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Norah Charles's Articles in Aromatherapy

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Home Made Aromatherapy Sprays For Every Occasion Natural aromatic oils are a feast for our senses, and their individual properties work their magic in a holistic way on the health of our mind, spirit, and psyche. As a preventative medicine, aromatherapy is unsurpassed; it is useful in balancing psychological health conditions such as anxiety, depre Create Your Own Custom-Formula Aromatherapy Sprays Natural aromatic oils are a feast for our senses, and their individual properties work their magic in a holistic way on the health of our mind, spirit, and psyche. As a preventative medicine, aromatherapy is unsurpassed; it is useful in balancing psychological health conditions such as anxiety, depre Aromatic Plants and Oils of Biblical Times Essential oils have been revered for their therapeutic and beautifying abilities since the first human civilizations emerged. Oils and resins, as hard-to-obtain substances, have long had special roles in medicine and religious activities. In order to obtain an essential oil, an inordinate amount of the plant must be collected, making the end product highly valuable. Perhaps the most well-known documentation of aromatic oils being used in religious contexts is in the Old and New Testaments. The Bible recounts many uses of aromatic oils as objects of prosperity, kindness, health and worship. We see instances of herbs like spikenard being used to anoint Jesus and frankincense being turned into a precious incense for use in religious ceremonies. The Bible shows us that the use of essential oils and resins has always been a critical part of worship for Jews and Christians. The distillation process for essential oils is a relatively new phenomenon that requires a still and a large amount of water to steam out the essential oils. Most likely, the oils we read about in the Bible were infusions of plant material into other more common oils. This, however, does not reduce their potency or their cultural and historical significance. Frankincense, myrrh and the other oils of the Bible were held in high esteem and difficult to obtain. Regardless of their distillation process, creating an aromatic oil has always been a labor-intensive project. We find about twelve essential oil plants listed in the Bible: juniper, myrtle, spikenard, frankincense, myrrh, galbanum, cinnamon, cedar, cedar and sandalwood, hyssop and cypress. One part of the puzzle that is unclear to modern scholars is whether all these plants were used as essential oils or if they were herbal plant remedies. Regardless, the Bible certainly makes reference to the Jews and Christians using these plants for anointing and also for medicine. There are varying interpretations of how many healing plants mentioned in the Bible were used for medicinal or sacred purposes. However, contemporary aromatherapy still recognizes these oils as important ingredients in the essential oil repertoire, and it is clear humankind has valued these plants for thousands of years. The aromatic plants of the Bible reflect the dryness of the Middle East. These plants can survive harsh climates and little rainfall. Fortunately for humankind, this unforgiving environment has given birth to many of aromatherapy's most well-loved plants. The oils of the Bible come from a variety of plants, most of which are hardy, desert-dwellers. Cinnamon is a bark from an aromatic tree that curls once it is removed and dried. Sandalwood, cedar, cypress and juniper are also all trees or shrubs found in the Mediterranean region. Historically, they were used for wood as well as medicine, aromatherapy and incense. Frankincense, myrrh and galbanum are resins derived from the barks of trees. They are often burned directly, also used in incense and retain their aromatic qualities for a long period of time. Modern aromatherapy often uses frankincense and myrrh for their abilities to connect us to higher planes of awareness. The frequently mentioned hyssop is an aromatic plant with purple flowers that is widely cultivated for use in cooking and herbal medicine. Myrtle, a flowering short tree or shrub, is a common aromatherapy plant as well that grows wild in these dry climates. Finally, spikenard, also called nard in the Bible, is a plant that is native to the Himalayan region of Asia. It was imported to the Middle East and used as an expensive perfume. When searching for Biblical references to medicinal plants, the Old Testament is the place to begin. Myrrh, one of the first oils to be referenced, can be found in Exodus 30:23-29. After wandering in the desert after their escape from Egypt, the Israelites, led by Moses, were asked by God to have an anointing oil made for the ritualistic objects in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. This portable altar was carried as the Israelites roamed for forty years in the desert. The oil, which was made from olive oil, cinnamon, cane and myrrh, was used to transform the ritual implements into sacred instruments. The process of anointing both humans and objects can be found throughout the Bible as an act of faith and worship. Jesus's life history has a number of instances when essential oils were conferred on him as acts of faith and appreciation. The book of Matthew tells of the kings from the East that came to offer Jesus gifts at his birth, notably frankincense and myrrh. As we already learned, these two resins are often used in modern times to assist in spiritual work. Jesus also received gifts of spikenard from two women. The first woman cracked a jar of spikenard and poured it above Jesus's head. The second gift-giver, Mary Magdalene, used her life savings of the same plant oil to anoint his feet. Using her hair, she then massaged the oil into his skin. These acts of faith and gratitude were seen as humble sacrifices as spikenard was a particularly expensive oil to obtain. Today, the oils of the Bible are frequently used in aromatherapy for healing physical ailments, connecting with spiritual or meditative states and even as offerings in religious contexts. Many of these oils have been used in unison, such as frankincense and myrrh, for thousands of years. Their widespread cultivation and our appreciation for their medicinal qualities have traversed the globe as Jews and Christians have continued to respect and use these rare oils. While aromatherapy as it is practiced today is a relatively new field of medicine, the use of medicinal oils is actually as old as civilization itself. By learning how these plants were used during Biblical times, we can connect to traditions that have recognized the relationship between humankind, the plant world and spiritual awakening.