Herbal Medicine History

Brief History of Herbal Medicine

Herbal Medicine is the use of botanicals (plants) either singularly or in combination to prevent and treat certain ailments and illnesses.

People native to different geographical locations have long used plants and plant extracts to cure specific maladies. Sometimes referred to as “folk” medicine, it is generally recognized that there are three schools of research one can follow with regard to the history of these treatments.

There is the study of medicines based on Greek, Roman and medieval sources which is largely used by Western schools of thought, Ayurvedic which comes from India and the Eastern tradition of Chinese Herbal Medicine. Rather than separation, these different schools of thought provide more commonality than division.

It stands to reason that most ancient peoples used plants that were native to their geographical location which provides sound reasoning as to why different schools of thought exist.

All three of these modalities at one time included both philosophical and spiritual aspects along with the scientific knowledge that existed within a specific time frame. While we are not here to render opinion, one fact does remain. The same study that determined one third of Americans used alternative therapies, the same number surveyed showed a dramatic increase in positive results to more than 60% when “prayer” was included in the mix.

Ayurvedic loosely translates to “knowledge of life.” Dating back to more than 6,000 years ago, Ayurvedic Medicine practiced not just Herbal Medicine, but some of the earliest surgical procedures as well as inoculation. Over the years Ayurvedic Medicine became increasingly more symptomatic as opposed to treating the root cause of disease which originally was steeped in strengthening the immune system.

With all our so-called advancements in the medical field, it’s interesting that physicians are still treating “effect” rather than “cause.” The old adage that, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” could not be more true. This is especially true when it comes to natural remedies.

Most natural remedies are botanical. Singularly or in combination, the numbers of herbs available is astounding. We will barely scratch the surface in this section of our website and we encourage further research and study.

DISCLAIMER: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.

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