The prehistoric discovery that certain plants cause harm and others have curative powers is the origin of the healing professions and its practitioners (priest, physician, and apothecary), as well as professions devoted to plants (botany and horticulture). The description of plants and their properties and virtues (termed herbals in the 16th century) became an invaluable resource for the physic...

The significance of herbals and herbal products is gaining worldwide recognition. The concept of complementary or alternative medicine is becoming much more widely accepted, and there is an increasing belief in the efficacy of herbal remedies. Recently, the role of herbal drugs, herbal products and certain phytochemicals in the control of ageing has been documented using modern scientific appro...

Herbs and herbal extracts have been used for thousands of years in curing and treating diseases in both human and animals. Records have shown that animals were fed herbs and spices to cure certain diseases more than 5000 years ago. The Indian ayurvedic and Chinese medicine used herbs and spices to enhance health and also treat diseases. Common spices such as tumeric, ginger and garlic have been...

The earliest examples of indexes in more than one language and in several scripts are those found in herbals of the late 15th and early 16th century. The features of these indexes are analyzed, and the gradual development of name and subject indexes, their alphabetical arrangement by various methods, and finally the systematic display in several languages and scripts in the works of Conrad Gess...

Nearly 70-80% of the world's population relies on non-conventional medicines, often derived from herbal plants, according to World Health Organization (WHO) figure. Medicinal plants are starting material for any preparation such as teas, oil etc. These preparations being used worldwide due their therapeutic potential and they considered be safe compared allopathic medicines. Lead, cadmium, chro...

We reviewed the current body of evidence supporting the use of Echinacea to reduce URI symptoms and improve QoL. Different Echinacea species have been administered either alone or in combination with other herbals and in various doses and dosage forms. Studies depicting Echinacea's effect on URI symptoms and QoL are contradictory. Despite some positive effects on symptom severity and QoL, given...

Herbal products, used for centuries in Far Eastern countries, are gaining popularity in western countries. Surveys indicate that persons with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) often use herbals, especially silymarin (milk thistle extract), hoping to improve the modest response to antiviral therapy and reduce side effects. The Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) Trial, i...