Herbalism is a form of traditional medicine that is practiced based on the uses of plants and plant extracts. Sometimes the scope of herbal medicine may also be extended to include bee products or animal parts or even fungi, minerals and shells. We know that many plants synthesize certain substances that may be useful to the maintenance of health in humans or other species of animals. In certain cases these may include aromatic substances where as in other cases, these substances serve as plant defense mechanisms against predation by microorganisms, insects and herbivores.



Humans make use of many herbs and spices to season foods that do yield useful medicinal compounds. Humans on all the continents have been using more than hundreds of indigenous plants for the treatment of ailments. Since prehistoric times, humans have been accepting medicinal plants as healing agents. Evidences have also stated that such plants have been used in the treatment of parasites from intestines. Even animals evolved a tendency to seek out bitter plant parts in response to illness. Certain sick animals change their food preferences to nibble at bitter herbs they would normally reject. Sick animals simply tend to forage plants that are rich in secondary metabolites often having antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.

The use of herbs and spices in the food simply reduces the threat of food-born pathogens. That's the reason why all cultured vegetables are spiced less than meat, because they are more resistant to spoilage. Evidences shows that the study of herbs has been dating back for past 5000 years. Ancient Egyptians are known to have used herbs like garlic, mint, indigo in the form of medicines. In India Ayurveda medicine has been making use of herbs like turmeric. Ancient Greeks and Romans also made use of medicinal plants in the form of herbal drugs for cure and healing.

The use of herbs for treating a number of diseases is almost universal. A number of traditions dominate the practice of herbal medicines. These may include the herbal medicine source based on Greek and Romans, Ayurvedic medicines from India, Chinese herbal medicine (Chinese herbology), Tibb medicine and many more. Most of the modern pharmaceuticals have been using herbal remedies since a very long time including opium, asprin and quinine. Moreover the use of supplements extracted from plants have been accelerated in recent years. The use of such herbal medicines could be developed for treatment of various diseases. In fact almost three quarters of plants that produce active ingredients came to the attention of researchers because of their use in traditional medicines. More than two thirds of the worlds plat species are estimated to have medicinal value.