I decided to research the historical use of aromatics in the field of medicine for an assignment in my recent class. In the course of my research; I have found many interesting references and I have decided to include as many of them as possible. The most informative resources came from books I have purchased for my personal library. The use of aromatic protocols for the sick and suffering vary from resins to essential oils. According to Robert B. Tisserand, “many of the old perfumes were… also used for their medicinal properties. Since they were formulated entirely with natural ingredients they form a precise equivalent to modern aromatherapy products.” [1]
Much of the history of fragrance is shrouded in mystery, lost to the ages. Some believe that the ancient Chinese may have been the first to harness aromas as a medical treatment. Others say Egypt is where it all began whose first perfumers, the first aromatherapists were the priests. The ancient Egyptians used an aromatic preparation called kyphi to treat conditions as varied as insomnia, anxiety, asthma, depression and as a general antidote for toxins. “As the use of aromatics became more common they were also employed by physicians… There are papyri recording the medicinal use of herbs dating back to the reign of Khufu who built the Great Pyramid around 2800 BC.” [2]
Egypt was the center of trade and commerce as well and the great Queen Hatshepsut was said to have sent ships to bring back myrrh trees to plant leading to her temple in the city of Thebes. The infamous Queen of Sheba paid a visit to the courts of King Solomon to discuss fragrance trade. According to some accounts the ancient cities growth was sparked by the commerce of fragrant herbs and spices.
By 500 BC “the use of aromatic medicine was as prevalent in Greece as in Egypt. The Greeks learnt a great deal from the Egyptians concerning perfumery, and the properties and uses of aromatics. Herodotus and Democrates, who visited Egypt during the fourth century BC, declared that the people were masters of the fine art of perfumery.” [3] Hippocrates is often called the father of modern medicine yet it may be more accurate to refer to him as the father of holistic medicine. The basic premise was the notion of mental, emotional and physical balance. Illness was an upset of this equilibrium and the physician’s role was to facilitate the natural capacity of self-healing of the body. His teachings emphasized that a healthy body was balanced person.
Kathi Keville and Mindy Green speak of the first century AD, as a time of accelerated development of aromatherapy. “Aromatic plants were one of the five sections covered in the Greek physician Dioscorides’ famous Herbal, which remained a popular medical reference for the next thousand years. In the third century BC he had the entire city of Athens fumigated with the smoke of aromatic plants to successfully eradicate the plague a practice that would be later adopted in medieval Europe.” [4]
It is regrettable that many disregard the contributions by the Islamic Middle East. It should be noted that “it is during [the dark ages] that the use of aromatics flourished in the Middle East and indeed gave rise to many of the skills and techniques which are still used today.” [5] The Prince of Physicians, Ibn-Sina, the Arab alchemist, astronomer, philosopher, mathematician, physician and poet (known as Avicenna in the West) used Rose Attar for ailments of the digestive tract. One of the most important discourses in the Middle East on in medicine Al-Qanun fi’l Tibb or the Canon of Medicine, which was later translated, became a great influence of Western medicine was written by Avicenna. Essential oils and aromatic herbs were used comprehensively in his practice. He also deserves credit for improving methods of distillation. In the Middle East glassware was finally produced that could withstand the heat of distilling. The spread of Islam kept the trade of aromatics thriving and indeed laid many of the foundations which modern plant-based holistic medicine is built today.
With the end of the Roman Empire the level of civilization in Europe declined tremendously. During the Dark Ages the plague was treated with fumigations. At the time it was supposed that the ‘aura’ or poison of the disease was in the putrid air.
Foul odor was considered a common cause of many diseases. It is not unexpected that citizens generally leaned toward strongly aromatic herbs and oils to mask the stench which accompanied life in the typical European cities.
In more modern times the Paris International Exhibition of 1867 separated perfumes and soaps apart from the pharmacy selection, thereby instituting an independent “commercial” field for cosmetics. Later, and perhaps, even more noteworthy was the creation of the first synthetic fragrance, the first perfumes incompatible with therapeutic use. Thus began the decline of fragrance used for medicine.
In early twentieth century France we have what could be the first use of the word ‘aromatherapy’ when René-Maurice Gattefossé penned an article, “‘Aromatherapy’ or a therapy employing aromatics” he states is “in a sphere of research opening enormous vistas to those who have started exploring it.” The French became leaders in reestablishing the therapeutic uses of fragrance.
Later “the efforts of pioneers such as Valnet, Maury, Tisserand, and others have turned aromatherapy into a disciplined healing art, rediscovering the uses of fragrance from ancient times and sparking a revival of aromatherapy that has swept throughout the world.” [6]
Salvatore Battaglia closes his chapter on the history of aromatherapy by saying, “While scientific research may help [aromatherapy become respected and acknowledged by conventional Western medicine] the current scientific approach may not be the most appropriate platform for aromatherapy to develop in the future.” [7]
Schnaubelt suggests that “science will be unable to make meaningful statements in this field as long as it is dependent on measuring the changes of only one variable.” [8]
Battaglia continued, “I believe the future of aromatherapy is a very promising one, in which essential oils are integrated into all aspects of life.” [9]
I wholeheartedly agree.
1. Tisserand, Robert B. Art of Aromatherapy: The Healing and Beatifying Properties of the Essential Oils of Flower and Herbs. New Revised Edition. Vermont: Healing Arts Press, 1977, pp. 26.
2. Ibid, pp. 20-21.
3. Ibid, pp. 25.
4. Keville, K. and Green, M. Aromatherapy: a complete guide to the healing art. Second Edition. Berkley: Crossing Press, 2009, pp. 6.
5. Battaglia, Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. Second Edition. Brisbane: The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy, 2002, pp. 14.
6. Keville, K. and Green, M. Aromatherapy: a complete guide to the healing art. Second Edition. Berkley: Crossing Press, 2009, pp. 10.
7. Battaglia, Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. Second Edition. Brisbane: The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy, 2002, pp. 19.
8. Schnaubelt, Kurt. Medical Aromatherapy: Healing with Essential Oils. First Edition. Berkeley: Frog Books, 1999.
9. Battaglia, Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. Second Edition. Brisbane: The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy, 2002, pp. 19-20.
