INTRODUCTION

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Aromatherapy has a long history and can be regarded as both an 'art' and a 'science.'  Its healing qualities on the mind as a psychological aid and also its physical benefits on the body, have been known for thousands of years. 

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Aromatherapy as its name suggests, is derived from the 'aromatic compounds' used which are in turn derived from plants.  These aromatic compounds, by their nature 'evaporate' in ordinary temperature and are therefore borne through the air and dispersed.  These properties can therefore, be used in confined spaces where the aromatic effect becomes concentrated, they can then be breathed by a 'patient' who will then derive a benefit from the 'aromatic compound.'

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'AROMATIC COMPOUNDS'

It is the 'aromatic compounds' which contain the healing properties and so it is possible to obtain the healing property from either the whole plant extract, or 'essential oils' which themselves, are derived from the whole plant extract.  The healing property remains the same - the 'essence' - but the form can vary. 

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ORIGINS OF AROMATHERAPY

Although there is no definitive evidence, as to where aromatherapy originated, as it has clearly been used in many different cultures - its origin however is often attributed to the Egyptians, who it is said, formed pots to distill essential oils from plants.  These oils were used by the priests in the temples as part of the embalming process - since not only do these essential oils have a pleasant smell, but they also have clear anti bacterial and therefore anti decaying properties. 

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Other cultures like the Chinese and Indian also used aromatherapy and the Indian, Ayurveda practices are well known and established.  These cultures also used the properties of the essential oils for mood enhancing as part of their psychological healing processes. 

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The Greeks used aromatherapy copied from the Egyptians.  The Greek, father of healing or medicine as we would style it today, was Hippocrates - who was regarded as a semi Divine being because of his tremendous healing abilities.  He used aromatherapy massage as part of his treatment, a practice which the Romans also copied. 

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In Arabian culture, as the Arab empire was growing, they derived their knowledge of aromatherapy practices mainly from Chinese and Indian culture. 

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Aromatherapy being both a 'science' and an 'art' also became linked to 'Alchemy.'  Indeed, it was a famous Alchemist, Avicenna who invented the 'refrigerated coil technology' used in the distillation process for essential oils.  This process is still in use today. 

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The fall of the Roman empire saw the onset of the Dark Ages and 'aromatic compounds' were used to mask bodily odors and smells, as bathing was infrequent.  Following the Dark Ages - the renaissance saw a revival in 'holistic healing' methods.  In the Middle Ages, plants were still used for medicinal purposes.  This is evidenced in at least 2 published works, The Generall Historie of Plantes by John Gerard, published in 1597 and Nicholas Culpeper's, The English Physician -  a book published in 1652.  The latter describes the use of plants and essential oils as cures for ailments. 

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In recent times the practice which as we have seen above and practiced for thousands of years, was given its modern name 'aromatherapy' by the French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé in 1937.  He is said to have discovered the healing properties of Lavender oil, which he used to treat a burn he experienced in 1910.  Another French surgeon Jean Valnet similarly used essential oils treating injured soldiers in the first World War. 

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An Austrian bio chemist Marguerite in the 1950's used 'vegetable carrier oils' mixed with essential oils for the purposes of massage.  She also originated the 'custom blending' of essential oils, tailored to the individual needs of her clients who required massage treatment. 

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'The Art of Aromatherapy' by Robert Tisserind, was an important book and is reputed to be the first English book on the subject of aromatherapy. 

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Aromatherapy is closely linked with 'holistic' methods of healing and interest in 'holistic health' has grown rapidly, particularly in recent times as the movement in 'complimentary,' 'alternative' and 'natural remedies' has also grown.  In addition, modern research is increasingly showing the benefits of aromatherapy in the healing process.

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AROMATHERAPY AND THE HEALING OF HUMANITY

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Aromatherapy works because the 'human being' is a complex 'multi -  dimensional' - 'trans - dimensional' Being. 

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BODY, SPIRIT & SOUL

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Not only does an individual have a 'physical body' but the complex biological entity we are as 'human beings' are a complex of 'subtle bodies' or 'energetic fields.'  These energetic fields can be regarded as being 'dense' or 'light' -  if we say for example the 'physical body' is 'dense' then the bodies 'mental bodies' or 'spiritual bodies' - can be regarded as 'light.'  The wonderful thing about aromatherapy is that it is able to heal not just the physical body such as cuts, bruises burns etc... through the application of essential oils but that it is also able to 'heal' the 'subtle mental bodies' - namely it is able to assist in the psychological healing process.

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The more we learn about the human body, the more we realize that the subtle mental/spiritual bodies actually underpin the physical body and therefore if we direct attention and effort to these subtle bodies, we will automatically bring healing to the physical body.

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This is not to say that aromatherapy can be used for every situation -  for example a broken leg - One would use the necessary knowledge and skills to deal with the 'physical effects' of a broken leg i.e. plaster, caste etc... But the 'mind' of the patient in the healing process is increasingly being recognized as being an important part of that healing process and so aromatherapy is just one of the ways in which the 'mind' of the patient can be addressed, in an effective 'non intrusive' way - a way that does not result in 'side effects' or other distortions of a human body.  We can term this approach 'mood enhancement' for convenience - but it is in fact a much more profound process.

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Scientists are able to study the effects at the quantum level and so therefore we know that ultimately at this quantum level we are dealing with 'energetic fields.'  Well - 'aromatherapy' - through the very nature of the way it is used - its 'medium' is the air - and therefore it is able to operate effectively at the 'energetic level' - directly with those 'energetic fields' we term 'mind,' 'spirit.'  Aromatherapy can therefore be seen as an extremely powerful tool in the healing process.

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