history of distillation - long!

[Guest guest]

Hello Jen in CT

You wrote:

<It is my understanding that Essential Oils..at least steamed distilled were

not made till much later...I always thought that what was found in the tombs

were oils/ungents..made with the plant material..either in fats or oils.>

 

Yes, when I first learned aromatherapy, discovery of the art/science of

distillation

was credited to Avicenna (tenth century AD or CE). However, since the discovery

in

1975 by Dr Rovesti of a terracotta still that was much older than Avicenna, it

is now believed that the latter perfected the art rather than invented it. This

would mean that while we know that the Egyptians did macerate plant materials in

animal fat, which was worn on their heads and melted in the hot temperatures to

perfume the body, it is probable that they were able to distill essential oils

too.

I quote from a booklet I have by David Williams M.R.Pharm.S published in 1989:

" In 1975, Dr Paolo Rovesti, Director of the International Biocosmetic Research

Centre in Milan, Italy, led an archeological expedition to Pakistan to

investigate

finds connected with the use of beauty products by the Indus Valley civilisation

of

about 5000 years ago.

In the museum of Taxila, a town situated at the foot of the Himalayas, Dr

Rovesti

found a perfectly preserved distillation apparatus, or still, made of

terra-cotta, a

baked clay of a brownish-red colour. This discovery was one of the greatest

importance to our knowledge of the history of the development of technology,

since

all previous records had pointed to the invention of the distillation process by

the

Arabs towards the end of the tenth century. Subsequent scientific dating of the

exhibit gave proof of the period of its origin and, suddenly, distillation was

seen

to be 4000 years older than we had ever imagined! "

The chapter goes on to say that the process was probably used for the production

of

floral waters initially, but then essential oils were discovered (as a

by-product)

and it was realised that they were just as important as the waters.

In Appendix 1 of Jean Valnet's " The Practice of Aromatherapy " , there is a

graphic

description (from Herodotus) of the Egyptian embalming process involving " an

infusion of pounded spices " , " Bruised myrrh, cinnamon " , but also a mention of

oil of

cedar being injected into the stomach of the corpse. So it looks like they used

both unguents/infusions/macerations as well as essential oils.

In my booklet, there's a drawing of the Taxila still - it looks exactly the same

process as currently used.

Helen in Cape Town