Cosmetic And Therapeutic Properties – Olive Oil
When we talk about the cosmetic and therapeutic properties of Olive Oil we have to look back into the past and make our way to the Ancient Greek and Roman civilization that made use of Olive Oil. Whether they used olive oil to cook food or for medicinal purposes is another matter altogether but there is no doubt that they used olive oil to take care of their bodies.
Everyone used Olive Oil
Everyone be it old men or young, old women or old, healthy or sick, rich or poor, everyone used olive oil for its therapeutic properties. Moreover, they didn’t use it just once in a day but few times a day. The process of using olive oil involved a bath and the user had to spread the oil all over his/her body before actually taking a bath. This was its first function. The function being that it was used as a soap and cleanser. It was only later that it began to be used like a moisturizer. This moisturizer was further enriched by using the aromas that were obtained from various types of herb and flowers of the region.
A Healthy Appearance
In the old Roman and Greek societies anybody with dry hair skin was thought to be dirty. Hence, people took extra care while bathing and therefore started moisturizing their bodies with olive oil. They did this once a day and thus tried to cultivate an outwards appearance of a healthy body and appearance. Those days there was very little or no olive oil products in those areas and generally the oil and the accompanying herbs and flowers were imported from countries in the Orient. It was only later that the Greeks and Romans realized that they could produce olive oil in their backyard.
Egyptians and Olive Oil
Can the ancient Egyptians be far behind when talking about cosmetics and therapeutics? The Egyptians were famous for manufacturing various types of ointments and perfumes. Cleopatra, one of the most famous rulers of Egypt, was well known for her affinity towards a variety of cosmetics products. The base of many of these cosmetics was olive oil. The Egyptians plucked olive well before they ripened as they would then be without any scent, color or taste.
The Use is Practical
There are various practical reasons for one to use olive oil for body care. The chief amongst them being that oil, as a general rule will form a filmy layer on the skin that will protect the skin from dirt and dust infiltrations. Also, if there is excessive cold then the use of oil will protect you as it is a bad thermal conductor.
As can be seen, olive oil has been used as a base for cosmetic and therapeutic products since time immemorial. Today, more and more properties are being identified that have further enhanced the already strong appeal of olive oil. Apart from its cosmetic properties and therapeutic value the oil also has various medicinal attributes that have made it one of the healthier oils that one could use in his/her daily diet.
