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The Ancient Wisdom of Herbs: Do you know when the earliest recorded use of medicinal plants was
Medicinal plants, or herbs, have been discovered and used in traditional medicine since prehistoric times. These plants synthesize hundreds of chemical compounds to orchestrate their own defenses against threats such as insects, fungi, diseases, and herbivorous mammals. The earliest historical records of medicinal plants date back to the Sumerian civilization around 3000 BC, when clay tablets listed hundreds of medicinal plants, including opium. Later, the Ebers Papyrus of ancient Egypt recorded more than 850 kinds of plant medicines in 1550 BC; by 60 AD, the Greek doctor Dioscorides recorded more than 1,000 kinds in the Materialis Medica. With its medical prescriptions and 600 medicinal plants, the book laid the foundation for the pharmacopoeia for the next 1,500 years.
The annual export value of medicinal plants worldwide is about US$60 billion, and it is growing by 6% each year.
The classification of compounds extracted from plants is very diverse and can be divided into four main categories: alkaloids, glycosides, polyphenols and terpenes. Few of these compounds have been scientifically proven to be drugs, but medicinal plants are still widely used in folk medicine in non-industrial societies, mainly because they are more readily available and relatively inexpensive. Of course, there is still a lack of regulation of traditional medicine, but the World Health Organization (WHO) coordinates a network to promote the safe and rational use of herbal medicines.
The herbal remedies market is often criticized for being unregulated and filled with placebos and pseudoscience products without sufficient scientific research to support their medical claims. These medicinal plants are facing general threats such as climate change and habitat destruction, as well as specific threats such as over-harvesting driven by market demand.
History
Prehistoric Times
Human primitive societies have begun to use plants as medicine, including many plants that are used as spices today. Studies have shown that prehistoric humans often brought medicinal plants with them when they were buried. For example, fossil evidence from an ancient Neanderthal cemetery in northern Iraq shows that the plants they used continue to influence modern medicinal plant use. Similarly, 15,000-year-old remains of the ephedra plant were found in the Tafrat Cave in Morocco, suggesting that it may have had special significance in funerary rituals of the time.
Ancient Times
Clay tablets from the ancient Sumerian period record hundreds of medicinal plants, such as myrrh and opium. The ancient Egyptian Ebers Papyrus lists more than 800 plant medicines, such as aloe vera and cannabis. Over time, various cultures, including the Romans, Celts, and Norsemen, have commonly used medicinal herbs in their medical traditions. The Romans drew on and expanded upon ancient Greek knowledge, with the Materia Medica becoming an important reference text on medicinal plants.
The herbal wisdom of various countries not only passes on medical knowledge, but also plays an important role in culture and tradition.
Middle Ages
Herbal medicine continued to flourish in medieval Europe. The monasteries became centers for preserving medical knowledge, and many classic works were translated and copied. During this period, medical practices in many areas were influenced by religion and indigenous culture. In the Iberian Peninsula, even during the period of Islamic rule, a rich herbal tradition was preserved, and many clinicians became practitioners of folk remedies.
Modern Times
Modern drug development relies on chemical analysis technology, and the status of medicinal plants has undergone fundamental changes. Advances in chemistry in the 19th century made it possible to extract alkaloids such as morphine and quinine from plants as active ingredients for specific diseases. This process has continuously verified the effectiveness of herbal medicine. In the 21st century, herbal medicine-based drug discovery continues around the world.
Future Perspective
Currently, the World Health Organization estimates that approximately 80% of the world's population relies primarily on traditional medicine, of which the use of medicinal plants is indispensable. Regardless of whether these plants have been scientifically confirmed to have medicinal value, they carry a wealth of cultural history and wisdom behind them, which makes people think: in the face of the rapid development of modern medicine, how should these ancient wisdoms be re-evaluated and applied? To better serve modern society?
