| Ancient Egyptians believed bodies rubbed with | | | | funeral is actually frankincense. Perhaps it was used |
| Cedarwood Essential Oil would be preserved forever. | | | | because a common healing property of frankincense |
| They would also burn the wood as incense as an | | | | is that it is a sedative. So, it helps get the soul to |
| offering to the gods. Egyptians also used essential oils | | | | heaven faster and it can actually calm the mourners. |
| is baths and massages to increase the elasticity of the | | | | The Romans used essential oils generously. They |
| skin. This was a necessity due to the dry hot climate. | | | | perfumed their bodies mostly because bathing was |
| Their skin would become dry and wrinkled without the | | | | something that only happened once a week. It is even |
| use of essential oils. | | | | said that Romans put perfume on the sails of their |
| In 500 BC China, the Philosopher "Confucius" sated | | | | ships! |
| "temples were hung with blossoms of magnolia, peach, | | | | During the middle ages, we know that plagues swept |
| jasmine and jonquil. This ritual was later adopted by | | | | across Europe. Doctors and herbalists used rosemary, |
| Christians as part of regular prayer services. | | | | sage, peppermint, orange and cloves to prevent and |
| Greeks and Romans were the first to start using | | | | cure these plagues. They often burned incense in the |
| essential oils outside of the religious activities. They | | | | streets in the hope to prevent the spreading of the |
| used essential oils to perfume their bodies. Crusaders | | | | plague. It is often said that those who worked with the |
| brought back many herbs and oils from various holy | | | | essential oils were never infected by the plagues. |
| grounds back to their native countries. | | | | Around the 1700's, the use and interest in essential oils |
| The Queen of Sheeba is said to have trapped King | | | | began to decline. This was due to the fact that |
| Solomon using frankincense and myrrh essential oils. | | | | medical science developed. It wasn't until 1928 that |
| Frankincense and myrrh, if you recall, are two of the | | | | aromatherapy was re-introduced and the interest in |
| gifts the three kings brought to baby Jesus. These | | | | essential oils is growing at a very fast pace. |
| were considered of high value back then. It is also said | | | | So you see, the use of essential oils dates very far |
| that prayers mixed with incense smoke would mean | | | | back in history. I only wish that we did not get away |
| the soul would go to heaven much quicker. The smoke | | | | from herbal cures! |
| that a priest waves over and around a coffin at a | | | | |