Herbs an Illuminating History - from a South African Perspective

The practise of herb-gardening can be traced asApproximately 80 percent of the worlds
far back as 4000 years ago in Egypt. Herbpopulation rely on traditional plant based medicine,
growing was often associated with temples, whichand 25 percent of prescription drugs contain plant
required herbs for daily worship and ritual. Queenextract. The USA's interest in medicinal herbs has
Hatshepsut (d. 1482BC imported frankincenseincreased by 100 percent since 1995 and similar
(Boswellia sacra) and myrrh ( Commiphoraincreases have been seen in other countries
myrrha) from Arabia, and cornflowers (across the globe.A resurgence of interest has
Centaurea cyanus), poppies (Papaver spp),meant that consumers are finding herbs in the
mandrakes (Mandragora spp), figs (Ficus spp), andfood industry, dietary supplements, teas, skin and
lotuses (Nymphaea lotus) appear in many wallhair-care products and aromatics. Culinary herbs
paintings. From as early as 305AD herb-gardeninghave exploded into every kitchen thanks to the
was second only to prayer in the monasticlikes of Jamie Oliver and other TV cookery
regime. Monasteries were largely self-sufficient inchefs.The lives of people and herbs are so closely
produce, placing special emphasis on herbs to heallinked that we often forget the power they
the sick. Herbs were also used to flavor aposses. The Swiss physician and alchemist
vegetarian diet as well as the brewing andParacelus (c.1493-1541) wrote that " All
distillation of ale, wine and liqueurs such assubstances are poisons; there is none which is not
Benedictine, and the cosmetic Carmelite waterpoison. The right dose differentiates a poison and
which was based on Melissa officinalis. In the 16tha remedy." Plants like Opium Poppy (Papver
century, herb gardens were planted by thesomniferum) and Coca (Erythroxylum coca) have
universities for the purpose of teaching botanybeen the cause of many wars throughout history.
and medicine, subjects that were inextricablyLife saving plants like Quinine (Cinchona Species)
linked until separated by advances in sciencehave prevented and treated malaria since the era
during the 18th century. Physic gardens as theyof colonial expansion. Meadowsweet (Filipendula
were commonly known were to be found atulmaria) provided the basis for acetylsalicylic acid
many universities throughout Europe. Herbs wereproduced in 1899, and was named aspirin after
planted in alphabetical order and as new species(Spirea ulmaria) which was the old name for
were brought back by colonial explorers and(Filipendula ulmaria). Aspirin is the world's most
botanical knowledge expanded, physic gardenswidely used drug.People all over the world have
housed a far greater range of plants and becamepicked, uprooted and used herbs since ancient
the botanic gardens we know today.Even thoughtimes. Of the 250,000 species of flowering plants
herbs have their roots in centuries gone by theyin the world, more than 20,000 are recorded as
are not a thing of the past. Thanks to the hippiesherbs, and in these numbers lies our greatest
of the 1960's and 1970's herbs have made ahope of finding new drugs to combat disease.
serious come back in the last decade.