In the history of aromatherapy, the translation of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinese manuscripts reveals that priests and physicians were using oils thousands of years before the time of Christ….and indeed there are 188 references to uses of oil in the Bible!

Some precious oils that were used in Biblical times for anointing the sick, including Frankincense, Myrrh, Galbanum, Rosemary, Hyssop, Cassia, Cinnamon and Spikenard. In fact many of these oils were more precious than gold.

When the three wise men brought Frankincense and Myrrh to the Christ child, they also brought “Gold”. But in those days, gold did not have the value that is has today….so why would it be brought to Christ? Instead, it seems the translators of the bible missed an important distinction. In the era of Christ, the essential oil of Balsam was referred to as “liquid Gold”. Gary Young, N.D., leading expert on essential oils, suggests that Balsam oil was indeed the third gift to the Christ child.

Not only did Mary Magdalene anoint Jesus’ feet with Spikenard essential oil during the Last Supper (John 12:3), but it is also written that Mary Magdalene scolded the disciples for not continuing with Jesus’ ministry as they had been taught. Instead of anointing the sick with essential oils, the disciples were choosing the cheaper option of using olive oil for anointing (and wondered why they weren’t getting the same results!)

D. Gary Young, N.D. was present in Egypt at the opening of several alabaster jars believed to have been used by Jesus in his ministry….and apart from the build-up of resin from the oils around the inside of the jars, the essential oil inside was as fresh and pure as when it was made, 2000 years before!

But the history of aromatherapy goes back even further than that. Records dating back to 4500 BC talk about the use of “balsamic substances with aromatic properties” for religious rituals and medical applications. This sounds suspiciously like essential oils! Other ancient writings mention scented barks, resins and spices that were used in rituals, temples, astrology, embalming and medicine.

In fact, the ancient Egyptians believed that their aroma brought favour upon them by their Gods. For that reason, they would wear cones of bees wax on their heads, embedded with essential oils. As the sun’s rays melted the bees wax, they would be drizzled with a delightful lasting fragrance of earth’s oils!

Sadly, with the dark hours of the Inquisition, millions of healers were burnt at the stake. Those that survived were forced to hide their secrets, lest it bring the same demise onto them. Because of this, much of our ancient knowledge of the uses and history of aromatherapy has been lost.

Its revival began in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. During World War I, aromatic essences were used widely in hospitals. And in 1907, Dr. Rene-Maurice Gattefosse (a French cosmetic chemist) began studying essential oils with a group of colleagues. In 1910, Dr. Gattefosse was involved in a lab explosion. With quickly developing gas gangrene, he plunged his arm into a vat of lavender oil, and reported that, “just one rinse with lavender essence stopped the gasification of the tissue”. And so history was made, and the word “aromatherapy” was born.

However, with the loss of so much ancient knowledge, you are now a pioneer. As you venture into the miraculous world of essential oils, know that you are entering the realms of a long-buried science. Please share your discoveries with others, and become part of the history making of aromatherapy! Learn as much as you can, and experiment (safely)…..and help me to bring this wonderful art and science alive again for future generations.

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