Herbs have been used by mankind for thousands of years as a source of healing
and other medical purposes. The following is to give you some information on
herbs, their history and uses.
The oldest known herb book is from China. It is the Pen-ts'ao and dates to about
3500 B.C. It contains over 300 herbal preparations. In ancient Egypt there were
over two thousand herb doctors in the year 2000 B.C., according to the Ebers Papyrus.
The Greeks raised and studied herbs carefully. They often recorded their findings.
According to the philosopher, botanist, Theophrastus, Aristotle raised over
three hundred medicinal herbs in his garden. And, in the first century A.D.,
the Greek physician Dioscorides composed the first European treatise on the
medical use of herbs.
In the early Christian era herbs were not preferred over faith healing, but as
time went on, monks took up the culitivating and use of herbs both in healing
and in cooking.
Indian tribes in North America used herbs both as medicine and in magic rituals.
At the advent of the Europeans, some of this herblore was passed on
to the whites.
In the nineteenth century, as chemistry developed, herbal remedies were often
passed over and active chemical drugs took their place. But in the United States
today, there is a new interest in herbs and their valuable, natural effects.
As we begin to recognize the value of our enviornment, and as we
try to protect and preserve what nature has given us, it is only logical that
this new interest in herbs would take place. Old traditions such as lunar
herb gardening are being renewed. Even lunar calendars are being consulted.
In the next page I will present some of the healing herbs and their positive effects.
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