Essential Oils – The Past, Today, FutureSince early recorded history, earth’s plant kingdom has provided potent extracts and essences that provide long rewarding medicinal, spiritual, aromatic, therapeutic value, as well as, beauty enhancing potentials. Oils, Extracts, and aromatic plants used in ceremonies and religious observances over the ages. Essential oils used in perfumes, incense, food preservation and preparation, beauty care and methods to relax the human body. Evidence of use of essential oils dates back as far as 3000-2500 B.C.It is known that as early as 2000B.C. Egyptians used essential oils in all aspects of daily life. Egyptians were very passionate about their beauty were highly accomplished in specialized beauty treatments. Legendary Cleopatra’s beauty attributed to her everyday use of essential oils, fatty oils, salts, and clays from the Dead Sea – gifted her by Marc Antony. Ruling families and priest in the Egyptian temples were renowned for herbal preparations. Many of the Egyptian temple walls depict the extraction and care of essential oils. In 1922, the opening of King Tutankhamen’s tomb found alabaster jars specially carved for essential oils. Egyptians have influenced much of the Greek, Roman, and Jewish Culture.Hippocrates, a Greek physician, the father of modern medicine, still impacting the medical community documented over 300 plants and their medicinal impact. A natural healing system, the Indian Ayurvedic Healthcare system, merging spiritual, philosophical, and natural healing system. India’s sacred book mentions 700 different herbs used in perfumes and aromatics for therapeutic and religious purposes. Traditional Chinese Medicines, oldest known medical texts the Shennong’s Herbal dating back to 2700 BC, contains information related to the uses of 365 plants. The Bible Old and New Testament references dozens of aromatic plans with 12 essential oils mentioned over nine times. The essential oils specially referred to in the Bible are frankincense, fir, myrtle, cinnamon, cedarwood, myrrh, and spikenard.Submerging his severely burned arms and hands in a large container of lavender oil, French chemist Gattefosse, stopped gasification of the tissue on his hands and arms. This incident caused him to investigate the medical use of essential oils during World War I. He treated soldiers in military hospitals with essential oils to alleviate disease and injury. A colleague of Gattefosse, Jean Valnet began using essential oils as antiseptics treating wounds with great success.In 1980 a French biochemist Franchomme, and MD, Penoel investigated, cataloging the therapeutic properties of 270 essential oils for use in a clinical environment. Today essential oils are commonly used by doctors in England, Germany, and France. Patients can choose natural essential oils or prescribed medicines both distributed via the pharmacy across Europe. Tradition and historical records have provided insight into the uses of essential oils. The renewed interest in essential oils and their uses has brought about a resurgence and an important bridge between cultures and health care professionals.Since 2011 Essential Oils, have provided wellness benefits to our household.Marie, Wellness Advocate, Blogger, Author#Essentialoilhistory #doTERRA #natural-u.net
