Egyptian Legacy
The ancient Egyptian culture clearly documented their use of aromatic medicine in their hieroglyphic records. Evidence of the use of herbs in the way of aromatic barks, resins, perfumed oils, wines and vinegar's were found dating back to 4500 BC. Egyptian priests were doctors and alchemists and used aromatic substances for healing. Tutankhamen's tomb dated to 1350 BC, and opened in 1922 AD, contained pots which still had traces of frankincense, myrrh and a variety of spikenard. Writings from the reign of Khufu 2800 BC record plant material being steeped in oil or wine, or burned as incense. Essential oils were extracted by the steeping of plant material in oil, and then squeezing the oil through a linen bag.

The First Distillation
Persian physician and alchemist Avicenna distilled the oil of Rosa centifolia between 980-1037 AD. He didn't discover the distillation process, but rather refined the process, which had been developed over about 100 years. Avicenna produced the first steam distilled essential oil, and penned over 100 books on his work. His celebrated 'Cannon of Medicine' is still in distribution today.

Essential Oils and Medicine
The use essential oils declined in the nineteenth century when the medical profession became enamoured with chemical and synthetic medicines. However when tuberculosis became rife in Europe, essential oils regained the attention of the medical profession. They noticed a very low incidence of tuberculosis in the flower growing districts of France. Workers involved with the processing of the flowers and herbs suffered no respiratory ailments.

Scientists in the early 1880's discovered micro-organisms. In 1887 the first recorded laboratory test was done on the antibacterial properties of essential oils. Over the next year studies conducted and published in France found that the micro-organisms of glandular and yellow fever were easily killed by essential oils. Some of the oils studied were oregano, chinese cinnamon, angelica and geranium.

Gattefosse - The Father Of Modern Aromatherapy
In 1910 French chemist and scholar Rene-Maurice Gattefosse discovered the virtues of the essential oil of lavender. Gattefosse badly burned his hand during an experiment in a perfumery plant and plunged his hand into the nearest tub of liquid which just happened to be lavender essential oil. He was later amazed at how quickly his burn healed and with very little scarring. This started a fascination with essential oils and inspired him to experiment with them during the First World War on soldiers in the military hospitals. He used oils of lavender, thyme, lemon and clove for their antiseptic properties. Gattefosse noted an increase in the rate of healing in wounds treated with essential oils and that the oils seemed to be free from the disadvantages present with other antiseptic agents in use at that time.

Gattefosse wrote several books on essential oils citing cures of skin cancer, facial ulcers, gangrene, and Black Widow spider bites. Dr Gattefosse is credited with coining the term 'Aromatherapie' which was the title of one of his books published in 1928. Gattefosse believed in and promoted the use of the oils in their complete and unadulterated form, discouraging the fragmentation of the oils in search of their 'active ingredients'.

Today there is a strong resurgence back to this ancient healing art. In a time where antibiotics are overused and new 'superbugs' appear at an alarming rate, people are turning back to the natural medicines. Those medicines, which as Gattefosse extolled, don't produce the side effects that their chemical counterparts do.