Herbal
trial and error becomes even more remarkable when we consider that cultures
separated by thousands of miles arrived at similar uses for many healing herbs,
apparently independently.
Herbal
healing includes four major traditions: Chinese, Ayurvedic (in India), European
(including Egyptian), and American Indian. Until the 15th century,
Old World cultures were isolated from the Americas. Nonetheless, Old and New
World herbalists used many herbs similarly.
Angelica
and licorice: Asians, Europeans, and Native Americans all used these herbs to
treat respiratory ailments.
Hop and
the mints: All the ancient herbal traditions used these herbs as stomach
soothers.
Blackberry
and raspberry: These two popular herbs have been used around the world to treat
diarrhea.
Uva
ursi: Asians, Europeans, and Native Americans all discovered this herb's
diuretic properties.
White
willow: All the herbal traditions used this herb to treat pain and inflammations.
During
the 19th century, chemists used this "herbal convergence" to point them
to the plants that provided extracts for the first pharmaceuticals. According to
a report published in the journal “Science”, of the 121 prescription drugs
derived from higher plants, about 74 percent came to drug companies' attention
because of their use in traditional herbal healing. (‘The Healing Herbs’, the
ultimate guide to the creative power of Nature’s medicine’, by Michael
Castleman)