Herbal Medicine in History

Herbal Medicine in History

Herbal Medicine in History

Looking back through known history can, at times, be a traumatic experience. To realize mistakes and blunders our forefathers made from ignorance or sheer stupidity, to see traditions and taboos cause miseries all around. And to observe how religion strangled creative thought, progress and the welfare of nations, throughout the ages to our times.

Healing has been an important business in all known societies. Those, who could lessen, or cure the sufferings of others, have always held important posts in their communities. Generally secretive in their ways, knowledge was passed to the successor only. Knowledge has been constantly accumulated, mostly by trial and error, that which works, becomes a traditional cure. Certainly there were some bizarre methods used, but some worked.

In ancient Egypt, healing was mainly performed by specialized priests. They used herbs to ease the sufferer's pain, and religious rites to drive out the evil spirit causing the sickness. And it worked if they used the right herbs combined with the right chants. The herbal applications have survived the ages, the religious rigmarole have changed and changed and are slowly fading away.

This set of things, seems consistent with all societies and all ages. Nature and mysticism have, hand in hand, cured (or killed) the sick. In modern times mysticism has been largely replaced by a more enthralling mystery, science. And science looks down upon nature; natural remedies are made by quacks and for quacks. The modern physician, after inspecting a patient, generally issues a prescription for a known medicine, or if he doesnt know any, he consults a catalog issued by pharmaceutical manufacturers. They, in turn, insist that all their products are tested to the limit, regarding effectiveness and harmlessness. In reality, side effects, even terminal side effects have occasionally appeared. Too extensive testing can be too expensive and take too long time.

Herbal remedies, on the other hand, have been tested for centuries. Their effectiveness and limitations, and even dangers, are well established. So well, that enterprising pharmaceutical companies are starting to seek there for elusive cures for illnesses like cancer, chronic infections and Alzheimer disease. Experienced herbalists are prone to state, that if you take a herbal remedy for some illness, it will at least cure that illness. There is evidence of an ointment made from wild arctic herbs that cures even third degree burns like something out of Science Fiction. Dried Angelica archangelica was a part of the inventory when the Vikings went on trade routes to Europe (yes, they were mainly traders). Angelica archangelica has excellent antibiotic function (amongst other qualities) and was used against plague in the middle ages.

So, shake off your old beliefs, if you feel queasy start eating grass. Well, thats what cats and dogs do anyway.

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