Although the word "aromatherapy" only became popular in Europe at the beginning of this century, it actually has a history of thousands of years, including incense burning and herbal treatment in ancient China.
But what is the difference between traditional Chinese medicine aromatherapy and western aromatherapy?
The theoretical basis of TCM aromatherapy is TCM theory.
As early as thousands of years ago, ancient people began to use aromatic pharmaceutical preparations (such as mugwort leaves, angelica dahurica, musk, etc.). ) acts on the whole body or part to achieve the effects of preventing and treating diseases, strengthening the body and protecting health.
There are records of smoking, steaming and brewing fragrant wine in Oracle Bone Inscriptions of Yin Shang Dynasty. There are aromatic drugs such as Flos Magnoliae, Eupatorium, Zanthoxylum bungeanum and Cinnamomum cassia in the sachets and incense burners unearthed in Mawangdui, which shows that China people have the habit of using aromatic drugs to prevent diseases, remove filth and disinfect since ancient times.
The Compendium of Materia Medica in the Ming Dynasty recorded 35 kinds of "fragrant wood" and 56 kinds of "vanilla", and also introduced aromatherapy such as painting, rubbing, dressing, blowing, washing and bathing.
The theoretical basis of western aromatherapy is the efficacy of plants themselves.
According to the growth environment, extraction site, smell, volatility and other properties of plants, it has a soothing effect on the whole human body.
The use of plant essential oils first appeared in ancient times and ancient Egypt. As a proper term, "aromatherapy" was created by French cosmetic scientist Rene-Maurice Gatte-fosse in 1937.
To put it simply, Chinese medicine aromatherapy focuses on Chinese herbal medicine and Chinese medicine theory, and pays more attention to the actual healing effect, while western aromatherapy focuses on natural plants (flowers, vegetation, etc.). ) and pay more attention to soothing the body and mind.
The commonly used aromatherapy methods in traditional Chinese medicine include incense, aromatherapy, aromatherapy bath and aromatherapy application, and the commonly used dosage forms include incense, massage, daub, spray and aerosol.
Aromatherapy essential oil in traditional Chinese medicine is mainly compound essential oil. According to the pharmacological basis of ancient prescriptions and prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine, it has targeted effects on a certain part of the human body or a certain kind of diseases, such as rhinitis, insomnia, dyspepsia and migraine.
Western aromatherapy mainly uses various plant essential oils to enter the nasal cavity through breathing, and the chemicals in the essential oils promote the release of neurochemicals, resulting in calming, relaxing or exciting effects.
Western aromatherapy essential oils are mainly unilateral essential oils, such as lavender essential oil, tea tree essential oil and rose essential oil.