| SHIRLEY PRICE AROMATHERAPY LTD WORLDWIDE EXPERTS IN AROMATHERAPY SINCE 1974 SHIRLEY PRICE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF AROMATHERAPY |
History of Aromatherapy
The modern history of aromatherapy has seen procedures with non toxic plant oils
once again integrated into medicine and nursing as concern has grown over use of
more toxic materials as first line treatments.
In the 1990s thousands of nurses and midwives trained in the UK with Shirley Price
Aromatherapy a process repeated in the USA in the 2000s where thousands have
trained with RJ Buckle Associates, where aromatherapy has been integrated into many
hospitals and there has been an extraordinary growth in research into aromatherapy
and holistic approaches to medicine. The use of plant materials, massage and
acupressure has always formed a part of asian medicine.
Plants and raw vegetables of course form an important part of our nutrition.
Aromatherapy can be traced back to prehistoric times to ancient tombs when Juniper
berries were used as an antiseptic and to flavor food. Plants and herbs for medicinal,
culinary and cosmetic purposes have been used by civilisations throughout for
centuries. It is fair to observe that the higher the civilisation the greater the use made
of aromatic plants.
The Egyptians
The Egyptians used plant resins and oils during the mummification process. Myrrh was
used during the embalming process and jars of Frankincense have also been found in
tombs. They also used a number of fragrant oils for cosmetics and rituals. The Kyphi
incense included fragrant oils such as, Juniper, Frankincense, Myrrh, Lemongrass and
Cardamom. Frankincense, benzoin and myrrh were regarded so highly that in some
cases they were considered more valuable than gold.
The Ancient Greeks
The ancient Greeks obtained much of their knowledge on the use of plants in medicine
from the Egyptians. The Greek physician Hippocrates used chamomile as a way of
reducing fever and recommended daily massage with aromatic herbs for general good
health. Another Greek physician Galen recommended the use of cypress to ease
stomach complaints.
The Medieval Period
During the Medieval period a Persian physician and philosopher Avicenna discovered
the process of distillation. Not only is he acknowledged as contributing a great deal to
both past and present medicine but he documented detailed instructions on massage
and how to use plants and essential oils to aid good health.
Essential oils were an important part of Roman culture and were used to fragrance
public baths.
China and India
Both China and India have a long history of using plants and herbs as medicine.
Chinese physicians used sandalwood to treat cholera and courtiers held clove buds in
their mouth when addressing the Chinese emperor to ensure their breath was sweet.
The earliest record the Yellow Emperors Book of Internal Medicine dates back more
than 2000 years B.C. Chinese medicine is still used today throughout the world ranging
from Herbalism to Shiatsu. Traditional Indian herbal medicine - Ayurvedic medicine is
aimed at treating the whole body - body, mind and spirit. History shows us that India
used sandalwood to heal wounds and it was also burned for exorcism rites.
European knights returning from the Crusades brought back information and the
benefits of using plants and herbs to treat ailments. People began to experiment and
use plants as remedies. Bergamot was used in Italian folk medicine and in England
frankincense and benzoin was used to make Friar's Balsam for respiratory and skin
conditions.
During the Middle Ages people protected themselves against infections by wearing
herbal bouquets known as "tussy-mussies" and threw herbs on the floor to not only
ward off infection but perfume their homes.
Herbal remedies and essential oils were classed as the medicine of the people as the
women of the household would make these remedies for their families.
In 1649, the English physician Nicholas Culpeper published his herbal that became a
standard reference for plant remedies. Later during the Great Plague, physicians, and
apothecaries wore masks filled with herbs and spices to protect then from the disease.
In the 18th Century apothecaries started to add essential oils to there herbal remedies
and eau de Cologne was invented containing rosemary, bergamot, neroli and lavender
essential oils.
In 1910, a French chemist and perfumier Rene Maurice Gattefosse was working in his
laboratory when he burnt his hand and stuck it in a vat of lavender oil and rediscovered
the healing properties of lavender oil. Following this Gattefosse went on to treat
soldiers with essential oils in military hospitals during World War 1. He began to
research and experiment using essential oils and reported his findings in a scientific
paper in 1928. This is where the term "Aromatherapy" was first used.
Another scientist Dr Jean Valnet continued the research into the antiseptic and healing
properties of essential oils by using the oils to treat battle wounds during the Indochina
War. Valnet's work established aromatherapy as a therapy.
An Austrian biochemist, Marguerite Maury followed the work of Valnet and discovered
that when she applied the essential oils to the skin, the oils were absorbed. Maury
brought massage treatments using essential oils to the UK and in 1961 the Secret of
Life and Youth was published that pioneered the modern use of essential oils in
massage.
She set up her own aromatherapy practices to train people and her students then went
on to set up their own and so the use of essential oils in massage grew and
aromatherapy as we know it was born.
The modern history of aromatherapy has seen procedures with non toxic plant oils
once again integrated into medicine and nursing as concern has grown over use of
more toxic materials as first line treatments.
In the 1990s thousands of nurses and midwives trained in the UK with Shirley Price
Aromatherapy a process repeated in the USA in the 2000s where thousands have
trained with RJ Buckle Associates, where aromatherapy has been integrated into many
hospitals and there has been an extraordinary growth in research into aromatherapy
and holistic approaches to medicine. The use of plant materials, massage and
acupressure has always formed a part of asian medicine.
Plants and raw vegetables of course form an important part of our nutrition.
Aromatherapy can be traced back to prehistoric times to ancient tombs when Juniper
berries were used as an antiseptic and to flavor food. Plants and herbs for medicinal,
culinary and cosmetic purposes have been used by civilisations throughout for
centuries. It is fair to observe that the higher the civilisation the greater the use made
of aromatic plants.
The Egyptians
The Egyptians used plant resins and oils during the mummification process. Myrrh was
used during the embalming process and jars of Frankincense have also been found in
tombs. They also used a number of fragrant oils for cosmetics and rituals. The Kyphi
incense included fragrant oils such as, Juniper, Frankincense, Myrrh, Lemongrass and
Cardamom. Frankincense, benzoin and myrrh were regarded so highly that in some
cases they were considered more valuable than gold.
The Ancient Greeks
The ancient Greeks obtained much of their knowledge on the use of plants in medicine
from the Egyptians. The Greek physician Hippocrates used chamomile as a way of
reducing fever and recommended daily massage with aromatic herbs for general good
health. Another Greek physician Galen recommended the use of cypress to ease
stomach complaints.
The Medieval Period
During the Medieval period a Persian physician and philosopher Avicenna discovered
the process of distillation. Not only is he acknowledged as contributing a great deal to
both past and present medicine but he documented detailed instructions on massage
and how to use plants and essential oils to aid good health.
Essential oils were an important part of Roman culture and were used to fragrance
public baths.
China and India
Both China and India have a long history of using plants and herbs as medicine.
Chinese physicians used sandalwood to treat cholera and courtiers held clove buds in
their mouth when addressing the Chinese emperor to ensure their breath was sweet.
The earliest record the Yellow Emperors Book of Internal Medicine dates back more
than 2000 years B.C. Chinese medicine is still used today throughout the world ranging
from Herbalism to Shiatsu. Traditional Indian herbal medicine - Ayurvedic medicine is
aimed at treating the whole body - body, mind and spirit. History shows us that India
used sandalwood to heal wounds and it was also burned for exorcism rites.
European knights returning from the Crusades brought back information and the
benefits of using plants and herbs to treat ailments. People began to experiment and
use plants as remedies. Bergamot was used in Italian folk medicine and in England
frankincense and benzoin was used to make Friar's Balsam for respiratory and skin
conditions.
During the Middle Ages people protected themselves against infections by wearing
herbal bouquets known as "tussy-mussies" and threw herbs on the floor to not only
ward off infection but perfume their homes.
Herbal remedies and essential oils were classed as the medicine of the people as the
women of the household would make these remedies for their families.
In 1649, the English physician Nicholas Culpeper published his herbal that became a
standard reference for plant remedies. Later during the Great Plague, physicians, and
apothecaries wore masks filled with herbs and spices to protect then from the disease.
In the 18th Century apothecaries started to add essential oils to there herbal remedies
and eau de Cologne was invented containing rosemary, bergamot, neroli and lavender
essential oils.
In 1910, a French chemist and perfumier Rene Maurice Gattefosse was working in his
laboratory when he burnt his hand and stuck it in a vat of lavender oil and rediscovered
the healing properties of lavender oil. Following this Gattefosse went on to treat
soldiers with essential oils in military hospitals during World War 1. He began to
research and experiment using essential oils and reported his findings in a scientific
paper in 1928. This is where the term "Aromatherapy" was first used.
Another scientist Dr Jean Valnet continued the research into the antiseptic and healing
properties of essential oils by using the oils to treat battle wounds during the Indochina
War. Valnet's work established aromatherapy as a therapy.
An Austrian biochemist, Marguerite Maury followed the work of Valnet and discovered
that when she applied the essential oils to the skin, the oils were absorbed. Maury
brought massage treatments using essential oils to the UK and in 1961 the Secret of
Life and Youth was published that pioneered the modern use of essential oils in
massage.
She set up her own aromatherapy practices to train people and her students then went
on to set up their own and so the use of essential oils in massage grew and
aromatherapy as we know it was born.
