The History of Essential Oils

by Erin Madigan-Fleck, NMD

THE HEALING POWER OF ESSENTIAL OILS HAS BEEN USED throughout history in the practices of esthetics, cosmetology and massage therapy. Madame Marguerite Maury (1895-1968) established the first aromatherapy clinics in Switzerland, Great Britain and Paris. She was the recipient of the Prix International Award for her work in natural skin care among other international awards involving the use of aromatherapy in the cosmetology setting. Perhaps the most prodigious contributions made by Maury involved application of essential oils on the skin, the integration of essential oils in massage therapy and the science that binds the physiological, psychological and emotional aspects of essential oils. Aromatherapists Rene-Maurice Gattefosse and Jean Valnet, MD, established the scientific connection between healing and essential oils, and their work has since served as the foundation for aromatic chemistry and related sciences throughout history.

Clinical Aromatherapy Timeline:

French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse employed lavender essential oils for wound healing during World War I and coined the term “aromatherapy¨ in 1928.

In 1982 Jean Valnet, MD, known as the father of aromatic medicine, researches aromatherapy and essential oils to treat illnesses. French clinical aromatherapy supports widespread essential oil ingestion.

In 1995 Clinical research had shown that essential oils are highly anti-viral and anti-infectious. Jean C. Lapraz, MD, discovered that there are two essential oils - cinnamon and oregano - in which no bacterial or virus could survive.

In 1999 Aromatherapy was taught in French medical schools, prescribed by European physicians, reimbursed by many European health insurers and used in Japanese factories to enhance worker productivity and prevent the spread of airborne infectious diseases.

In 2002 Aromatherapy began to emerge as a viable therapy when work on mind-body healing and the emerging field of psychoneuroimmunology stimulated interest in the use of aromatherapy to alleviate emotional and mental distress. Jean C. Lapraz, MD, and Christian Duraffourd, MD, developed the alternative medical treatment endobiogeny to be used in the treatment of cancer. It involves the study and support of the endocrine system using plant-based dietary supplements - tinctures, essential oils, herbal capsules and teas, nutritional advice and lifestyle modification.

In 2010 Radwan Farag, PhD, documents the oxygenating and antioxidant activity essential oils. One of the incredible aspects of essential oils is their ability to penetrate and carry nutrients through the cell wall to the cell nucleus.

It is generally understood that the selection of an essential oil is popularly based on olfaction (scent). However, it is the therapeutic properties provided by these precious oils that invariably remains an enigma to many. The unique footprint and therapeutic action of each essential oil is governed by components and complexities of aromatic chemistry.

Essential oils exhibit the following characteristics:

1. Fragrance (olfaction) the volatility and purity of scent. 2. Frequency (vibration) resonation and life force of the oil. 3. Healing mechanisms (antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-spasmodic, anti-fungal etc.). 4. Transdermal absorption. 5. Physiological and psychological properties.

Essential oils contain hundreds and even thousands of natural chemical constituents that are metabolites from various plant materials.

Go into your garden and you will see an abundance of wellness around you from lavender, an antibiotic to rosemary for memory, citrus for upliftment and peppermint for tummy upset. g