There is no doubt that man has made monumental advances in the field of medicine in the past 150 years than they have through out the history of mankind. And yet, with all these technological and medical breakthroughs herbal cures are gaining in popularity. In the past people remained healthy and fit without prescription drugs, especially antibiotics. In earlier times they would seek the advice of a herbalist or in many cases use herbal cures which had been handed down through the generations. Most remedies would have been based on plant life and to a smaller extent the animal kingdom. Fortunately, this knowledge hasn’t been forgotten and many of us today are endeavoring to seek natural remedies and cures for many ailments.
Hundreds and thousands of years ago the majority of people were uneducated and were unable to read or write, but they knew how to follow their instincts. It was discovered that certain herbs could alleviate their pains, others could make a wound disappear and others could even kill them. In the course of time, societies developed and with them appeared the means to transmit their knowledge other than by word of mouth.
Herbal Cures used throughout the history of mankind
In Ancient China people used rhubarb (Rheune palmatum) as a purgative without knowing anything about the actual active substances they contained. They used Ephedra to treat asthma, even though the substance called ephedrine was discovered much later. The Chinese also developed a natural form of healing using needles, today it is called acupuncture, Chinese and is extremely effective in healing and giving pain relief, in fact many western medical doctors are today combining acupuncture together with conventional medicine in their practice. In India there is an entire system of rules, prescriptions, remedies and practices, called Ayurveda, many of which involved the use of herbs, plants and spices. Ayurvedic Medicine also had strict rules about when, by whom and from where the plants should be collected.
Ayurvedic Medicine
Ancient Egyptians knew and implemented the Castor-oil plant, saffron, wormwood and oregano to heal and disinfect wounds; coriander was also placed in their tombs to ensure that the spirit would remain healthy in his afterlife.It has been recorded that those who were involved in the building of the pyramids used garlic, mint, indigo and opium. The famous king Hammurabi of Babylon (18th century BC) recommended mint to cure constipation and other digestive disorders. Mesopotamian doctors considered that the best time to take a herbal medicine was at night or early in the morning, a principle which is confirmed nowadays by modern studies. The Greek and Roman civilizations also made a major contribution to medical sciences, although much of their studies originated from other cultures
(Mesopotamian, Egyptian).
Over time they became more concerned about the causes of diseases and finding the cure rather than the belief held by many thought superstition and magic were responsible for illness and disease. Physicians like Hippocrates, Dioscoride and others have recorded their discoveries. Their works enlightened the pre-medieval civilizations for many centuries after their death. Dioscorides wrote De Materia Medica (1st century AD), which contained a list of hundreds of medicinal plants, along with their description and curative qualities.
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