Medicinal Herbs In History
Author: Linda Thompson Article: Unlocking the healing powers in plants is an ancient idea. Early inhabitants of all continents recognized their dependence on nature for their health. Led by trial and error, instinct and experience humans have long used hundreds, if not thousands, of native plants for treatment of various illnesses dating back to ancient times. There is confirmed evidence of the use of herbs in medicine dating back 60,000 years ago to the burial site of a Neanderthal man discovered in 1960 in a cave in Iraq. Found buried with the man were eight species of plants, seven of which are medicinal plants still widely used throughout the world today. Cultures from all parts of the globe have medicine histories that include the use of plants. Even in ancient cultures, people scientifically collected and detailed information on herbs developing well-defined herbal pharmacopoeias. Even into the 20th century much of the medical documentation of scientific medicine had its basis in...