While aromatherapy is a relatively new means of using a very old product, the concepts are based upon time-tested techniques. Our sense of smell is one of our most direct links to our memory and while the sounds of a particular event may not be clear, a scent can bring it back almost instantly.
The smell of roses might bring back a first kiss to an older man or the scent of fresh pine trees could bring back the memory of the first camping trip or the first fish they every caught. Lemon wood polish could bring back memories of filling out US immigration application forms, taking the US citizenship exam or getting their green card to an older immigrant.
The examples of older people are used because even though the memories might be twenty or thirty years old, but if they were special memories then a scent can trigger them.
However, essential oils were also used in times when doctors were either not present or so far away that everything was tried first before driving miles to a city to see a doctor. Essential oils such as peppermint or clove oil are time honored toothache remedies. In the old west when there was no dentist or the travelling dentist made rounds every 4 months, then something had to be done. These oils were used for temporary relief of such pain. These days with dentists easily available and some even on call for emergencies the history of these essential oils has almost been forgotten and fortunately they are no longer a necessity.
While today when a person strains a muscle or lifts something too heavy they may reach for a jar of prepared muscle cream and an aspirin, there were no such preparations one hundred years ago, or they were too expensive for the average person. When that happened and it did often because a lot of work was done by hand in those times, they instead reached for a homemade liniment containing essential oils made by some family member.
Vinegar was usually used as a carrier agent as it was readily available and herbs or essential oils were used as the active ingredients. Eucalyptus and menthol are still used today. Ginger and Cayenne as well have found their way back into popularity as well in commercial muscle preparations.
While there are, always-new ways to use nature’s products being created most of these essential oils have a long and honored history in treating ailments of the spirit and the body. Every time a homemaker reaches for that tiny bottle of peppermint oil to flavor homemade candy, she has also reached for a piece of natural medicine history. These common oils and not so common were at one time was considered essential to treatment of strained muscles, aching teeth or stuffy heads and far more. While not every essential oil once considered vital to treating “ailments has stood the test of time, some are still around today with new names and new uses.
