Herbal Science
Submitted by divine_sysop on November 3, 2009 - 22:48
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Herbalism is a traditional study and practice of using plants to treat illness and to promote health. It is based on collection and dispersion of herbs and mainly uses plants and plant extracts for therapeutic purposes. It is known by various names such as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, Herbology and phytotherapy. Herbal medicine sometimes also includes fungal and bee products, minerals, shells and animal parts.
The earliest written record of the study of herbs dates back to over 5,000 years ago to the Sumerians, who described medicinal uses for plants such as laurel, caraway, and thyme. Ancient Egyptian medicine is known to have used garlic, opium, castor oil, coriander, mint, indigo, and other herbs for medicine.
Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medicine system has been using herbs such as turmeric and many other herbs and minerals for therapeutic purposes. The famous Ayurveda treatise Sushruta Samhita, authored by Sushruta in the 6th century BC, describes 700 medicinal plants, 64 preparations from mineral sources, and 57 preparations based on animal sources.
The Shennong Bencao Jing, the first Chinese herbal book compiled during the Han Dynasty but dating back possibly to 2700 BC, lists 365 medicinal plants and their uses. The ancient Greeks and Romans made medicinal use of plants and their medicinal practices, as preserved in the writings of Hippocrates and Galen, laid the foundation for the development of modern western medicine.
The use of herbs to treat diseases is almost universal in nonindustrial society. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80% of the worlds population still uses herbal medicine for some aspects of primary healthcare. This source of medicine is comparatively cheaper and can be grown from seeds or gathered from nature at little or no cost.
Herbalism is now playing an important role in the modern human society. The search and use of drugs and dietary supplements derived from plants has accelerated in recent years. Around the world, many people suffering from critical side-effects and prohibitive cost of modern medicines are gradually shifting towards herbalism to find and adopt alternative medicines and treatments. Given the trend, it is likely that herbalism will soon become an integral part of various health and wellness treatments.
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