Ancient articles
Ancient China
Although the word "aromatherapy" originated in Europe, it has the same effect as traditional Chinese medicine. It can be said that the development history of TCM is the development history of China version of aromatherapy, and those TCM practitioners who have made great contributions to the development of TCM are our forerunners. This can be traced back to the legend that Shennong tasted a hundred herbs in 2800 BC.
China's "medical ancestor" Huangdi Neijing discusses medicine with a holistic view, presenting a "holistic medical model" of nature, biology, psychology and society, which is quite similar to the "holistic treatment view" in aromatherapy, but there are also similarities. Today, with the development of traditional Chinese medicine, we can see a special section of "Aromatic Herbs for Eliminating Dampness" in the undergraduate study of traditional Chinese medicine, in which the names of Pogostemon and Cardamom are all familiar aromatic plants.
Ancient India
Ancient medicine in India can be traced back to 2000 BC. There are more than 700 kinds of herbs used in Cherokee Wonders Collection, including ginger, coriander (commonly known as "coriander"), myrrh, Ceylon cinnamon, Indian sandalwood and so on.
Among them, Ayurveda is the most famous one, and it is considered as the oldest medical system in the world. Its influence affects almost all medical systems in the northern and southern hemispheres, so it is known as the "mother of medical care". This system has always emphasized the importance of diet and spirituality. Traditional Chinese medicine in China and Hippocrates' medical methods, the father of modern medicine, can all see the shadow of Ayurveda. Ayurveda believes that human beings should live in harmony with nature, and diseases arise because this harmony has been broken. The main purpose of Ayurvedic medicine is to restore this basic balance by using nature and its products. At present, the seven chakras of Ayurveda are popular in aromatherapy to guide the use of essential oils, which is to use this theory to achieve the overall balance of body, mind and spirit.
Ancient Egypt
When it comes to ancient Egypt, the magic of mummies comes to mind first. In fact, the preservation of mummies depends on spices such as cedar and myrrh. As early as around 2000 BC, there were records about aromatic drugs in Elsholtzia manuscripts. In Moses' time in the 3rd century BC/KLOC-0, people have used frankincense, mahogany, white rosin and agarwood to treat pollinosis with myrrh.
1992, 35 cans of frankincense and myrrh paste were unearthed from Tutankhamun's grave. This fully shows that the ancient Egyptians have begun to use essential oils for beauty. People can see in the murals that the ancient Egyptians would put a cone-shaped ointment on their heads, which would slowly melt during the banquet. Ancient literature records that frankincense and myrrh were crushed and stirred, poured into fresh milk and applied to the face for six days. The pharaohs and queens in ancient Egypt especially regarded olibanum oil as a treasure. The Queen of Sheba and Cleopatra used frankincense oil to protect their beautiful skin in the harsh desert environment.
ancient Greece
Here, I would like to focus on two important figures in the history of aromatherapy:
Theo Frestos, Father of Plants. In 300 BC, he wrote a book, Plant Studies, which recorded the special uses of aromatic plants. He found that the fragrance of jasmine was stronger at night than during the day. This also provides the best time for picking jasmine, roses and other flowers, that is, picking and making essential oil is the best when the fragrance is the strongest.
"Father of Western Medicine" Hippocrates. In 460 BC, he put forward the theory of psychosomatic diseases (psychological emotions can lead to unhealthy body) and body fluids. He was the first person to put forward the holistic view of patients, thinking that "man is a whole, not the sum of fragments" and piecemeal treatment should be avoided. He once said: "Take an aromatherapy bath every day and massage with aromatherapy essential oil. This is the way to health. " He was also the first person to separate medical skills from witchcraft. His Hippocratic oath has far-reaching influence so far. Almost all medical students have to learn the Hippocratic oath in the first class and ask them to take a formal oath.
ancient Rome
Western aromatherapy began in Egypt, but was carried forward by Greece and Rome. The Romans were far more extravagant than the Greeks. Usually, a pound of essence is mixed with dozens of plants. Common ones are myrrh, honey, cardamom, vanilla, calamus, cinnamon and so on. Whether it is the human body, clothes, beds, walls, or even public bathhouses, it is full of fragrance.
One of the most famous figures is Galen, the founder of modern physiology. He lived in the 2nd century A.D. and developed on the basis of Hippocrates' theory of body fluids, and put forward four temperament types widely used today: choleric temperament, sanguine temperament, mucinous temperament and depressive temperament. He founded a set of methods to distinguish plants "Galen system", and observed the course development of diseases through temperature and humidity.
Essential oil formula tips:
Skin care formula "Galen Cold Cream"
Galen once gave a skin care formula called Galen Cold Cream. This cold cream can soften the skin.
Formula: 50ml+ almond oil +40ml+ pure rose dew +65438 beeswax +00g+65438 original rose essence +00 drops.
Put the above materials into a sterilized 250ml beaker.
Add water to a shallow pot and the fire will warm up. Don't cook it, just a little higher than your body temperature.
Put the beaker containing the substance into water and stir it fully with a sterilized glass rod.
After all the materials are fully mixed, pour them into the sub-packaging box, let stand for 2 hours, and cool and solidify.
Suggestion: This cold cream can be used as cleaning cream, hand cream or massage cream. For your own use, you can use one bottle 100g according to the formula. It is best to share it with a few friends.