Aromatherapy and Essential Oils were mankind's first medicine. Long before herbs were used in the healing arts of the ancients, essential oils were distilled. Essential oils were considered more valuable than gold. They were the treasures only of kings.
History has it that the ancient Egyptians embalmed their nobles with pure essential oils. In the tombs of the kings were stored alabaster vessels full with fragrant essential oils - an unimaginable value - for use in the afterlife of the deceased. When these treasures were finally unearthed, the essential oil was still intact even after thousands of years!
There are over 200 references to Healing Oils, aromatics, incense, and ointments throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
One of the Dead Sea Scrolls on display in Israel at the Shrine of the Book Museum, contains this intriguing phrase: "and he will know his children by their scent".
Napoleon is reported to have liked a cologne water made of neroli and other ingredients so much that he ordered 162 bottles of it.
And the 12-century mystic, Hildegard von Bingen, used herbs and oils extensively in healing. Her renown book, Physica, has more than 200 chapters on plants and their uses on healing.
Only during the late 19th and early 20th century, essential oils were reintroduced into modern medicine by Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, Ph.D., a French cosmetic chemist. He is known as "the father of aromatherapy", having coined the phrase "aromatherapy" around 1907.
Today aromatherapy is a household name and TV commercials have discovered the golden opportunity of selling scented things. However, scientists warn strongly against the use of synthetic essential oils as explained in "Danger of Essential Oils".
Now it's your turn to discover the untold benefits of therapeutic-grade essential oils and aromatherapy in your life!
Essential oils constitute outstanding treatments of acne because of the ability to dissolve sebum, kill bacteria, and preserve the acid mantle of the skin.
