It is a sensual oil that is both soothing for negative emotions and harmoniously grounding. Orange (fruit) is a sweet, warm and joyful oil. It conveys an easy-going arrival for the obsessive perfectionist types. Lastly, Petitgrain (stem) is bitter and herbaceous instilling relieve and settling emotions . The "Reunited Blend' is uplifting for both young and old!