Article ID # 20060303
Scents of Time
by Patrick Dougherty
Energy Times, March 3, 2006

Aromatherapy, one of today's hottest therapeutic trends, has been around since the days of ancient Egypt. Discover how this technique developed and why it offers health benefits to improve our hectic lives. These days, more and more women want to feel as beautiful and powerful as an ancient queen, perhaps like Cleopatra, a woman who knew something about being pampered. That's as good an explanation as any as to why the spa culture of massage and holistic treatments has become a booming business, appealing as it does to stressed-out modern women with its time-tested techniques that promise to soothe away troubles-or at least provide a bit of calm in a busy day. Currently one of the most popular treatments is aromatherapy, a healing art that dates back even farther than Queen Cleo's era, all the way to the beginning of the civilization that produced her-Egypt. Since the beginning of time, fragrances have been harnessed to profoundly affect our physical, psychological and spiritual well-being. Egyptians regarded fragrance as an integral part of life; scent was inseparable from cooking, cosmetics and even social gatherings. Egyptian culture placed great emphasis on purification rituals, including bathing, shaving and anointing the body with essential oils. Physicians also used oils to harmonize health; 3,000-year-old papyrus manuscripts reveal that different fragrances were used to boost the immune system, heal wounds, disinfect the air and fight infections. Scent was one with spirituality in Egyptian religion, as each god and goddess was assigned a fragrance. Priests and priestesses were given the task of preparing and dispensing various aromas. At the heart of these scent rituals and therapies were the essential oils, which Egyptians imported from the Far East and Mediterranean regions in tremendous quantities. Egyptian perfumes made from these oils would become a cornerstone of commerce, in some instances worth as much as gold.

Ancient Aromatic Origins
The significance of fragrance in ancient Egypt is reflected in what archaeologists have learned about its most prominent figures. Queen Cleopatra, one of history's greatest seductresses, had a well-documented love of rose scent and used it as many use rose scent today-as an aphrodisiac. Supposedly the barge she took to meet Marc Anthony of Rome around 41 B.C. overflowed with rose petals; even the barge's sails were infused with rose scent. This led to a legend that her ship could be smelled before it was seen, and inspired Shakespeare to write in Anthony and Cleopatra that "the very sea was lovesick." On King Tutenkhamun's throne, one of history's most valuable artifacts, a scene depicts Queen Ankhe-senamun tenderly applying oils to King Tut. When Tut's burial chamber was unearthed in 1922, hundreds of liters of oil were found among the artifacts. One jar contained fragrant ointment, believed to be a combination of spikenard, frankincense and animal fat. The jar's contents are uncannily similar to aromatherapy applications of today. In this case, instead of the modern method of delivering highly concentrated fragrances in carrier oils, less-aromatic plant oils that allow scents to be used in massage, fragrances were diluted in a medium of animal fat, which melts at body temperature. Remarkably, the jar's contents still released a rich, powerful aroma thousands of years after it was created. Fragrances were not only used to treat the body; the Egyptians also used them to harmonize emotions. The Greek historian Plutarch noted the importance of a popular Egyptian incense known as kyphi, which combined 16 different resins and herbs; it "lulls one to sleep, allays anxieties and brightens dreams; without drunkenness it relaxes and loosens the chain-like sorrows and tensions of daily cares." Sound familiar? Kyphi is the early ancestor of today's "calming essential oil blends," a fragrance mélange designed to inspire placid emotions.

Shrouded in Mystery
Aromatherapy's longevity is a testament to its power and effectiveness. After millennia of aromatherapy practice, essential oils are primarily obtained through distillation, a process of extreme pressure and heat that liberates scent from a plant's aromatic glands located in stems, rinds, leaves, roots and flowers. Essential oils are often described as volatile, meaning that when exposed to air, they evaporate rapidly. Sometimes regarded as the "soul" or "life force" of plants, essential oils elicit a deep connection with what may be our most powerful sense-smell. Based in the olfactory system, smell is one of the most primal parts of the brain. For most mammals, smell is a primary mode of communication, with broad-reaching influences we sometimes take for granted, including its effect on taste and sexual attraction. (Believe it or not, humans can distinguish over 10,000 different scents.) When inhaled, essential oils' molecules connect directly with our brains-inspiring subtle changes in psyche that can benefit both body and mind. "What's really amazing about essential oils is that they affect the limbic system, the most primitive part of our mind," explains Dr. Laurie Steelsmith, author of Natural Choices for Women's Health (Three Rivers Press/Random House). "Scent comes in through the nose and immediately goes to the emotional center of your brain." The limbic system, so profoundly influenced by essential oil scents, is regarded as the epicenter of memory, learning and emotion. We may all recognize the limbic system's subtle, sublime power in our reaction to scents. A whiff of autumn may catapult us back to vivid memories of the first day of school, or the scent of a certain man or woman may fill us with passionate desire. By influencing the limbic system with the right essential oils, we inspire emotional reactions, such as feelings of sedation, enhanced focus, relaxation and romance. As scents affect the limbic system, they also trigger physiological responses. The limbic system works in concert with the endocrine system and can influence hormonal changes that govern immunity, appetite, stress response and other metabolic functions. What's more, when applied to the skin-usually diluted in a carrier oil-essential oils' chemical constituents are absorbed into the underlying tissues, then circulated to deliver benefits throughout the body.

Body, Mind and Spirit
As health care comes full circle by returning to the mind-body connection in wellness, aromatherapy exemplifies holistic health practices, treating mind, body and soul. "There's another aspect of essential oils-aromatherapy for healing of the spirit," Steelsmith says. "There's a whole body of knowledge dating back to old Europe, when pagans, in their religious ceremonies, were using herbs and oils to treat the spirit and the emotions. If you think about a lot of traditional societies, they don't separate the body and the spirit. They are one. Many traditional societies see sickness symptoms as an expression of the disruption in the body, mind and spirit-not just the body. Now there is empirical and observational evidence of aromatherapy's medicinal benefits and effect on emotions." As this evidence mounts, aromatherapy is increasingly used as a complementary practice in conventional medicine settings. For example, ginger essential oil, dabbed on the wrists of patients emerging from anesthesia, has been shown to reduce nausea by 30%. In Australia, women are using aromatherapy to soothe nerves during labor. Even cancer patients are being introduced to aromatherapy's ability to ease anxiety. The benefit of therapies that we know and understand, augmented with techniques that, though mysterious, have worked for thousands of years, pack a one-two punch that may revolutionize our health practices. Backed with millennia of street credibility, aromatherapy's methods are experiencing a renaissance as fewer question why aromatherapy works and more appreciate how aromatherapy enhances health at a deep, soulful level.

Essential Oil Primer
Dozens of essential oils are available, from everyday scents like lemon (a great deodorizer) to such exotica as sandalwood (which soothes and calms) to long-respected therapeutics like clary sage for pain and tea tree for fungal infections. Other important oils include:
- Bergamot: A favorite of Italian traditional healing folklore, this light, citrusy oil directly affects the nervous system to inspire feelings of uplifting relaxation. Emotionally, bergamot is associated with increased confidence and positive energy. It is effective in treating symptoms of PMS and menopause, travel sickness and skin conditions.
- Eucalyptus: This native Australian bush remedy is well-known worldwide for refreshing the senses, clearing the mind, balancing emotions and gently harmonizing body and spirit. Eucalyptus is a powerful antiseptic, and when applied topically, penetrates deep to soothe and relieve joint and muscle pain. It also helps clear clogged nasal passages.
- Geranium: Once thought to keep evil spirits at bay, geranium is now known for balancing body and mind, and is especially supportive for women seeking balance during times of hormonal change. Used to ease anxiety and help balance mood swings, geranium can be either stimulating or sedating, depending upon the user's needs at that moment.
- Lavender: Used in the bathhouses of ancient Rome, lavender was also included in Roman soldiers' first aid kits for its benefits as an antiseptic and wound treatment. Associated with feelings of relaxation, balance and clarity, it is useful in treating headaches, anxiety, insomnia and a number of different skin conditions.
- Patchouli: The unforgettably intoxicating scent of patchouli is instantly recognizable. Invigorating yet soothing, patchouli is known for inspiring feelings of passion and pleasure. It is believed to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, stimulating and sedating properties, and is effective against anxiety, depression and some skin conditions.
- Rosemary: Rosemary is best known for its influence on the mind; its clean, invigorating scent is associated with enhanced concentration, improved memory, inspired creativity and mental clarity. Rosemary possesses antiseptic properties, and when administered in a bath or massage oil helps to soothe away tension and pain in muscles.
- Ylang Ylang: Distilled from the fragrant yellow flowers of an Indonesian tree, ylang ylang is a powerful aphrodisiac that inspires feelings of well-being and romance. Ylang ylang's blossoms are part of Indonesian wedding rituals, scattered over the beds of newlyweds to encourage desire and soothe away first-night jitters.

Aromatherapy Rules
Aromatherapy is a very gentle healing art, with few side effects. You should keep the following things in mind, however, when exploring the world of scent:
- Individuals react differently to essential oils. Experiment with different fragrances and combinations of fragrances to discover which ones best resonate with your soul-often indicated by which simply smell the best to you.
- To receive maximum benefits, only use essential oils created by reputable manufacturers that can guarantee superior quality and 100% purity. "Pure essential oil" is what you should look for; anything less won't deliver benefits. Avoid synthetic fragrances.
- Experiment with different essential oil delivery methods. Direct inhalation, vaporization, steam inhalation, massage and bath are but a few; you may find that each method inspires subtly different effects.
- Dilute oils that are to be used on bare skin. Essential oils are highly concentrated, so you should mix a few drops with a carrier such as almond, macadamia or jojoba oil. In addition to helping deliver the right levels of essential oils, these carriers nourish the skin on their own. For serious conditions that require professional care, contact the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy at www.naha.org or 509-325-3419 (Washington state). Aromatherapy is born of universal instinct. The act of inhaling a flower's sweet scent and enjoying the blissful sensations that follow may be its first manifestation, far predating the earliest aromatherapy practices in Egypt. When we connect our souls with nature, we achieve harmony as mind, body and the cosmos blend together in a sublime, heavenly fragrance we've enjoyed since the beginning of time.

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