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Preface

THE LAST TWO DECADES of the 20th century have witnessed a remarkable renaissance of interest in, and practice of, natural healing methods. In recent years, such forms of treatment as medical herbalism, osteopathy, shiatsu, reflexology, acupuncture, and aromatherapy have all attained varying degrees of credibility in the eyes of health professionals, as well as among the general public. Of these, aromatherapy is among the most popular alternative or complementary forms of treatment available in the UK and other Western countries. Yet only half a century ago the therapeutic use of herbs and essential oils was frowned upon or even officially banned. Plant medicines were seen as something archaic and outmoded in comparison to the new pharmaceutical drugs, and in 1941, the British Pharmacy and Medicines Act made the practice of herbal medicine illegal. Fifty years later, the scientific world is reappraising the value of natural remedies: as the limited effectiveness, and unwanted side effects, of aggressively synthesized medications are being recognized, aromatic essences are coming back into their own once again.

But is the current fascination for aromatherapy just another fashion or fad, or is it part of a larger sociological and cultural movement? Firstly, many of the so-called “alternative” therapies, including aromatherapy, are not new or modern techniques. They are based on ancient medical systems that have been built up over thousands of years from accumulated empirical evidence. Medical herbalism, and the use of aromatic remedies in particular, are very much older forms of treatment than Western allopathic, or orthodox, medicine. Unlike many modern drugs, plant remedies have been tried and tested over generations, and any side effects or environmental consequences carefully noted. Herbal medicine and aromatherapy consequently represent a return to nature, being based on principles requiring ecological awareness. This corresponds with many people’s interest in “green” issues, and a widespread concern regarding the unknown effects of certain chemicals on the whole ecosystem and the long-term consequences of our exploitation of natural resources.

Melissa (lemon balm) is a plant much used by herbalists that also yields a valuable essential oil.

Perhaps the most feminine of all scents, roses have been used to make perfume and healing remedies since ancient times. The ancient Romans used the wild rose as a remedy for the bites of rabid dogs. Roses are still highly valued today and rose essential oil is very expensive.

The art of herbal distillation has been perfected over the centuries.

Secondly, alternative forms of therapy embrace a holistic approach to health. They focus on the well-being of the individual as a whole, including that person’s emotional or mental disposition. They are thus able to fulfill society’s need for some kind of psychological support during an era of instability. An aromatherapy massage, for example, can provide a valuable antidote to the fast pace of 20th-century life and help relieve many of the stress-related problems that are so widespread today.

PETITGRAIN

Thirdly, with regard to aromatherapy massage at least, it is a very comforting yet multifaceted form of treatment. During a treatment, the pleasingly scented aromatic oils produce both psychological and physiological effects as they are rubbed into the skin and absorbed into the bloodstream. In addition, the essential oils themselves are highly concentrated and easy to use, and require little or no preparation. This means that they can readily be employed by all kinds of people in a variety of ways to enhance their health and the overall quality of their lifestyle, rather than being limited to the hands of health professionals.

THYME

This book has been written partly as a companion volume to my previous book, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils. Whereas my earlier book focused on the essential oils themselves, including their extraction, chemistry, botanical features, and history, this book concerns itself solely with their therapeutic and cosmetic applications and concentrates on the diversity within the aromatherapy tradition as it is practiced today. It is above all a practical handbook, both for the practicing therapist and for more general use. Special emphasis is placed in the book on what I call “simple” aromatherapy—a basic, practical approach to self-treatment. It has always struck me as being a great pity that the whole realm of self-help using folk-medicine, which was once a natural part of family life, has been largely lost in Western culture. It is in this middle ground that aromatic remedies have such a lot to offer—playing their part in the home treatment of common everyday conditions such as period pains, headaches, eczema, and other skin complaints. Accepting responsibility for one’s own health and condition is also an affirmative statement. It encourages individual responsibility and opens a door to self-knowledge as well as a window into the natural world, for all essential oils are derived directly from plants. In fact the whole field of fragrant plants and natural medicine is a vast area. I have also found that, like gardening, aromatherapy has an addictive quality—once hooked you will find it is hard to let go, for there is always more to learn and discover.

CHAMOMILE