Introduction
Many of us were introduced to the benefits of essential oils before we were even aware of their existence and continue this through future generations. How many can remember the distinct aroma of camphor, eucalyptus or cedarwood as young children when presenting with coughs and colds? We we also blissfully unaware of the essential oils which were introduced to us during religious festivals, Frankincense and Myrrh during the Christmas nativity, Jasmine and Rose throughout Diwali and Cedarwood Atlas, Sweet Pomegranate, and Lavender during Tu B’Shevat to mention just a few? So from a very young age essential oils have played a significant role in our lives.
Essential oils (EOs), extracted from aromatic plants, herbs and trees, are natural products and represent an important part of traditional pharmacopoeia. They have been used in healing and also as perfume, incense and air purifiers throughout history. It has been associated with religion, medicine, mysticism and magic but is mostly associated with the healing aspect. Although the practice of working with essential oils can be traced to circa 4500 years, incense has more likely been in use since the discovery of fire. The practice of aromatherapy, the use of essential oils, phytotherapy, and the holistic approach to healing has evolved over the course of time. There have been many great educators and healers who have contributed to further learning and development of treatments over the course of more than 4000 years, these include.
- - The oldest actual written record which has been discovered to date is that of Taputti, an alchemist from Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) approximately 3200 years ago, she has been accredited with being the first female chemist.. Tapputti worked in a royal palace as the royal perfumer. Cuneiform tablets were unearthed by archeologists providing not just the formulae but also the exact methods of extraction and harvest. A group of fifteen chemists have been working with renowned fragrance expert Bihter Turkan Ergul to recreate the aromas and unguents/balms created by Tapputi. While many of the ingredients such as lemon balm, rose and myrrh are easily recognised there are many which will need far more research to distinguish the plant origin. To date the project has been a five year journey of discovery and creation.
- - An Egyptian queen revered for her beauty and entrancing charm ruled over Egypt 51-30 BC. She was renowned for her bathing and beauty routines and a charm which would entrance. The Egyptians are also famous for their use of Essential oils, hers, plants and flowered waters, in healing, beauty regimes, house fragrance and most famously mummification. Considering the Egyptians were involved in the trading routes through africa in particular Timbuktu, a city in Mali on the African continent and also a land called Punt it is very probably that the fruit and flowers of the Cananga Odorata tree, more commonly known as ylang-ylang. Over the past 40 years, I have used this oil in very small quantities in treatments for clients who are socially nervous or shy as it has the effect of attraction and draws people to the aroma which does help when people who stand outside of a group despite longing to be included. There are very few true images of Cleopatra and in my personal opinion, Elizabeth Taylor she was not. I do therefore wonder if the attraction was Ylang-Ylang at its finest? Essential oils were a substantial part of everyday life for the people of Egypt and into death also. Referred to as scented oils, some of the most commonly used would have been, lavender, cedarwood, thyme and jasmine, blends used would be dependant on status as perfume was a sign of status and wealth; the most obvious carrier for these would be olive and almond , the trees of which wound be plentiful in the lush lands of Egypt. Preparation for burial was a serious event in ancient Egypt with oils of frankincense, myrrh and cedarwood according to ancient papyri which have been translated.
- - Claudius Galen a Greek physician and surgeon responsible for the care of gladiators during the times of the Roman empire circa 131 BC,. Without the benefit of modern medicine Galen created his own medicines with the use of plants and their essential oils. During this time the Romans were renowned for their use of flower water, herbs and the extracted oils of flowers and barks, however the Romans of the days were more interested in the hygiene/bathing usage of the oils. It can of course be argued that hygiene being the key to better health they also used them as a preventative measure in health care. Hygiene and health brings us to the father of modern medicine.
- - Like Galen, Hippocrates was also Greek, and due to the massive contribution he made to diagnosis, medicines and healing gained the reputation as the father of modern medicine, his ethos and principles are still used within the medical and surgical specialities of today with all new doctors swearing the Hippocratic oath. Although he did not use essential oils as they are known today much of his medicine were plant based as are the essential oils which are in use in modern times. The foundations of his treatments were all based in nature as he recognised the healing properties of the flowers, barks, resins etc, so it is possible that they can be described as the precursor to essential oils. His holistic approach to health and healing still applies and continues to influence both conventional and alternative medicine.
- - also known as Ibn Sina, author of the massive publication ‘The Canon of Medicine’ a 5 book/encyclopaedia of medicine, which has been coined the ‘Medical Bible’ by many scholars and used as reference in universities across Europe. His specialism was Persian in origin; it also incorporated both Chinese and Indian practices. Throughout his writings Avicenna has always recognised the importance of scents of particular plants or flowers on the psyche, promoting health and well being. Utilising these scents allowed him to treat both psychological and physical ailments, even in 1025 Avicenna realised the importance of mental health on the person as a whole. I believe it was his technique of distillation which has led us to the essential oils we know and use in modern times. Unfortunately Avicenna has not had as many publications in ‘aromatherapy’ as I would like to see, when his contribution is taken into consideration the way he was able to treat so many illnesses and diseases with aromatic substances a dedicated publication would become the ‘bible of aromatherapy’.
- Henry viii.- Not an aromatherapist, healer or perfumer but a serious germaphobe who surrounded himself with all manner of herbs, balms and tinctures. He was also a great fan of perfumes, as a project some years back I reverse constructed one of his favourites to recreate in modern day, not exactly, as plant based aroma replacements had to be found where animal base had been used. So I have included him more as a great fan and advocate of the benefits of essential oils than an influential healer or teacher. An influencer of his day.
- Nostradamus- Probably most famously known for his predictions. However Nostradamus was also an accomplished alchemist and physician. During the plague in Paris Nostradamus introduced rosewater to the hospital wards and homes of those suffering. In 1552, he published the Traité des fardements et confitures, or the “Treatise on Cosmetics and Jams.”.
- Carl Linnaeus.- 1707 classification of plants
- - 1937 coined the phrase ‘aromatherapy, perfumer burn lavender
- - 1982 edition translated by Robert Tisserand, Henri Leclerc
- - Manury.
- Penoel.-
- - Francome
- Eve Taylor.-Now Dame Eve Taylor is for me personally the most accomplished Clinical Aromatherapist of our time. Beginning her career as a beauty therapist, soon ventured into and perfected the art of aromatherapy and blending of oils. Very proud to say I initially trained for a certificate in aromatherapy from Eve in 1980. In 1991 I returned to Eve Taylors academy to train as a Clinical Aromatherapist and will be forever grateful to Eve.
https://www.thearchaeologist.org/blog/the-3200-year-old-perfume-of-tapputi-the-first-female-chemist-in-history-came-to-life-again