Ancient cultures in Greece, Rome, Egypt, India, China and Persia all extracted essential oils to access the healing value of plants. Aromatherapy is used extensively in Europe to treat conditions of the genito-urinary tract, the gastrointestinal tract, the respiratory system, the nervous system, the endocrine system and the immune system. Aromatherapy is an excellent tool for letting go of stress and enhancing well-being.
Aromatherapy is still very new to the United States, known chiefly through products.
The genius of aromatherapy is found in the intricate and natural composiotn created by plants themsleves, develped over eons of evolutionary testing. Some even refer to essential oils as the 'life force' of the plant. While synthetics lend themselves to mass marketing, they offer a very limited experience of aromatherapy. Inspect labels for 'essential oil' content, plant names in Latin, and be aware that the term 'fragrance' often means laboratory-engineered. The absence of plant-derived components bypasses the greatest benefits of aromatherapy.