Since time immemorial, folk medicine has claimed that certain aromatic oils derived from plants have curative powers, not only to heal the ills of the body but also to soothe and heal the troubled spirit. Depending on the nature of the problem, an oil derived from the roots, bark, leaves, or flowers of a plant is massaged into the skin. Or it may be swallowed or inhaled in the form of a vaporized mist. There is ample evidence in the literature of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans that aromatherapy was an indispensable part of medical practice and there are countless references in their writings as well as in the Bible to the restorative effect of fragrant oils on the soul in distress.
During the Middle Ages and through the eighteenth century, aromatics continued to be used as remedies, but eventually, with the development of the science of chemistry, many of the age old practices were discarded in favor of medicines synthesized and standardized in the laboratory. It was not until 1920, when a Frenchman coined the term aromatherapy and wrote a scholarly book on the subject, that it began to be taken seriously, especially in France, where 40 years later another Frenchman wrote about his successful use of aromatic oils during World War II to hasten the healing wounds and minimize scars. In France today, the cost of aromatics used therapeutically is reimbursable by the government's health insurance.
Since the 1960s aroma therapists have been attracting a growing number of adherents and together with herbalists they now offer a codified pharmacopoeia of oils said to alleviate PMS, stress, sinus congestion, arthritic pain, depression and chronic fatigue. At the same time, a growing body of anecdotal evidence is available to substantiate the effectiveness of aromatherapy. Scientific investigators have discovered that some aromas lower blood pressure, others change brain wave patterns and in specific instances where sporadic memory loss has become a pathological problem, certain smells associated with the patient's past can trigger a normal response.
At the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer in New York, a recent study of patients who were anxious about undergoing MRI procedures indicated that 75 percent were calmed by the scent of sweet vanilla. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center reported that a mixture of five floral fragrances relieved tension and anxiety in a group of menopausal women between 45 and 60.
A popular application of aromatherapy is in body message. Serious practitioners whose purpose is to alleviate pain or to promote a feeling of relaxation and well being use hot compresses to open the pores of the skin for the penetration of the oil of choice during energetic manipulation of a particular part of the body.
One of the most attractive aspects of aromatherapy is that is can be a do-it-yourself adventure. But keep in mind that because pure aromatic oils are very expensive, only small amounts find their way into even the most expensive bath oils and soaps. By trial and error you can experiment with the various naturally scented oils now available in body and bath shops as well as in well-stocked health stores. For their use in curing bodily ills, you can find "treatment" charts in naturopathic shops that sell natural oil blends.
