Aromatherapie – eine Renaissance: Herkunft und Bedeutung

The healing properties of essential oils were well known long before Gattefossé’s discovery [Link]. The use of essences can be traced back to ancient Egypt, the alleged cradle of medicine and perfumery. The Egyptians possessed a deep knowledge of the effects of aromatic substances on the human body and on the human mind.  Other early users of essential oils were the Chinese, whose combination of herbal essences and acupuncture accounted for a highly effective activation of the body’s self-healing powers. Also the Incas, the Aztecs and the Tibetans practiced aromatherapy, and massages with aromatic oils are one of the most important therapies of Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine with a history of over a thousand years. Further applications can be found in ancient Greece. During a plague epidemic raging throughout Europe, Hippocrates, known as the Father of Medicine, advised the citizens of Athens to burn aromatic plants at crossroads to prevent the spreading of the disease. Meanwhile, aromatherapy has gained strong popularity among European physicians and therapists, particularly in France and England.