Some forms of alternative medicine are crnturies old. African herbalists have a long history of using tree bark,roots,grasses,and flowers to make teas to treat disease. Native Americans have used plant products to treat such illnesses as high blood pressure and coughs. At first, modern scientists laughed at herbal healers and called their medthods. "Grandmother's remedies". Today,however researchers are testing certain elements in plants for the possible treatment of cancer and AIDS