Aromatherapy: a Treatment for Stress and Anxiety

Here is a Brief History

Aromatherapy is a wonderful way to alleviate stress and anxiety. Certain smells have been known to bring on a deep feeling of relaxation in our bodies. Essential oils have been used for thousands of years as a way to heal, relieve stress,and promote relaxation. Aromatherapy is the use of plant oils and essential oils. It is believed that the practice first started in China but some experts feel that Egypt actually might have been earlier then China for using essential oils. Egyptians took the practice of essential oils to their dead by using oils of cedar wood, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and myrrh for embalming their loved ones and giving them a fragrant world in the afterlife. The Egyptians also widely used oils and herbal preparations for spiritual, medicinal, fragrant and cosmetic uses. It is actually believe that Egyptians were the first to use the term 'perfume'. India and Persia also paved the way in using oils.

Later the Romans become quite proficient in the use of essential oils. With the invention of copper piping for distillation the art of essential oils truly took off. In the 12th century lavender was finally distilled for medicinal purposes. By the 15th century a medical doctor named Paracelcus begin to distill many herbs for medicinal purposes and by the 16th century you could purchase many oils from a apothecary for whatever ailed you.

In the 19th century perfume truly took off and every woman craved a bottle. When the 20th century arrived the use of oils in medications was wide spread.

René-Maurice Gattefossé, a chemist, become widely intrigued with the use of oils in aromatherapy. He is credited with coming forth with the name aromatherapy in 1928.

During the war Jean Valnet began using essential oils to treat injured soldiers during the World War with great success. From there others followed suit and the health benefits of aromatherapy became recognized by the scientific and medical world as beneficial on many levels.

Here is a list of several oils that help to relieve stress and anxiety.