HERBALISM: A HISTORY OF HOW HERBALISTS OFTHE PAST PAVED THE WAY FOR TODAY
According to The American Herbalist Guild, Herbal Medicine is the art and science of using herbs for promoting health and preventing and treating illness. Since ancient times herbal medicine has been used by many different cultures throughout the world. The following is a brief historical timeline that gives a basic foundational outline of how modern herbalism came to be today.
60,000+ BCE: Paleolithic
There is evidence that our paleolithic ancestors used native herbs. A Neanderthal burial at Shanidar in northern Iraq revealed a man laid on soil covered with grape hyacinth (muscari armeniacum) , yarrow (achillea millefolium), ephedra (Ephedrasp.), henbane (Hyoscyamusniger), St Barnaby’s thistle (centaurea Solstitialis),marshmallow pollen (Athea Officinalis) and other herbs which are still used in herbal practice and folk medicne today (Stori,2012; Griggs, 1981; Solecki, 1975)..Some of the earliest herbalists of the past were the Shamans or medicine keepers of a tribe. Shamanism was even practiced in paleolithic times. Ancient cave art dated at 30,000 years old shows evidence of shamanic practices first used (villoldo, 2017).
3000-1500 BCE: Medical Theories of Ancient Egypt
During this time the ancient Egyptians wrote the Ebers Papyrus, a compilation of medical texts written over the course of 1500 years that describes over 850 different herbs and their traditional uses (New World Encyclopedia,2011).
2800 BCE: Shen Nung, ‘The Divine Husbandman’
Shen Nung is referred to as “the father of Chinese medicine” and is believed to have introduced acupuncture as a healing therapy.
1200-1000 BCE: Atharvaveda
Ayurvedic herbal knowledge and formulas wee transcribed for the first time in the Atharvaveda. This text is considered partof the fourth Veda, a large series of ancient scriptures from India (Storl.2012)
450 BCE: Empedocles & Four Roots
Empedocles, a Greek philosopher developed the theory of “The Four Roots” which became the medical dogma for the next 2,000 years. Plato further developed these roots into “Four Elements”.
400 BCE: Hippocrates & Four Humors System
Hippocrates developed the foundational Four Humors System and is considered the “father”of medicine by many. Hippocrates viewed the body as an integrated whole, dictated by the laws of nature..
200 BCE-100CE: Huang Di Nei Jing
Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic, Huang Di Nei Jing was compiled .This was both theoretical and philosophical foundation of Chinese Medicine(J. Baker).
200 CE:Galen
Galen established the science of anatomy and further developed the Four Humors System thatHippocrates created by adding the ideas of Physis and Pneuma. These ideas encompass life force, spirit, breath that is infused in all things.
1140-1200 CE: Moses Maimonides
Maimonides was a world famous physician and philosopher who becamr the royal physician to the Arabic regent. He wrote numerous medical and philosophicl texts. One of the most fampus was the Regimen of Health where he suggested that a physician should not treat a particular disease, but instead the sick person as a unique individual (Rudavsky, 2010).
1400-1600s CE:The Herbalism Boom
In 1526, Grete Herball became the first herbal book written in English. Although it was printed by Peter Trever is, much of the book is borrowed from earlier herbals, including De Materia Medica..
1493-1541 CE: Paracelsus & Roots Of Alchemy
Paracelsus was the main contributor to the start of the alchemical movement of medicine (Wood, 2008).He expanded on the notions of physics to incorporate the connection between physical and spiritual matter in medicine.
1545-1612 CE:John Gerard and Rembert Dodoens
John Gerard was the first noted herbalist to include North American plants in a European herbal. “Generall Historie of Plants” was published in 1597.
1800s CE: Eclectic Physicians & Thomsonian Medicine
The Eclectics were a group of physicians who integrated many different modalities with herbalism. The Electrics contribution to pharmacy, medicine, and materia medicica after 1850 greatly influenced the evolution of phytomedicine in Germany and many modern day herb schools have founded an developed their curriculum from the work of the Eclectics.
1904 CE: Council On Medical Education (CME) Formed
The CME was formed in 1904 by the AMA to upgrade and standardize medical education. Due to this change more than half of all American medical schools mAnxieterged with large universities . In turn, this ultimately forced Eclectic and Homeopathic colleges to shut down.
1950s CE: Scientific Shift
During this period of time there was a noticeable shift in herbalism from more traditional practices to science-based ones. There was an effort to “prove that herbs work” and a common trend being a “defensive herbalist” (Bergner, 2009)
1960-1970 CE: Herbalism Revival
This time was also known as “Back to the Land Movement” and has been referred to as “contemporary American herbal Resistance”(Dougherty,2005).People began to reassert their independence from society and biomedicine in favor of herbalism and folk remedies.
1994 CE: United Plant Savers Founded
Herbalist Rosemary Gladstar founded the United Plant Savers in 1994 in response to changing environmental issues and increasing market demands in the growing herbal industry. Its mission is to protect native medicinal plants of the United States and Canada and their native habitat while ensuring an abundant renewable supply of medicinal plants for generations to come. (United Plant Saver, 2011)..
Common Uses For Herbal Medicine: Alternative Medicine for Various Mental Health Issues
Anxiety
Ashwaganda Root
Bacopa Herb
Kava Root
Lemon Balm
L-theanine
Passion Flower
Valerian Root
Holy Basil
Hawthorne
Skull Cap
Depression
Black Cohosh
Ginseng Root
Rhodiola Root
Sage Leaf
Saffon stigma or petal
SAMe
Holy Basil
Sleep Problems
California Poppy Whole Plant
Chamomile Flowers
Milky Oats
Passion Flower
lavender Flower
Melatonin
Skullcap Herb
Valerian Root
Pain
Tumeric
White Willow Bark
California Poppy
Red Pepper
Kava
Brain Function
Sage
Tumeric
Ashwaganda
Ginger
Essential Spices For Mental Health and Wellness
Spices have been used medicinally all around the world for thousands of years. In Ancient Egypt in 1555 BC classified coriander, fennel, juniper, cumin, and garlic as health promoting spices. Spices and herbs have been used by Indians for thousands of years for both culinary and health purposes.
About one in five Americans suffers from some form of mental illness. twenty million suffer from depression and twice that many suffer from anxiety. Research shows that common kitchen spices can be very effective in improving mental health. The following are spices that can be useful in improving overall health:
Basil
Basil is a common antioxidant which has shown to improve blood flow to the heart and brain. Its anti inflammatory properties have shown to offer protection from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Cayenne & Chili Powder
Capsaicin is a compound found in hot peppers that gives them their heat. It can be extracted and used as a pain relieving cream for arthritis. Capsaicin also causes the body to produce endorphins, which can help to fight depression. Cayenne and Chili Powder can be used to obtain the benefits of Capsaicin.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce symptoms of depression. It also helps control blood pressure and is a great source of manganese, which is a trace mineral that helps regulate blood sugar and neutralizes free radicals. It can be a natural mood enhancer. It has been shown to help regulate attention and focus.
Cloves
Cloves are known to have antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory properties. The active principles in the clove increase the gut motility an digestion power through improved gastrointestinal enzyme secretions. It helps relieve indigestion and constipation issues. The spice also contains minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, selenium and magnesium. potassium is an essential electrolyte of cell and body fluids that help control heart rate and blood pressure. The spice contains vitamin A and beta-carotene levels which have known antioxidant properties and is important in healthy skin, vision, lung and gum health.
Fennel Seeds
Fennel Seeds have anti inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial properties. It may reduce digestive problems, protects against colon cancer, reduces water retention, boosts metabolism, improves brain health, reduces constipation, improves gum health.
Garlic
Garlic promotes better blood flow to the brain, lowers cholesterol, helps regulate blood sugar, improves bone health, boosts immunity, helps to reduce symptoms of UTI, Kidney infections.
Ginger
Ginger relieves nausea, has been shown to have anti viral effects against respiratory tract infections, aids in digestion, relieves arthritis, asthma, boosts liver and heart health, improves cognition.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg has anti bacteria and antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties. It has been shown to relieve insomnia, improve brain health, liver protection. In the Journal of Medicinal Food (18) the extract of nutmeg seeds had shown to have antidepressant effects.
Oregano
Oregano has antioxidant properties, as well as anti bacterial and anti microbial properties which defend the body of a wide variety of bacteria. oregano has been shown to improve overall mood (British Journal of Nutrition (19)).
Rosemary
Rosemary has been shown to improve digestion, and cognition, immune function. According to Therapeutic Advances in Psychcopharmacology the aroma from rosemary can improve concentration and improve mood..
Saffron
Saffron was found to be effective in the treatment of depression and had comparable efficacy to antidepressants, according to Neuropsychiatric Disease & Treatment 2018;14:1297-1305.
Sage
Sage has anti inflammatory properties. It may help to improve brain function, boost immune system, regulate digestion, improve bone health, slow the onset of cognitive disorders.
Thyme
Thyme has anti-fungal and antibacterial, antioxidant properties. It can improve blood pressure, heart health, respiratory health, circulation, gum health, improve the growth of hair and nails and improve skin health.
Turmeric
Turmeric is an anti inflammatory, rich in antioxidants. It helps promote liver health, can improve brain health, can lower cholesterol levels. many studies have shown that Curcumin, the medicinal active ingredient in Turmeric to improve overall mood and decrease depressive symptoms
Vanilla
Vanilla is a powerful antioxidant, antibacterial, anti inflammatory. Vanilla has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression in some patients using aroma therapy or essential oils.