Aromatherapy - Ancient Holistic Healing

Aromatherapy is the practice of using the scentsand began using olive oil as a base. Romans
of various plant extracts to assist in healing thelearned these methods from Greece and were
mind, body, and soul. The use of aromatherapysoon using scented oils in their famous baths.
dates back over 5,000 years and has recentlyAlthough Native Americans and other native
been rediscovered as a method of holisticcultures around the world continued to utilize the
healing.The most famous Egyptian technique usingeffects of plant extracts, after the fall of the
aromatherapy was embalming. However evidenceRoman Empire the recorded information on
exists to show that aromatherapy was also usedaromatherapy was lost and Western Civilization
in cosmetic and medicinal applications. During thewould have to re-learn everything. (Not one of
same time, records from China indicate thatthe most efficient cultures, eh?)It took the
hundreds of plants were identified to exudescourge 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 alwaystechnique. It was discovered then that certain
incorporated aromatherapy into its healingplant extracts seemed to prevent the spread of
methods and spiritual practices.The ancient Greeksinfection and assist in decontaminating a house
were quick to adopt aromatherapy from Egyptafter its occupants had been afflicted.