Aromatherapy and essential oils are becoming popular again as a natural way to boost health. Let’s take a closer look at their history, quality, and uses.
Essential oils aren’t actually oils; they’re concentrated components from plants. These come from flowers, leaves, seeds, stems, roots, or bark, and they have numerous benefits for the mind, body, spirit, and emotions. These substances give plants their distinct fragrances, attract pollinators, and repel pests, enabling the plants to thrive.
Essential oils have been cherished for thousands of years and used in food, beauty routines, and health practices. Ancient Egyptians, as early as 4,500 B.C., used myrrh, cinnamon, frankincense, and cedarwood for healing and emotional release. Hieroglyphs show that priests used these oils for healing, religious ceremonies, and embalming.
Hippocrates also leveraged aromatherapy to enhance massages. He believed the body had natural healing powers that needed to be supported, and that doctors were responsible for maintaining this health.
In China and India, essential oils were integral to herbal remedies in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. These oils are even mentioned in religious texts, used in rituals and to combat sickness. Avicenna, a Persian philosopher from the first century, perfected the distillation process to extract essential oils.
Throughout history, from ancient Greece to the Renaissance and into the 1700s, essential oils were highly valued for their aromatic and medicinal properties. However, as modern medicine evolved, their use declined.
In the 18th century, Dr. Benjamin Rush and Benjamin Franklin had differing views on medicine. While Franklin believed in natural healing and healthy living, Rush thought doctors should control the healing process. Despite their differences, Franklin continued to advocate for a balanced diet, exercise, and moderation.
By the early 19th century, herbal medicines dominated the United States’ Pharmacopoeia. Currently, about 40% of pharmaceutical medicines derive from herbs. During World Wars I and II, the antibacterial and healing properties of essential oils were rediscovered, especially when antibiotics were scarce. Today, over 270 varieties of aromatic compounds are known for their medicinal properties.
Aromatherapy, the practice of diffusing plant and botanical essences, leverages our sense of smell to aid healing. Inhaling these molecules can stimulate brain areas that affect physical, emotional, and mental health. In France and Western Europe, aromatherapy is well-regarded for its antiseptic qualities and is gaining acceptance in the U.S. as an alternative treatment in various settings.
The price and quality of essential oils can vary.