Women Shining Magazine Women Shining Spring 2018 | Page 8

Aromatherapy
Seduction of the Senses to Heal Body and Soul
T he practice or
use of, what we
today refer to as
Aromatherapy, dates
back thousands of
years, in fact, to the
ancient Egyptians
and Cleopatra.
Cleopatra wrote a book on beautification which
included many recipes that utilized many
essential oils. ‘Aromatherapy’ use dates go
back over 5000 years ago with its use in many
spiritual/ religious practices.
Historical evidence of its use is also found
in China, Babylonia, Greece, Pakistan,
Mesopotamia, and more. It was used in
medicinal procedures, beautification, healthy
daily living, and for mummification after death.
The term, Aromatherapy, actually comes from a
book that was written by a French Chemist and
perfumer, Rene Gattefosse also famously known
as the ‘father of Aromatherapy’. His book was
published in 1937 which tells the tale of his
experiences, investigations and discoveries of
the healing properties of essential oils which
started in 1910. He wrote ‘Beauty Product’ in
1936 and ‘Physiological Aesthetics’ in 1938.
This dynamic man played a huge role in the
cultivation and production of essential oils in
both France and French North Africa.
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His life was dedicated to the field proving the
beneficial effects of aromatherapy. The perfume
industry, aromatherapy and clinical research for
medical procedures are continually developing all
thanks to Gattefosse. Dr. Jean Valnet, published
‘The Practice of Aromatherapy’ in 1980 providing
us with more current knowledge and information
to help us improve our well-being.
Nowadays, use of alternative and
complementary therapies with mainstream
medicine has gained momentum. Aromatherapy
is one of the complementary therapies which
use essential oils as the major therapeutic
agents to treat several diseases.
The essential or volatile oils are extracted from
the flowers, barks, stem, leaves, roots, fruits
and other parts of the plant by
various methods. Inhalation, local
application and baths are the major
methods used in aromatherapy that
utilize these oils.