Essential oils have been around the world for centuries. Also known as aromatic oils previously. The use of the essential oils varied between cultures for healing purposes. Where essential oils gained the reputation as healing agents is difficult to pinpoint, nevertheless essential oil knowledge was spread around the world.
The earliest evidence of human knowledge on essential oils were found in France (Lascaux). Exists there are cave paintings which suggest the use of medicinal plants in every day life that has been tracked back as far back as 18,000 B.C.E.
Used by Egyptians, Chinese, Indians, Greeks, Persians, Romanians, Europeans in the past and present for healing and other purposes.
For the Egyptians, as early as 4500 B.C.E, there have been evidence and also is recorded in history in the use of aromatic oils AKA essential oils. They are well-known for their knowledge in cosmetology, ointments and aromatic oils. Their most famous herbal preparations is ‘Kyphi’ which is a mixture of 16 ingredients that could be used for varied purposes such as incense, perfumed or even medicine. In was everyday life they used balsams, perfumed oils, scented barks, resins, spices and aromatic vinegar. Oils and paste were transformed into pills, powders, suppositories, medicina cakes and ointments. Also used were ashes and smoke from aniseed, cedar, onion, garlic, grapes and watermelon. When the peak of egypt’s power, the priests were the only authorities that were allowed to use aromatic oils as they were regarded as necessary to be one of the Gods. Each of the deity had a specific fragrance dedicated to them and the statues were anointed with these oils from the followers. The Pharaohs had their own special bends for medication, love, war and so on. As for the embalming process, traces of aromatic gums such as cedar and myrrh have been found on mummies in the present. Despite the importance of the aromatic oils in Egypt, the Egyptians imported oils of cypress and cedar instead of distilling their own.
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