History of Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine is the oldest form of healthcare known to mankind. Herbs have been used by all cultures throughout history. Was an integral part of the development of modern civilization. Primitive man observed and appreciated the great diversity of plants available. Plants provide food, clothing, shelter and medicine. Much of the medicinal use of plants seems to have been developed through observations of wild animals, and by trial and error. As time went on, each tribe added the medicinal power of herbs in their area to their knowledge base. Who methodically collected information on herbs and developed pharmacopoeias herbal well-defined. In fact, well into the 20th century most of the pharmacopoeia of scientific medicine is derived from the herbal traditions of native peoples. Many drugs used today are of plant origin. In fact, approximately 25% of prescription drugs dispensed in the United States contain at least one active ingredient derived from plant material. Some are made from plant extracts, while others are synthesized to mimic a natural plant compound. 

Arguably, the history of herbology is inextricably intertwined with that of modern medicine. Many drugs listed as conventional medications were originally derived from plants. Salicylic acid, a precursor of aspirin was originally derived from willow bark and the plant meadowsweet. Cinchona bark is the source of quinine to combat malaria. Vincristine, used to treat certain types of cancer, comes from periwinkle. Morphine poppy produces opium, codeine and paregoric, a treatment for diarrhea Laudanum, a tincture of opium poppy was the favored tranquilizer in Victorian times. Even today, morphine, the most important alkaloid of opium poppy-remains the standard against which new synthetic pain relief measures. 

Before the synthesis and discovery of antibiotics, the herb echinacea (which comes from the plant known as purple coneflower) was one of the most widely prescribed in the United States. For centuries, herbalists prescribed echinacea to fight infection. Today, research confirms that the herb stimulates the immune system by stimulating the production of disease-fighting white cells from blood. 

The use of plants as medicine is older than recorded history. As mute witness to this fact marshmallow root, hyacinth, and yarrow have been found carefully tucked around the bones of a man of the Stone Age in Iraq. These three herbs are still used today. Marshmallow root is a demulcent herb, soothing to inflamed or irritated mucous membranes, such as sore throat or digestive tract irritation. Hyacinth is a diuretic that stimulates the tissues to give the excess water. Yarrow is a long-standing cold and fever remedy that once may have been used much as aspirin is today. 

In 2735 BC the Chinese Emperor Shen Nong wrote an authoritative treatise on herbs that is still in use today. Shen Nong recommended Ma Huang (ephedra known as the Western world), for example, against respiratory distress. Ephedrine, extracted from ephedra, is widely used as a decongestant. You'll find it in its synthetic form, pseudoephedrine, in allergy to many, but cold medicines and relief produced by big pharmaceutical companies. 

The records of King Hammurabi of Babylon (c. 1800 BC) include instructions for the use of medicinal plants. Hammurabi prescribed the use of mint for digestive disorders. Modern research has confirmed that the mint in effect, to relieve nausea and vomiting by mildly anesthetizing the lining of the stomach. 

Throughout the Middle East has a rich history of herbal healing. There are texts that survive from the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt and India that describe and illustrate the use of many medicinal plants such as castor oil, linseed oil, poppy and white. In the biblical book of Ezekiel, which dates from the sixth century before Christ, we find this warning on the life of plants: ".. and its fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing." Egyptian hieroglyphs show physicians of the first and second centuries AD treat constipation with senna pods, and using caraway and peppermint to relieve digestive disorders. 

Throughout the Middle Ages, botanicals grown at home were the only drugs available, and for centuries, no self-respecting household would be without a well-kept garden of herbs and is used widely. For the most part, the tradition of herbal healing passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Mother teaches daughter, the village herbalist taught a promising apprentice. 

In the seventeenth century, knowledge of herbal medicine was widely disseminated throughout Europe. In 1649, Nicholas Culpeper wrote a Physical Directory, and some years later produced the English physician. This respected herbal pharmacopoeia was one of the first manuals that the layman can use for health care, and is still widely referred to and quoted today. Culpeper had studied at Cambridge University and was intended to become a great doctor, in the academic sense of the word. Instead, he opted for an apprentice apothecary and eventually set up his own workshop. She served the poor of London and is known as the medical ward. The herbal products that he created was for the layman. 

The first U.S. Pharmacopeia was published in 1820. This volume includes an authoritative list of herbal medicines, with descriptions of their properties, uses, dosage, and purity testing. Be reviewed regularly and became the legal standard for medical compounds in 1906. But as Western medicine evolved from an art than a science in the nineteenth century, the information he had at one time were widely available, was the domain of relatively few. Once the scientists have developed methods to extract and synthesize the active ingredients in plants, pharmaceutical companies took over herbal suppliers and producers of drugs. The use of herbs, most of the story had been current medical practice, began to be considered unscientific, or at least unconventional, and fall into relative obscurity.

History of Herbal Medicine

In reviewing the history of herbal medicine has been observed that herbs have been used by man almost as long as man has been on the earth. The practice of herbal medicine involves the use of elements such as plants, trees or shrubs. These pieces can be prepared as extracts, poultices, herbal infusions, and in many other ways. 

Herbs are the foundation of modern pharmacology and have been used for many conventional medicines. One of the most common herbal medicines aspirin is derived from white willow back. Morphine is another herbal medicine and is a product of opium poppy. 

Herbs are also used as a method of combating cancer. Leurocristine is one of these herbs to fight cancer that is extracted from the Madagascar periwinkle. Other common herbs such as rosemary and parsley has cancer fighting agents in them. 

HISTORY, CULTURE AND USES FROM OTHER COUNTRY !!!

Old Herbal Medicine 

human early tribal societies used herbs as medicines. Many of these ancient humans herb chewed to relieve stomach pain. Other early human tribes were herbalists who became its specialists when used as medicinal herbs and plants. 

Ayurveda and Herbal Medicine 

In reviewing the history of herbal medicine, many experts in the field aspect of the use of herbs in Asian cultures and southeastern India. These cultures have used plant and herbal preparations for 6,000 years. One of their traditions of healing called Ayurveda.

'Ayurveda' The word means "the complete knowledge for a long life" and this approach continues along the principles and strategies to extend the longevity and provide a healthy life. This tradition has its roots in the Hindu religion. 

Herbs in Greek and Egyptian cultures 

Herbs have been used by a wide variety of other cultures through time. In reviewing the history of herbal medicine, you can see there are many examples in ancient Greek society of people using herbs medicinally. Historians have also discovered the use of herbs and plants in ancient Egyptian society. 

The use of herbal medicines in China 

China's most ancient cultures practiced the philosophy of life yen and yang - the balance of life energies. There are many examples in history of culture in which herbs and other techniques used as methods of healing, Chinese medicinal herbs. They also used herbs as a way to treat the entire body so that any person was in balance and harmony with themselves and nature. 

The modern use of herbs 

It is estimated that up to seventy-five percent of the earth's human population continues medicine techniques using herbal preparations as their sole source or as a source of healing. Another lesser known fact is that a lot of our traditional western medicines are derived from plants and herbs that occur in nature. 

Many herbalists practice a syncretic approach to using herbs for healing. This approach respects the different religious practices and philosophies and making all of them in the formulation and use of herbs in pharmaceuticals. 

The history of herbal medicine can not be denied. Herbs have played and continue to play an important role in the medical systems of our society and have an important role in healing the sick and provide ways to manage the disease in a comprehensive and effective.