Historical Roots of Essential oil: Part Two

" Aromatic plants and oils have been used for thousands of years, as incense, perfumes and cosemtics and for their medical and culinary applications. Their ritual use constituted an integral part of the tradition in most early cultures, where their religious and therapeutic roles became inextricably intertwined. This type of practice is still in evidence: for example, in the East, springs of juniper are burnt in Tibetan temples as a form of purification; in the West, frankincense isused during the Roman Catholic mass.
The Vedic literature if India dating from around 2000BC, lists over 700 substances including cinnamon, spikenard, ginger, myrrh, coriander and sandalwood. But aromatics were considered tobe more than just perfumes; in the Indo-Aryan tongue, 'atar' means smoke, wind, odour and essence, and the Rig Veda codifies their use for bnoth liturgical and therapeutic purposes. The manner in which it is written reflects a spiritual and philosophical outlook, in which humanity is seen as a part of nature, and the handlingofherbs as a sacred task..." The Encyclopaedia of Essential Oils. by Julia Lawless. Element Books. 1992
www.riversoap.com

Click Here to see our Natural Soap Products