THE HISTORY OF HERBS

Herbs as seasonings or preservatives for food, medicines, or aroma have been around for thousands of years. Tombs in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) as old as 60,000 years have yielded medicinal herbs preserved along with the human remains buried there.

Over 5000 years ago Egyptians had an extensive catalog of plants and herbs that could be used for medicine, such as headache medicine or laxativess. Thyme was used as an antiseptic as far back as 3,000 BC in Samaria.

As a seasoning, Roman soliders brought coriander on campaigns to use as a meat perservative. Hebrews used it to flavor meals - the leaves of coriander are used to make cilantro, by the way. Basil was used in Greek and Roman culture. Romans believed that chives would cure sore throats. Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, liked oregano.

The Greek physician, Hippocrates in the 300s BC systematically organized all the knowledge that was known at the time and extended that knowledge. He used many herbs in his "doctoring" and believed that disease had natural causes rather than being caused by the gods, as most thought then. Hippocrates used parsley to treat rheumatism and kidney pain, and tarragon for toothaches.

Herb use and study disappeared for some 1000 years before the Middle Ages when once again they were believed to have powers to heal. For instance, dill was believed to have magical powers. Rosemary was thought to ward off the plague and sage was used to treat epilepsy. In the far east Chinese and Indian herbalists were also using herbs and compiling information. Ginseng is a well known example.

During the Renaissance in the 16th and 17th centuries, the knowledge that herbs were benefical grew dramatically. The first herbal resource was published in 1652 by Nicholas Culpepper.

Today with all the concern for chemical drugs, herbs are making a medicinal comeback by offering a natural alternative.