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1, Hamid Keveyani pooya2 , Mohammadhasan Najafi3 , Azam Seiamak Dastjerdi4
2- Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran;
3- School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Sadooghi Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran;
4- Faculty of Literature, University of Shahrekord, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran.
Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that is now widely practiced throughout the world. Medical history studies indicate the popularity of aromatherapy in ancient civilizations such as Persia as a method of decontamination and treatment.
The present study uses religious texts, ancient Persian manuscripts in the Pahlavi language, and the history of Persia to confirm the status and application of aromatherapy as a method of treatment in ancient Persian medicine.
In ancient Persia, illness was perceived as a product of evil. Ahriman and Ganak Mainyu were the main causes of diseases, often associated with foul odors and filth. Thus, ancient Persians tried to cure illnesses by using herbs and applying certain principles of hygiene.
Evil, foul odors and stale air were believed to transmit diseases, while ahuric divinities were associated with sweet smells. Therefore, fragrances were used in keeping with the divine forces, and aromatic substances, herbs and woods were employed as a means of prevention to eliminate the causes of illnesses, and as a cure for certain mental and physical diseases.
Received: 2015/09/16 | Accepted: 2016/01/6 | Published: 2016/02/9
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