| Aromatherapy is the practice of using the scents | | | | and began using olive oil as a base. Romans |
| of various plant extracts to assist in healing the | | | | learned these methods from Greece and were |
| mind, body, and soul. The use of aromatherapy | | | | soon using scented oils in their famous baths. |
| dates back over 5,000 years and has recently | | | | Although Native Americans and other native |
| been rediscovered as a method of holistic | | | | cultures around the world continued to utilize the |
| healing.The most famous Egyptian technique using | | | | effects of plant extracts, after the fall of the |
| aromatherapy was embalming. However evidence | | | | Roman Empire the recorded information on |
| exists to show that aromatherapy was also used | | | | aromatherapy was lost and Western Civilization |
| in cosmetic and medicinal applications. During the | | | | would have to re-learn everything. (Not one of |
| same time, records from China indicate that | | | | the most efficient cultures, eh?)It took the |
| hundreds of plants were identified to exude | | | | scourge of the plague during the Middle Ages to |
| healing aromatic properties. Ayurvedic medicine, | | | | begin to rekindle an interest in this ancient |
| which spans the history of India, has always | | | | technique. It was discovered then that certain |
| incorporated aromatherapy into its healing | | | | plant extracts seemed to prevent the spread of |
| methods and spiritual practices.The ancient Greeks | | | | infection and assist in decontaminating a house |
| were quick to adopt aromatherapy from Egypt | | | | after its occupants had been afflicted. |