When we think of herbs there is the feeling that they are ‘old fashioned’, ‘old wives tales’ and a thing of the past

In our high tech world of computers and gadgetry many of us expect our medicine to have undergone rigorous trials, by brilliant scientists in white coats, made in a shiny laboratory and come in foil packs. Perfect.

But this is only a comparatively recent development. Looking back at the gamut of history the last sixty years years is the mere blink of an eye.

Now let us think of a discovery made that dates from 60,000  years ago.  The people then were savages weren’t they? Savages are like animals, they have no feelings, no culture, no sense of caring? Well there have been finds from 30,000 years ago of figurines, paintings and musical instruments. Not quite so savage.

Found in the Zagros Mountains in north east Iraq are a number of caves that have been shelter to man for many thousands of years. Within the Shanidor cave archeologists unearthed  the remains of a man 60,000 years old.  The pollen found provided information about the medicinal plants used then:

Hollyhock, yarrow, groundsel, St. Barnaby’s thistle, cornflower, marshmallow and grape hyacinth.

A random choice? Six out of the seven are still regarded today as healing herbs by the modern day herbalist in many countries around the world.

Also, this body was laid to rest, not tossed into a pit. This shows an act of reverence and love. The body had been supported by the plant yarrow, a bedding material favoured by modern day Kurds.

Here are the medicinal values of the plants

Yarrow: an astringent, insect repellent, and tonic

Groundsel: purgative and treatment for intestinal worms

Grape hyacinth: digestive stimulant and diuretic

Marshmallow root: for sore throats and digestive problems

Thistle: to rid the body of kidney and bladder stones, and for gravel

Cornflower: menstruation stimulant, uterine tonic and to soothe tired eyes

The Yarrow formed the bedding, and the other plants formed a wreath, together with Hollyhock which in itself is not a particularly significant healing plant, but its inclusion is interesting. It is a plant that grows not in a clump, but on its own. It would have taken some time to collect enough for the wreath.

From the medicinal plants we have treatments for the digestive system, reproductive system and the urinary system. Worms of course are not something that modern man suffers from in the developed world, but would have been useful that situation. Not a bad medicine chest.

This is 60,000 years ago, so that means to have reached this level of sophistication man must have over the preceding centuries perfected this knowledge. It is altogether mind blowing. Compare that to modern times, Aspirin is just over 100 years old. Many drugs have come and gone, fallen into disrepute, done much serious damage to the patients, but still there are people who will choose plant medicine over modern drugs.

One must ask why there is so much done to discredit herbs?

As a matter of fact about 50% of drugs have been inspired by herbs. The white powder created in the Bayer laboratory which became Aspirin was  a man made salicylic acid.  The origins of of the Aspirin is complex but sufficient to say that it was properties in the humble Meadow Sweet (Spiraea ulmaria) that was discovered from the coal tar derivatives.  This was to be the birth of medicine as we know it.

One of the problems with modern medicine is the unwelcome side effects. This is rare with plant medicine, because the plant has its own antidotes. This is near impossible to replicate exactly the herb in the laboratory, as the plant possesses so many of them.

It could be argued that herbs will not tackle modern illness. In many cases true, but most of today’s ills have been brought about by chemicals and pollution. This is a debate for a future paper.

It is worth saying that a modern day herbalist will have studied full time for 5 years to gain a degree in the subject, about the same length of time for a student of medicine to qualify as a doctor. A herbalist will have studied the anatomy of the human body, and the healing properties of the plants.

There is still much to explore in herbal medicine.