This alternative medical therapy combines massage with essential oils. The word Aromath rapie was coined in 1928 by a French chemist, Ren -Maurice Gattefoss , to describe the therapeutic action of aromatic plant essence. However, aromatherapy as we know it today, and the use of aromatherapy with massage, was popularized by an Austrian-born biochemist and beautician called Marguerite Maury, who worked in France. The art of aromatherapy harnesses the potent pure essences of aromatic plants, flowers and resins to work on the most powerful of senses smell and touch to restore the harmony of body and mind.
Aromatherapy is a holistic therapy in that it works on the person as a whole.
Though it is an excellent way of treating minor ailments, stress and negative emotional states, it is not a substitute for conventional medical treatment. If symptoms persist, always consult a medical doctor. It is likely that the Chinese were the first to discover the remarkable medicinal powers of plants as far back as 4,500BC, and the Greek alchemists continued discovering how to distil the oils by boiling and steaming. Traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, which incorporates healing oils, goes back at least 3,000 years. However, the ancient Egyptians were perhaps the most sophisticated in this respect, using essential oils as perfumes, healing tools, and embalming agents for mummification.