Today, a growing consumer population enjoys using herbal supplements for proactive health care. Herbal supplements are used by men and women to support optimal well-being. Herbal supplements are also the first preference of an aging population who use supplements to enhance their quality of life and remain active and independent.A Brief History of HerbsSince the dawn of civilization, herbs have been used to treat all sorts of illnesses. Herbs were passed down from generation to generation as early man had no other means of medicine available to him. It’s interesting to note that the earliest mention of herbs dates back 6000 years, to the Sumerians, who inhabited the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates. The inscriptions on clay tablets make mention of using poppy, thyme, mustard plant and licorice.China and other parts of Asia have a history of using herbs that dates back to at least 4000 years. Green Tea and ginseng is said to have originated from China.Ancient Egyptians were extremely skilled when it came to herbs. An ancient text the Papyus Ebers written in 1500 BC contains references to more than 700 herbal remedies, including poppy, aloe, caraway seeds and garlic.Hyppocrates, the father of medicine, was the first man to practice medicine as a science. Hyppocrates believed that nature had potential powers to treat disease. He often used herbs and diet as the basis of his treatment.The Roman Empire used herbal remedies extensively. Mandrake was used in Roman times as an anesthetic.Closer to home, American Indians used herbs such as skunk cabbage for asthma, and arnica roots for backache, black snakeroot for sore throat and fever, big sagebrush for stomach disorders. Europeans who settled in the thirteen American colonies in the late 1600s knew the use of only a few herbs for medicine.Science Puts Herbs under a MicroscopeAbout two decades ago, most Americans would not have even considered taking herbal supplements. Because of their association with the counter-culture movement not much credibility was given to it.In the 1800s herbs were sold as elixirs that promised a quick cure for just about any illness. Bandwagons advertising their miracle-cure tonics traveled from town to town selling their products. Such was the desperation and gullibility of people at the time, many bought into their fraudulent claims. By the time customers knew they had been duped, the bandwagons had moved on to another town.Naturally, the American public didn’t want to be fooled again! However, in the 1990s science finally put herbs under a microscope and began to study them carefully for their acclaimed health benefits. Ever since science took herbs under its wings and gave credence to its medicinal benefits, the evidence for herbs keeps mounting!Not only do herbs have medicinal value, they are also known to have nutritional value that can be used in preventive treatment. Phytochemicals, or phytonutrients, in herbs and other plants, have been studied for their strategic benefit on certain illnesses such as heart health and diabetes. Certain herbs are also known to have thermogenic benefits such as green tea. Aloe vera has been studied to have antiseptic properties and remarkable wound healing properties. This is being used in patients who have suffered from burns due to fire or radiation. There is no end to the research on and most of it brings positive news to current health problems. Science and tradition have finally blended well together. By and large, science continues to validate many of the herbs traditionally used as medicine for health and well-being. Herbal treatment is considered much safer than conventional medicine because it works with the body’s natural functions. It also has lesser side effects than prescription drugs. Herbal supplements are now enjoying such popularity that many choose them as their first choice in healthcare. Some popular herbal items today are ginseng, ginkgo biloba, aloe vera, green tea, resveratrol cocoa and saw palmetto. Others include whole food sources of nutrients, especially green foods like spirulina and chlorella.Science has succeeded in giving herbs their rightful place in healthcare. Tradition and science has produced its progeny of herbal supplements. Science has helped us to understand that 80% of our diseases are nutrition related.
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