Invention of a device used to extract true essential oils was done by Ibn Sina (also known as Avicenna), one of the greatest minds in ancient Persia. This was a big leap in the development of aromatherapy, which previously used aromatic waters by boiling different plants, herbs, and spices, and then inhaling the steam it produced. Ibn Sina’s device allowed people to acquire the essential oil of the plant, making it more potent and more effective.
Aromatherapy is a major part of Persian health and wellness, since it is believed that the vapors and aroma of different plants and herbs can affect one’s regulation of body temperature, release/restriction of hormones, metabolism, levels of stress and libido, effectiveness of the immune system, and even our thoughts, emotions, and physical behaviors. Through a person’s olfactory sensors (or simply put, the nerves in our noses), these aromas stimulate the brain and causes it to transmit serotonin and dopamine which helps the body feel relaxed, de-stressed, and positive.