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A Brief History of Essential Oils
Parts of this were taken with
permission from Essential Oils Overview and
Reference Guide,
published by: The Family Tree, 2008
Essential oils are the oldest and some of the most powerful therapeutic agents know to man. Historically, they span centuries of use in healing, therapy, and religious ritual throughout the ancient world.
Among
others, frankincense is repeatedly referred to in many Judeo-Christian
and Muslim religious texts. Others, such as myrrh, lotus, and sandalwood
oils were widely used in ancient Egyptian purification and embalming
rituals. Clove and lemon oil were used as disinfectants hundreds of
years before the discovery of modern antiseptics. Romans used
essential oils in their temples and political buildings as well as
aromatic bathhouses that were gathering places for the upper class.
Ancient Egyptians were among the first civilizations to recognize
the therapeutic qualities of oils. In the early 1800’s, papyrus,
dating back to 1500 B.C., was found listing over 800 herbal
prescriptions and remedies that included the use of many oils.
They had studied the chemical properties of essential oils, the
development and refinement of the distillation process. Ehen King
Tut's tomb was opened in the 1900s it had many jars with essential oil
residue. This story sometimes gets exaggerated but does confirm
these oils have been used for millennia.
An interesting episode of essential oils was during the great
epidemic of the Middle Ages known as the Bubonic Plague (1330 A.D.) that
destroyed almost half of Western Europe’s population. An
enterprising band of thieves took advantage of the high mortality rate
by robbing the dead without becoming infected by the disease. The
thieves were eventually captured in Marseilles, France and put on trial.
The judge offered the thieves leniency if they would reveal how they
managed to avoid the ‘Black Death.’ It turned out that the thieves were
perfumers and spice traders. By rubbing themselves with a blend of
highly antibacterial aromatics, they had effectively immunized
themselves.
Even starting before this period ancient alchemist began to explore
the nature of matter. Some were trying to prove (or disprove)
Aristotle’s view that matter was made of fire, water, earth, and air.
In this process they furthered the techniques of chemical separation
through extraction and distillation. The earliest were the
alchemist of Islamic cultures in the East and this knowledge then moved
to their counterparts in Europe. From the distillation of plants
first came perfumes then cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It was during
this period that the aromatic essences of plants first came to be known
as essential oils. Unfortunately these early researchers, the
alchemists, were not always rewarded positively for their contributions.
Hopefully we have learned a lesson and regard modern researchers of
essential oils with higher esteem.
The modern beginning of essential oils and aromatherapy began to
blossom in the early decades of the twentieth century. In July of
1910, the lab of French cosmetic chemist, René-Maurice Gattefossé, Ph.D.
exploded, setting his hand and arm on fire. In a panic, he plunged
his arm in what he assumed was water. However, it actually
contained pure lavender oil. Pleasantly surprised at the analgesic
effects and fearing further damage resulting from the accident, he
continued with regular application of lavender oil.
The wound
healed with very little scaring. He then investigated the
chemistry of the oil in order to discover what properties had caused
this tremendous healing effect. Dr. Gattefossé continued his
examinations of the healing compounds of other essential oils. His
studies laid the groundwork for the clinical use of essential oils.
This work was followed by Jean Valnet, M.D. also in France. Valnet was a French army doctor who began using essential oils to treat wounded soldiers and heal gangrene during the Second World War. His post-war books introduced aromatherapy to a wider audience and lead to several more respected publications. Two of Valnet’s students, Dr. Paul Belaiche and Dr. Jean Claude Lapraz expanded his work. They analyzed the antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties in essential oils. In 1979, Dr. Belaiche published a work that included results of extensive in-vitro research on the antimicrobial effects of essential oils and their subsequent clinical applications on a wide range of infectious and degenerative illnesses. These advances lead to a selected level of acceptance by conventional medical doctors, other healthcare professionals, and even insurance companies in France and other countries.
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Essential Oils from the heart of plants are “Nature’s Medicine Cabinet”. The quality and purity of Essential Oils are vital to a positive experience. Only doTerra offers Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) Essential Oils and Supplements.
What is CPTG?
Watch this video!
Use CPTG oils as you take charge
of your health.
Dr. Mom's favorite oils:
lavender,
lemon, peppermint,
oregano,
melaleuca
and blends:
Breathe,
Deep Blue,
On Guard, and
DigestZen.
NOTE: The advice shared in this site has not been evaluated by the FDA. The products and methods recommended are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease, nor is it intended to replace proper medical help. As members offer or look for answers, kindly understand that essential oils work to help to bring the body into balance - thus helping the body's natural defenses to restore homeostasis. Essential oils are not used to "treat" medical problems.