Essential oil Aromatherapy’s origins are ancient and rooted in traditions of holistic healing as a transcendent art form. Our earliest written documents across all cultures, all over the world, seem to record the use of herbs, flowers and plant oils for their healing and aesthetic properties. Stuff that Moodi folks intuitively know and understand…right??

Of course, I’m going to start by talking about India first!! But we'll work our way through other cultures in the next couple of blog posts! Indians have used aromatic herbs and flowers as part of everyday life, for religious ceremonies and as medicine to heal the body and lift the spirit. The Vedic texts, dating from around 2500 BC describe the use of the essential oils of sandalwood, coriander, ginger, jasmine, patchouli, spikenard, rose and turmeric as spiritual and healing substances.

Zoroastrians burn Sandalwood sticks in their fire temples, creating a supremely spiritual and uplifting aroma. And Ayurvedic medicine, used for thousands of years in India relies on the use of natural herbals remedies to treat body, mind and spirit. Attars of musk, hina, kewda, champa and rose are commonly used to treat a everyday ailments from headaches, nerves, insomnia and cramps. And no description of India would be complete without mentioning the use of fresh flowers in every single ceremony, from weddings, to birthdays, to funerals, to graduations to lift and delight the senses. We used to have a fresh garland of flowers strung up outside the front door every single day and how I wish I could still do that now!

The Chinese were equally prolific in their use of herbal remedies and some the essential oil aromatherapies that originated in China are, Cassia, star anise, angelica, ginger and camphor. It is believed that the Chinese physicians treated Cholera with Sandalwood at one point in time. Chinese texts dating as far back as 3000 BC speak of the goddess of perfume, Shi-Che, and describe the practice of perfuming the environment rather than the person. It is also believed that at one time, Chinese money was printed on silk and then perfumed.  China can be credited with bringing to our awareness  five thousand different herbs, spices, and animal and mineral substances that are used medicinally and in cosmetics.

 So as you savor the delicious aromas of our Mood Indigo products, dream a bit about the exotic and ancient histories of each scent and indulge your inner Maharani!!

What health/beauty tips have you collected from your ancestors?? Will you share??