In times gone by, aromatherapy and essential oils were coveted by perfumers, the wealthy and by those who knew its value. Eventually aromatic oils became popular among the common people and reached its peak, but the fall of the Roman Empire brought on its decline.
European churches, condemned people for ‘overindulging’ in them, and the use of perfumed oils became synonymous with degeneracy, immorality, and even witchcraft. Death likely resulted for some regular users.
Essential oils were still used in other Eastern parts of the world during the 7th through 13th centuries. In the 10th century, for instance, an Arabian scientist named Avicenna was credited for discovering the process of extracting essential oils by a method called ‘distillation’. In Europe, however, no such progress was made and few in Europe practiced its use except for perfumers and others, who likely did so in secret.
Neglecting essential oils during this era would have halted what little knowledge Europe had of using respective plants for food and alternative medicines. Since even drinking herbals teas did not become fashionable until about the 16th century, the general populace would have been left in a very vulnerable state (1).
It was not long after the ban on perfumed oils that a series of plagues struck Europe. The 14th century Black Death might have been prevented if these medicinals weren’t abandoned altogether. Truth be told, many of us, probably, still suffer from numerous plagues, pollutions and pestilences due to a lack of information, interest, or knowledge of plant oils and tinctures.
Instead, modern society tends to prefer lab produced chemical ‘perfumes’ and ‘fragrance oils’. Both of these types of synthetic products contradict nature, yet are often intended to imitate nature. Scents such as 'ocean' or 'baby’s breath' are a few examples.
After noticing that perfumers survived the calamities, the churches lifted their restrictions and ordered every home to burn rosemary, and other herbs. Aromatherapy finally took its rightful place as a global preventative and is still an invaluable medicinal that we can count on today!
All essential oils are anti-bacterial to varing degrees. Some are even anti-viral, anti-biotic, anti-septic, and anti-fungal! Essential oils are potent and volitial, so should always be diluted in a base oil such as sweet almond oil. Some essential oils that contain all the above anti-plague qualities are:
Aromatherapy Plague Punishers:
Eucalyptus Lemon,
Eucalyptus Radita,
Lavender
Onion,
Tea Tree E.O.,
Every home should have a few essential oils to use in first aid treatments, beauty & hygiene regimes or general house hold maintenance. Finding products on the market with pure essential oils is becoming readily available and affordable.
But beware of fragrance oils and merchandise with elaborate claims but little quality or quantity of oils and always check that the oils you are using are safe especially if you are pregnant or on medication. This is not medical advice!
1. Craze, Richard. Herbal Teas, New Jersey: Chartwell Books Inc., 2001
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