Aromatherapy A Little Book of Self Care

WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY?

A practice with origins in ancient history, aromatherapy has never been more relevant than it is today, when so many of us are taking a more natural and holistic approach to health and wellbeing.

ANCIENT ORIGINS For millennia, plants were our only form of medicine, and our ancestors in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome used aromatherapy-style remedies both for healing and in religious ceremonies. Modern aromatherapy began in the 1930s, pioneered in France by chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé and military surgeon Jean Valnet, and in Austria by beautician and biochemist Marguerite Maury. A NATURAL PRACTICE Building on the work of these early pioneers, aromatherapy developed from the second half of the twentieth century into the therapeutic use of highly concentrated and powerful essential oils extracted from aromatic plants to heal the body and mind and to promote wellness. As its name suggests, this takes place largely through the inhalation of essential oil aromas, but also through the application of essential oils to the skin (see pages 16–17). AN ALL-ROUND THERAPY On its own or as part of practices such as massage, meditation, yoga, and mindfulness, aromatherapy is the ideal antidote to the stresses of modern life. Easy to use and incorporate into a daily self-care routine, aromatherapy can promote wellbeing, relieve symptoms, and heal the body and mind. It can also provide relief and support for those undergoing medical treatment.