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