We have written evidence of plants being used for medicine for thousands of years. Wouldn’t it be nice to know
when herbal healing began? History has always been one of my favorite subjects, and I was thrilled to discover the approximate beginnings of herbology. In that there was no written history 60,000 years ago when plants were being used medicinally, the evidence would need to be proven scientifically. To find an answer I turned to a book we include in our Advanced Herbalist Program, Green Pharmacy, a history book of herbal medicine by Barbara Griggs.
The book begins with an anthropological event. “In the grave of
Neanderthal man, in a cave in Iraq, grains of pollens were found thickly scattered in the soil surrounding his bones” (Griggs, 1). The analysis of these pollens revealed eight different genera of flowering plant, all still flourish in the area and seven are still used medicinally by the local people. Included are the soothing marshmallow (Althea genus), the tonic yarrow (Achillea genus) and the potent remedy for asthma, Ephedra.
Griggs continues “…there is virtually no people known to anthropology – however remote, isolated, or primitive – in which some form of doctoring with plants was not practiced…” (Griggs, 1).
Considering ancient man, one would have to ask, how did man know which plants were medicinal or even which plants were edible? The answer might be that he had an instinct or feel (dowsing), just as wild animals instinctively know which plants to eat to sustain life
and which plants to not eat to avoid death (which is sorely lacking in domesticated animals). Humans, before city life, had this same “dowsing” ability. This may account for the observation that isolated people and tribes throughout the world used the same plants for the same purposes. (Griggs, 1-2)
Each tribe or people chose enlightened men who were keen observers, or dowsers, to be their medicine man, for it was a most trusted and important function in their community. “According to one African writer, …the medicine-man was also expected to be trustworthy, upright morally, friendly, willing and ready to serve, able to discern people’s needs and not be exorbitant in their charges.
(This would have been a perfect description of the old-fashioned country doctor…)” (Griggs, 3). This statement reminded me of Dr. Christopher! You can read about him in the book An Herbal Legacy of Courage: https://christopherpublications.com/Christopher_Herbal_Legacy_Book.html
I hope this brief introduction to herbal history has been enlightening and encourages you to enroll in the School of Natural Healing or at least buy the history book Green Pharmacy, by Barbara Griggs, from Christopher Publications: https://christopherpublications.com/Griggs_Green_Pharmacy.html
