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A historical background to aromatherapy may be found in many ancient cultures. As research shows, in Egyptian civilisation, we find that Immenohthep a famous architect of the Saqqarah Pyramid, physician of the third Dynasty to Pharaoh Djoser, is said to have formulated his medicines from aromatic plants, among them aniseed and cardamom. Reaserch also reveals among the greeks, Hippocrates, considered as the father of medicine, recommended the uses of aromatics as foods and medicines, as well as a fragrant massages for good health. Galen, a physician to the Roman Emperors contributed a great deal to the history of pharmacology. The Galenics methods of prescribing, pays tribute to its originator who about 15 centuries ago provided a reference for the practising physician.
About 1000 AD, Avicenna, a Persian poet, scholar, philosopher and physician wrote his Canon of Medicine and re-invented steam distillation. A chemist named R.M. Gattefosse, is believed to have coined the term ‘Aromatherapie’ sometime in 1937, and his story is now an Aromatherapeutic legend. Gattefosse burnt his hand while working an experiment in his laboratory, and as a reaction to the pain he plunged his hand into a nearby container with essential oil of lavender not knowing the effects. Gattefosse found the pain was lessened, and he had found the healing process more pronounced by accedent, using the application of lavender. Research also shows, a French physician named, Dr. Jean Valnet, promoted the use of essential oils of rosemary, and thyme as antiseptics and for the treatment of battle wounds. After the first world war, he wrote various aromatherapy uses from his findings.
The scientific research papers, and books of Gattefosse, Guenther, Guildemeister and, Hofman, Valnet, and their disciples, confirmed the therapeutic value of essential oils. Research also shows, in the early 1960s a french chemist and cosmetologist named, Marguerite Maury, had been exploring the regenerative properties of essential oils, and the connection between aromatics, and medicinal molecules, was pioneered in England, with the combined usage of essential oils, massage, and other specialised techniques in cosmetology. Marguerite Maurys book titled, The Secret of Life and Youth, is still one of the most respected aromatherapy books today.
