The medicinal benefits of herbs have been known for centuries. Records of Native American, Roman, Egyptian, Persian and Hebrew medical practices all show that herbs were once used extensively to cure practically every known illness. In Western civilisations herbal remedies were used widely until the 1900's, when what was to become the modern pharmaceutical industry began isolating individual active compounds and producing drugs based on them.

Western medicine thus became almost exclusively committed to a medical system which sought to treat illness by producing a condition in the body that does not allow the disease to live or thrive. Consequently, the Western world became conditioned to rely on synthetic, commercial drugs for relief.

Herbal Remedies In The 21st Century
The World Health Organisation estimates that 80% of the earth's population today depends on plants to treat common ailments. Scientific research, particularly in the past 15 years, has pointed to the therapeutic potential of numerous herbs. Today's renewed interest in herbs reflects increasing concern about the side-effects of powerful synthetic drugs, as well as the desire of many people to take charge of their own health. Commercial herbal preparations are available in several different forms including bulk herbs, medicinal herb blends, teas, oils, tinctures, fluid extracts, powders, tablets and capsules.

The Healing Power Of Herbs
Nature's pharmacy is an abundant one. Many herbs are rich in compounds that have a beneficial effect on certain tissues and organs and therefore can be used as medicines to treat, cure or prevent disease. Approximately 25% of the prescription medicines sold today were originally derived from plants, e.g. morphine and codeine come from the opium poppy, aspirin originated from willow bark, digitalis (a heart muscle strengthener) is derived from the foxglove plant and paclitaxel (Taxol) used in chemotherapy, comes from the Pacific yew tree.