History of Herbs
An Ancient Art
Archeological evidence from prehistoric sites in the Fertile Crescent between the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers reveals the use of yarrow and marshmallow by our Neanderthal ancestors. The iceman uncovered in September 1991 in the Italian Alps carried a food pouch that contained bracket fungus, a mushroom that contains agaric acid (a laxative) and a resin that is toxic to certain bacteria and intestinal worms. Seven years later, scientists performed an autopsy on the man who had died 5300 years before and discovered that he carried Trichuris trichiura eggs in his intestinal tract. Discoveries of this kind are now revealing that ancient man diagnosed, treated and prescribed remedies with much greater sophistication than previously believed.
How did the ancients come to use plants for healing? Most likely through their observation of the natural world. Because they lived much closer to nature than modern man does, lessons in herbal treatments lay right before their eyes. Animals that are ill will display signs of their ailment and seek out specific plants to eat. When these plants were ingested my humans, they produced noticeable effects: wakefulness, tiredness, bowel evacuation, states of euphoria, hallucinations, etc.
Other plants attracted humans because of their pungent fragrances. Aromatic plants evolved into the first perfumes, body oils, insect repellents and meat preservatives. At a time when refrigeration was non-existent, meats were wrapped in aromatic herbs such as basil, rosemary, and mint to mask their offensive odors. Those that ate meat preserved in such a way became ill less often. Today we know that these plants gain their strong aroma from their essential oils, which contain antimicrobial compounds that kill food spoiling and disease causing microorganisms.
While some herbs proved to be healers, others were harmful. The knowledge of which plants would extend life past the expected 30 years became the realm of those who could dedicate themselves to study and experimentation. These wise persons recognized the web of connective energy that binds the planet together and often extended their study to celestial observations, vision quests and spiritual matters. Tribes of people shifted from nomadic lifestyles to settled communities beginning in 7500 BCE and the wise person’s role grew. They became the consultants of the village, dispensing advice about healing, fertility and the processes of birth and death. Their advice extended past the human physical body to include how and when to hunt a particular animal, how to heal sick domestic animals, when to sow and reap crops and how to bring the spiritual body into harmony with the physical self. These extensions were possible because of ancient people’s recognition of the one energy that flows through all and connects all.
As civilizations developed, treatments became more exact and often included magical rituals to appeal to the universal energy for help in healing. Across different cultures, different rituals and beliefs were held, but even among those separated by vast oceans, many of the same herbal remedies are found. For example, angelica and licorice root were used to treat respiratory ailments by Europeans, Egyptians, Asians and Native Americans. The remarkable similarities between the four major herbal traditions; Chinese, Ayurvedic, European/Middle Eastern, and Native American are astounding and speak to the observations and ingenuity of our human ancestors.
Continue to History of Herbs :: China
