History of AT

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

 

I have recently purchased a couple of Russian books on AT, both written

by medical doctors and researchers. I haven't gotten around to the

second one yet, but the first one starts with " Aromatherapy is an

ancient healing art, the practice of which unfortunately ended in the

19th century but was rediscovered in the early 20th century. "

 

There are many other strange things in this book, including

recommendations on using Peru Balsam on the skin. It also seems to me

they extrapolate the action of hebrs on oils, and generally, to my

taste, there is not enough referencing to scientific research to support

the author's conclusions.

 

However, the quote I started my message with really bothers me. If this

is how they start, there is no reason in my opinion to trust the rest

(especially since I found our dear Dr. Gary Young in the list of

references). Please do tell me that aromatherapy as we know it - as in

" healing with steam-distilled essential oils, " not aromatic plants - is

NOT quite an ancient healing art. Or is it?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

 

Nika

From Moscow

[Guest guest]

> Dear all,

 

 

Drasti Nika,

 

 

It is great to have you aboard!

 

 

This isn't the first time we have discussed this topic here, and I am

sure it won't be the last!

 

 

> I have recently purchased a couple of Russian books on AT, both

written

> by medical doctors and researchers. I haven't gotten around to the

> second one yet, but the first one starts with " Aromatherapy is an

> ancient healing art, the practice of which unfortunately ended in

the

> 19th century but was rediscovered in the early 20th century. "

 

That quote is not exactly accurate.

 

> There are many other strange things in this book, including

> recommendations on using Peru Balsam on the skin.

 

That is surprising. It is a known sensitizer and the IFRA recommends

against using it as a fragrance material. Martin Watt has a good

compilation of information about in Plant Aromatics.

 

> It also seems to me

> they extrapolate the action of hebrs on oils, and generally, to my

> taste, there is not enough referencing to scientific research to

support

> the author's conclusions.

 

All too common in many Aromatherapy books, here in the US and apparently

in Russia too!

 

 

> However, the quote I started my message with really bothers me. If

this

> is how they start, there is no reason in my opinion to trust the rest

 

> (especially since I found our dear Dr. Gary Young in the list of

> references).

 

 

Yeah, that would make me think twice about the accuracy of any info in

any book ;-p

 

> Please do tell me that aromatherapy as we know it - as in

> " healing with steam-distilled essential oils, " not aromatic plants -

is

> NOT quite an ancient healing art. Or is it?

 

Aromatherapy as we know it today, with the steam distilled oils we have

today, is NOT what they were doing in the ancient world!

Granted, some several thousand year old stills have been found, but it

certainly was not the norm for people to have access to steam distilled

essential oils, let alone a wide variety of them.

 

The majority of the aromatic preparations of ancient times were unguents

made with animal/vegetable fats which were infused with animal/vegetable

materials. Of course there were varying processes for making these

preparations and some really pungent stuff was able to be made (some of

which when found in sealed containers in ancient tombs still retrained

its fragrance), but it wasn't what we call modern day " Aromatherapy " .

 

> Thank you very much in advance.

 

> Nika

> From Moscow

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com