"The essence is to the plant
as the soul is to the human being".
Dietrich Gumbel.
1. HISTORY OF AROMATHERAPY.
Kiwan Ti, Chinese emperor, began studying the scents from plants 5,000 B.C. Centuries later, people were already talking about herbs, trees, and spices, and the principles of Yin Yang were being applied (the opposites: day-night; man-woman; hot-cold).
Nowadays, they are used in the every-day-life aspects of the Chinese. Every plant or flower has their own symbol. For example, we can mention the orchid representing purity. It takes part in religious ceremonies.
Aromatherapy was also present in Mesopotamia around 3,000 B.C. They used roses to wash their face, head, and even their mouth. Some oils were prepared near temples since they were used for religious ends as well as therapeutic. Among them, we could mention myrrh, myrtle, and cardamom. These oils are obtained through the technique of Maceration.
Rome was influenced deeply into the use of perfumes. Romans had such fascination for scents they even sprinkled their circus seats before spectacles with perfumes.
GATTEFOSÉ, widely known as the Father of Aromatherapy, was influenced by flower-therapy around the 900's. Gattefosé was performing several experiments in his laboratory when all of a sudden, he burnt his hand badly due to an explosion. Instinctively, he placed his hand in a container with lavender essence. His burns were healed miraculously. His pain was diminishing considerably, there was no infection whatsoever and he scarred correctly. As a result, the book "Aromatherapy" appeared in 1928. In it, Gattefosé made his highly scientific fundament known. He based the book on the antiseptic and healing virtues of oils.
We could name some of the great contributors for this discipline branch:
Jean Valnet, French medic-soldier who helped cure the wounded in World War II. Due to the shortage of medication, he used healing oils from plants. His results were so impressive that he perfected his techniques as time went by. After the war, Valnet used these essences to treat tuberculosis, diabetes, and other illnesses. Valnet created a valuable test still used today by medics in aromatherapy known as AROMATOGRAM. This test helps the doctor select the right essences for a specific patient.
Marguerite Maury, Austrian, a biochemist and an esthetic scientist, focused in the branch of Cosmetics. She is a winner of the international award of Cosmetic Science. Many of her formulas are still used for cosmetics.
Other contributors for this discipline we could mention:
Paolo Rovesti, Director of the Derivati Vegetali Institute, has proven their effects in anxiety and depression clinical treatments.
Robert Tisserand, founder of the most important Organization that studies and investigates Aromatherapy practices today.
Aromatherapy has also influenced other treatments: ACUPUNCTURE (based in the fact that our body is connected by lines which link different organs in our bodies). Essential oils are applied upon specific points (called Mediterranean) where needles are inserted. The essence penetrates your body and is later massaged.
