Essential Oils Origins - Eastern Treasures
Eastern Treasures
Some of the earliest trade materials of ancient times were made up of natural aromatics and perfume items. These were rare and expensive. Around 1240 BC, the Jewish people started their exodus to Israel, taking with them numerous varieties of precious oils and gums. The Jews knew of the many uses of these materials. According to the Bible, the Lord imparted the formula for a specific anointing oil to Moses on the journey to Israel. This anointing oil included essential oils such as Cinnamon, Myrrh, Olive, Cassia, and Calamus. This holy oil was used for the consecration of Aaron and his sons to become priests. Thus, this method of consecration using essential oils continued through the succeeding generations. Eastern treasures such as Myrrh and Frankincense were offered to Jesus Christ upon His birth.
Merchants from Phoenicia also exported scented oils and gums from the peninsula of Arabia and eventually throughout Rome and Greece. These merchants were responsible for introducing the Orient treasures to the West. They brought cinnamon from India, camphor from China, rose from Syria, and gums from Arabia. They ensured that their trading routes were kept secret.
The Egyptians taught the Greeks a great deal about herbs and essential oils. For instance, during the 5th century BC, Democrates and Herodotus visited Egypt and imparted what they knew about natural therapeutics and perfumery. Around 425 BC, Herodotus recorded the process of turpentine distillation and imparted the information about odorous materials and perfumes. Meanwhile, Dioscorides conducted a detailed study regarding the sources and uses of aromatics and plants, which were applied by both the Romans and the Greeks. Dioscorides then compiled the details into a five-volume pharmacology known as the Herbarius.
Hippocrates was born in Greece and is regarded as the “father of medicine.” He prescribed perfumed fomentations and fumigations as part of his medical practice. In general, the Greek medical practice was derived from Hippocrates, who was known to cure using aromatic unctions.
Megallus also created one of Greek’s famous preparations called the “megaleion” from cinnamon, cassia, and myrrh. It was used both as a cure for battle wounds and skin inflammation and as a perfume.
The Romans used aromatic oils and perfumes more lavishly than the Greeks did. They utilized three kinds of perfumes, including solid unguents (ladysmata), scented oils (stymmata), and powdered perfumes (diapasmata). These perfumes were primarily used to aromatize their bodies, hair, clothes, and linens. Large amounts of these scented oils were also used for massage after bathing.
As the Roman Empire fell and Christianity came forth, most of the Roman physicians fled to Constantinople, taking with them the books of Hippocrates, Dioscorides, and Galen. Consequently, the physicians translated the books into Arabic, Persian, and other languages and passed on their knowledge to the Arabs after the Byzantine Empire.
