Introduction to

Aromatherapy
What is Aromatherapy
The use of various plant extracts to
produce a natural concentrated liquid
known as an essential oil.

Examples of sources include roots, stems,

flowers, barks, seeds, berries etc.
Other perceptions of
Aromatherapy
A plant’s life force captured
in a bottle

The personal signature/character

of the plant’s identity
How old is Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is thousands of years old,

possibly dates back as far as 4500BC +

The ancient Egyptians used oils to

embalm their dead, in candles, perfumes,
medicine and to worship their gods
 History continued
The ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese,
Arabs and Persian cultures soon followed
in their aromatic/medicinal trails…

Centuries passed… the crusades then

spread the trade and knowledge to other
countries around the 10th century.
 History continued
Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1664)

A famous influential herbalist and astrologer

also studied and used essential oils but his work
was mostly focussed around herbal and
physical energetics.

Culpeper made a huge contribution to

herbal medicine.
 Modern Aromatherapy
1881-1950
French chemist Rene- Maurice Gattefosse
rediscovered the healing powers of essential
oils during an experiment in his lab.

He badly burnt his hand and found quick

relief by using Lavender to calm and stop the
spread of gangrenous sores.
Modern Aromatherapy
continued
Gattefosse continued to attract
much scientific attention from his
published research in 1937 and
coined the word …
aroma-therapie
Modern Aromatherapy
1950’s
Jean Valnet continued to research Rene’s
work during the second world war.

Whilst Valnet was on the battlefield

assisting wounded soldiers, he ran out of
medicine and made a quick decision to
substitute it with essential oils which
worked just as well.
 Modern Aromatherapy
Marguerite Maury (1895-1968)

Maury was an Austrian born biochemist who

was responsible for pioneering the use of
essential oils through massage after opening
up clinics in France, Switzerland and
England.

Her concept was simple, by diluting 4-6

essential oils in fatty oils for safer application
to promote a sense of well being.
 Today’s Aromatherapy
Robert Tisserand (1977)

Tisserand wrote the very first English based

aromatherapy book titled ‘Art of
aromatherapy’ after being inspired originally
by his mother and spurred on by Gattefosse’s
writings in French.
 How can we use
aromatherapy today
We can visit a qualified
aromatherapist

or
We can purchase essentials oils and
administer them ourselves
Visiting a qualified therapist
When you first visit a qualified therapist you
need to have a patch test done 24-48 hrs prior to
any treatment

Allow at least 1 ½ for an initial

consultation on your first visit

Expect to pay anything from £25-40 per session

Purchasing Essential Oils
Bear in mind that prices vary from
brand to brand

A general rule to follow (if affordable) is

aim for an organic range

Shop around until you feel comfortable

with your brand

Ensure you buy them in dark bottles only

 How to use essential oils
Inhale them on a tissue or on a scarf

Light a burner and diffuse them in a room

Add them to water spray bottles

Make up your own unique aromatherapy

massage oil

Add them to body shower gels or in the bath

Amazing Aromatherapy Facts
Tea Tree is said to be 10 times stronger
than Domestos! (Lecture notes)
Margaret Thatcher had regular
aromatherapy treatments to assist her
with neuralgia (British Sunday Telegraph, 1987)

Glove makers avoided the plague by

using Lavender, cloves and camphor
(Defoe,D 1661-1731)
References and Bibliography

British Sunday telegraph (1987)

Defoe, D. ( 1661-1731)
Gattefosse’s Aromatherapy (1937)
Level 2 Advanced Aromatherapy Lecture Notes (1994)
Wildwood, C. Encyclopaedia of aromatherapy (1996)
http://hs.riverdale.k12.or.us/~dthompso/exhib_03/haruka/Historiacl_and_Current_U