The History of Aromatherapy - Egyptians, Babylonians & Greeks

Home Page > News & Articles > The History of Aromatherapy - Egyptians, Babylonians & Greeks Click for more images Description Aromatherapy – “ancient methods in a modern world” is our caption and the more you research the origins of aromatherapy the more you realise just how true this is! From the most ancient times plant flowers, berries and leaves have been used in healing the body and twigs burnt for their scents which then affected the emotions or senses. It is only as time has passed that our scientific understanding is increasingly confirming the contribution of natural plants to our general state of well being. In this article we will trace the history of aromatherapy and the use of essential oils from ancient times to modern day. Archaeologists have found traces of many plants of known medicinal value in the burial places and living sites of early human races and often the use of the plants may have been connected with religious or superstitious practices. The oldest recorded reference to plants used for medical purposes dates back to 10,000BC.  The earliest people found that berries and leaves would help wounds and the leaves and roots helped sick people to feel better. Certain twigs and branches when placed on a fire would make people either drowsy or feel excited and some claimed to have “mystical” experiences!! THE EGYPTIANS 3000 years B.C. found the Egyptians using aromatics for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. They used it to embalm their dead and perfume contributed much to their public and private lives. On great occasions the slave girls used to dance with perfumed cones on their heads. They made medicinal cakes, ointments, pastes as well as pills, powders and purees from a wide selection of trees and plants. In many pyramids large quantities of cosmetic jars have been discovered. Scents such as Frankincense were still discernable from these and there are records of Cedar and Cypress being imported. Plants that were used included aniseed, castor oil, coriander, cumin and garlic to name but a few. In wall paintings that have been discovered it is evident that by the 3rd century BC the Egyptians had a primitive form of distillation. THE BABYLONIANS Early Babylonian doctors made records of their formulas and prescriptions on tablets made from clay. They did not record the quantities which they used but they did give careful details of when the remedies should be prepared and taken. Merodach Baladan was the king of Babylon in 702 BC and was one of the Babylonian kinds who took a great interest in the planting and use of medicinal plants. In the gardens of Babylonian times it was possible to find garlic, fennel, saffron, thyme, caraway, coriander, juniper, myrrh and roses .. many of these names you will identify with the use of essential oils in today’s society. In Babylonian texts like the laws of Hammurabi (1792-1750/43 BCE) it descibed the surgeon’s responsibilities and how much he should be paid. Pay was good, but penalties for mistakes harsh: “If a physician performs a major operation on a lord… and causes his death…. they shall cut off his hand”. Only wounds, fractures and abscesses were treated surgically. A Sumerian clay tablet (2150 BCE) describes wounds being washed in beer and hot water, poultices made from pine, prunes, wine dregs and lizard dung, and use of bandages (for a nose-bleed!). Other texts describe the symptoms and prognosis of epilepsy, bronchitis and scurvy. A list of 230 medicines using plant, animal and mineral ingredients was found in an Assyrian pharmacy and records of distillation of cedar oil prove that this was an earlier invention than previously thought. THE GREEKS Ancient Greece, as with Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt, played an important part in medical history. The most famous of all Ancient Greek doctors was Hippocrates. Hippocrates recommended aromatic baths and massages to promote and maintain good health. By 1200 B.C., Ancient Greece was developing in all areas - trade, farming, warfare, sailing, craftsmanship etc. Their knowledge of medicine developed accordingly. Gods dominated the lives of the Greeks. Natural occurrences were explained away by using gods. This, however, did not occur in medicine where Ancient Greek physicians tried to find a natural explanation as to why someone got ill and died. The Greeks were practicing medicine 1000 years before the birth of Christ. In the ‘Iliad’ by Homer, injured soldiers were treated by doctors and the Greek leader in the tale, Menelaus, was treated for an arrow wound by a doctor-in-arms, Machaon. The Greeks acquired much of their medical expertise from the Egyptians although they made many of their own discoveries. Olive oil was abundant and they used it to absorb the odour from flowers and herbs for both medicinal and cosmetic purposes. In Hippocrates writings references were made to a number of narcotics including opium, mandrake and belladonna as well as food plants such as quince and rhubarb. He wrote “Let your medicine be your food and your food be your medicine” – a principle which if applied would undoubtedly improve many people’s lives in today’s society! Another Greek named Galen knew a wide number of “Simples” from which he prepared his remedies and he wrote a great deal about plant medicine. He invented the original “cold cream” which formed the prototype of virtually all ointments in use today. Yet another Greek, Dioscorides was responsible for writing “Materia Medica” a vast volume detailing the attributes of medicinal plants. The works of these three men were translated into Arabic languages. Back to top