The Origins of Herbal Medicine

The Origins of Herbal Medicine: "Throughout the world there developed many different healing systems based on this idea of balancing natural forces, and relying on the medicinal use of plants. These include the Indian system of Ayurveda, the ancient Chinese and the Native American systems, as well as the system of folk medicine which developed in Europe. Each country or culture developed its own tradition and pharmacy from locally growing plants. China and India have the oldest written traditions. dating from about 1000 B.C.E.

Whereas the Indian and Chinese systems still survive today, in Europe the idea of balanced forces within the body gradually disappeared. From the 16th century onward, European cultures expanded into the New World, and imperialism made Western medicine the dominant ideal throughout the world, although not necessarily the dominant practice."... (Click on title link above to read the full article on herbal medicines.) ...