Ancient Essential Oils Information
The 12 ancient essential oils are: sandalwood, frankincense, myrrh, cassia, cedar wood, cypress, galbanum, hyssop, myrtle, onycha, cistus and spikenard. These oils date back more than 6,000 years and have been used in virtually every religion through the ritual of anointing. The oils and trees and plants they come from served many purposes in ancient times as well as today.
Mummification, Embalming and Burial
Sandalwood was used most famously for mummification and embalming. The oil helped to preserve the bodies of kings, queens and pharaohs. It has also been burned throughout history as an offering to gods and goddesses in many different cultures. Frankincense is said to have been used in the burial of Jesus.
Bringing Us Closer To The Divine
Sandalwood is believed to increase oxygen around the pituitary and pineal glands, helping produce melatonin and serotonin--hormones that are believed in many cultures to bring humans in touch with the divine. Hyssop was believed to release pain from an individual's mind.
Gifts and Honor
Frankincense and myrrh were two of the gifts thought to be brought to the Baby Jesus. It is a spicy scent that is extracted by scoring the bark of the small tree that grows only in the Middle East, and then distilling the resin. It is still used in the Catholic Church, as it is believed to invoke the spirit of Christ.
An ancient custom was to use spikenard to anoint an illustrious guest's head and feet. Jesus was supposedly anointed twice with spikenard the week prior to his death.
Biblically, cassia, cinnamon, calamus, and myrrh were used in the holy anointing oil Jesus spoke of to Moses in Exodus 30:20-25 (along with cinnamon, calamu, and olive oil).
Symbolism
Myrrh is symbolic of suffering and is produced by slicing off a piece of the bark of the myrrh tree. Fittingly, the substance that comes out is referred to as "tears."
The ancient Greeks associated myrtle with Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty.
Jesus' cross was said to be made of cypress; therefore the cypress tree is often associated with death and is frequently seen in cemeteries.
Medicinal, Perfumery and Cosmetic Uses
Myrtle was used as an antiseptic, deodorant, astringent and sedative, as well as an aphrodisiac (thus the association with Aphrodite).
The oil of the cypress tree was known for its medicinal benefits as an antiseptic, astringent, diuretic and deodorant.
Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations burned galbanum in incense sticks and mixed it in the bath water as a perfume. The Egyptians used cedar wood as a perfume and in cosmetics.
Modern Uses
Today, cedar wood is used to help alleviate acne, eczema and dermatitis..
The scent of galbanum is very earthy and woodsy and is known for being a good detoxifier. It aids in circulation, particularly in the joints, and is known for helping muscle spasms.
Cypress oil is often used in the treatment of stress, varicose veins and oily skin. It can also be used in a douche mixture to aid in the healing process after childbirth, fending off genitourinary infections.
Cistus is a calm and soothing scent that has been used in counseling as well as in respiratory support.
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