Throughout the ages, Nature has catered to the basic needs
of humans, not the least of which is the provision of
medicines for the treatment of a wide spectrum of diseases.
Plants, in particular, have played a dominant role in the
development of sophisticated traditional medicine systems.
Egyptian medicine dates back to 2900 BCE, but the best
known record is the “Ebers Papyrus”, which dates from 1500
BCE and documents over 700 drugs, mostly of plant origin.
Records documenting the uses of approximately 1000 plantderived
substances in Mesopotamia date from around 2600
BCE, and many are still used today for the treatment of
ailments ranging from coughs and colds to parasitic infections
and inflammation.1 Extensive documentation of the Chinese
Materia Medica has occurred over the centuries,2 with the
first record dating from about 1100 BCE (Wu Shi Er Bing
Fang, containing 52 prescriptions), being followed by works
such as the Shennong Herbal (∼100 BCE; 365 drugs) and
the Tang Herbal (659 CE; 850 drugs). Likewise, documentation
of the Indian Ayurvedic system dates from before 1000
BCE (Charaka; Sushruta and Samhitas with 341 and 516
drugs respectively).
Throughout the ages, Nature has catered to the basic needs
of humans, not the least of which is the provision of
medicines for the treatment of a wide spectrum of diseases.
Plants, in particular, have played a dominant role in the
development of sophisticated traditional medicine systems.
Egyptian medicine dates back to 2900 BCE, but the best
known record is the “Ebers Papyrus”, which dates from 1500
BCE and documents over 700 drugs, mostly of plant origin.
Records documenting the uses of approximately 1000 plantderived
substances in Mesopotamia date from around 2600
BCE, and many are still used today for the treatment of
ailments ranging from coughs and colds to parasitic infections
and inflammation.1 Extensive documentation of the Chinese
Materia Medica has occurred over the centuries,2 with the
first record dating from about 1100 BCE (Wu Shi Er Bing
Fang, containing 52 prescriptions), being followed by works
such as the Shennong Herbal (∼100 BCE; 365 drugs) and
the Tang Herbal (659 CE; 850 drugs). Likewise, documentation
of the Indian Ayurvedic system dates from before 1000
BCE (Charaka; Sushruta and Samhitas with 341 and 516
drugs respectively).
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