We can trace the current knowledge and research on herbs back centuries and across many cultures. One of the earliest accounts of the use of herbs was De Materia Medica, written around A.D. 77, which talks about medical treatment with herbs throughout Western Europe until the 16th century. From A.D. 130 onwards, the continuation of findings by various physicians throughout Europe to support herbs and their medicinal benefits increased. From the 16th century onwards, herbs became a household necessity and held much value amongst every class, not only for their medicinal, culinary, and cosmetic uses but also for their symbolism.
Ancient Greece and Rome
The Greeks and Romans specifically regarded herbs as a luxury item. The Romans purchased fragrant and floral herbs, such as lavender and roses, at a high price and imported them in shiploads. The ancient Romans used herbs in every way, so Italy grew lavender and supplied it to Rome. The ancient Athenians (much like the Romans) used herbs in a multitude of ways. The ancient Athenians used herbs for bathing, throughout their living quarters, and to enhance food and wines, wherever possible. After the fall of Rome during the Middle Ages, the trafficking of herbs became largely popular. Those who could grow herbs in their gardens at this time were selling them in surplus.
During this period, the sale of cosmetics like mouthwashes and rosewater for face rinsing began. People continuously used medicinal herbs, particularly for sanitation purposes. Remedies and cures for different diseases or infections became more evident with the continuous trial and error of herbs, herbal decoctions, and treatments. Herbs gained widespread use during this period due to their symbolic meaning. Ladies would sew sprays of herbs, such as thyme and borage, into scarves for knights as a symbol of courage. Herbs were used during weddings, in churches and temples during celebrations of holidays, in banqueting chambers during feasts—all because of their symbolism—and in some cultures for superstitious reasons.
The 19th–20th century
During the mid-19th to 20th centuries, herbs were still being used medicinally and commonly in households; however, in hospitals and amongst doctors, medicine was changing. In the mid-19th century, apothecaries became wholesale manufacturers and began to distribute botanical drugs such as morphine and quinine. Following this, independent apothecaries became a part of multinational corporations in hopes of advancing the medicinal use of these natural elements. In the middle of the 19th century, the textiles and synthetic dye industries gave rise to the pharmaceutical industry. This was because they had access to valuable organic chemicals that could be made by distilling coal tar and extracting chemicals from herbs like Salix alba, which was traditionally used to treat fevers and inflammation both inside and outside the body. With a simple chemical modification, they were able to form what would be the major forerunner for the pharmaceutical industry– acetylsalicylic acid, or as we know it, aspirin. In 1864, the pharmaceutical industry mass-produced barbituric acid, a major chemical compound. Barbiturates, a family of drugs used to treat anxiety and sleeplessness, included it. Between the early 1900s and the end of WW2, many new drugs and vaccines had flooded the market. Many drugs were effective, but not all were safe, and some were poisonous.
A composition of Drug Ads from the early- mid 20th century. Source: worldbenzoday.org/benzohistory/
By this point in time, the use of herbs and natural remedies was not as common for treating sicknesses or diseases, as diseases and sicknesses were becoming more apparent and new strains of viruses arose. Interestingly enough, during WW2, many people in Russia and other parts of Europe relied on herbs like nettle for nutrients in times of food scarcity. It seemed that those who could not afford medication or food returned to the natural ways of healing or treating illness with herbs and plants, and would later pass this knowledge onto their children but in many cases it would be lost altogether.
The Modern Era
That now brings us to today, the 21st century. With the advancements this modern era has brought there is accessibility to medications, drugs, topical treatments, and products for almost everything, no wonder we have completely lost the ability to depend on nature and know how to use it to live a healthy life and support our bodies. Around 9 million people in Australia are on some type of medication or supplementation for various conditions. Even though a large portion of this statistic may be on supplementation, around only 25% of supplements today are derived from botanicals. Now with these advancements, however, we have been able to have access to herbs and plants in ways that once would have been unattainable or expensive. We can harvest and extract herbs in swift and efficient ways. We have access to an abundance of organic and natural products, from personal hygiene to cleaning products to food and supplementation. Meaning we have the ability to obtain herbs in many different forms for personal use, making it easy for us to incorporate them into our daily lives.
So, the use of herbs has not been completely lost however we are not educated on their importance and the traditional ways we can use them in our lives, and for our health.
I hope this is informative and hopefully encourages you to start incorporating herbs into your life!
