| Although aromatherapy in one form or another was | | | | aromatherapy. He used essential oils to treat the |
| been around for thousands of years it wasn't until | | | | wounds of soldiers during the second world war, he |
| the 19th century that scientists in Europe began | | | | is credited with discovering the synergy of oils, by |
| researching the effects of essential oils on bacteria in | | | | treating psychiatric patients with essential oils. These |
| humans. | | | | people suffered from side effects of drugs given to |
| It wasn't until the 20th century that the word | | | | treat their depression and hallucinations. They were |
| aromatherapy was first used; it was coined in 1937 | | | | gradually taken off drugs and treated with essential |
| by French cosmetic scientist Rene-Maurice | | | | oils, both externally with baths and rubs and internally |
| Gattefosse. His research found that the volatile | | | | by mouth or injection. The treatment was given in |
| extracts distilled from certain plants had a profound | | | | conjunction with herbal remedies and diet. Both |
| effect on the skin. Although his research was | | | | physical and mental symptoms were relieved, |
| confined to cosmetic uses of essential oils, he soon | | | | sometimes within days of being taken off the drugs. |
| realised that many had antiseptic and painkilling | | | | In the 1950's Austrian born cosmetologist Marquerite |
| properties, his hand was severely burned in a | | | | Maury introduced the idea of combining essential oils |
| laboratory explosion he immediately plunged his hand | | | | with massage. She preferred to dilute essential oils in |
| into the nearest liquid which happened to be lavender | | | | vegetable oil and massaging it into the skin. She |
| oil. He was impressed by the fact that the pain | | | | developed a special massage technique of applying |
| immediately subsided and it healed well with no sign | | | | the oils along the nerve centres of the spine. |
| of infection or scarring. A good deal of interest in | | | | Although her treatments were for beauty therapy |
| aromatherapy was kindled in France because of | | | | she had discovered an important key to healing. |
| Gattefosse's work. Not only were oils found to heal | | | | However, it was British aromatherapist, Robert |
| skin, but also strengthen the body's immune system. | | | | Tisserand's book 'The Art of Aromatherapy' published |
| In 1937 Gattefosse wrote a book called | | | | in 1977 which, was one of the first books in English |
| Aromatherapie: Les Huiles essentielles hormones | | | | on the subject that has sparked the greatest |
| vegetales which was translated into English and | | | | interest in the therapeutic properties of essential oils |
| renamed Gattefosse's Aromatherapy. | | | | and aromatherapy in general that we now have |
| Dr Jean Valnet is said to have contributed most to | | | | today. |
| the medical assessment and acceptance of | | | | |