Botanical Medicine: Questions Answered…
A Bit of Herbal Medicinal History…
Cultures all over the world have traditionally used herbs and botanical medicinals to maintain health and treat disease. By 200 BC Chinese herbal medicine was firmly established in their culture, and by the first century AD, a listing of medicinal herbs and formulas along with their uses had been developed. During the Ming Dynasty (1152-1578) the classic Chinese book on herbology was compiled by Li Shi-Zhen which listed nearly 2,000 herbal medicinals. By 1990, the latest edition of “The Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China” listed more than 200 single herbs and nearly 300 multi-herb formulas. Today in China, herbs are often used instead of Western medications, or in conjunction with them to increase efficacy and reduce side effects. Read more
