Learn How To Make Your Own Herbal Remedies

The history of the relationship between products from living plants and healing medications goes back to the very beginnings of medicine itself, from 3700 B.C. Egypt , followed by the Chinese and later the Greeks and Romans.     Evidence from some of the earliest sources--the Atharvaveda from India (written in about 1200 BC ), the Petrie collection from Kahun in Egypt (from about 1880 BC ), and the Avesta from Persia (compiled in about the 6th century AD )--shows that early medicine was based mainly on religion and magic but also included a growing use of herbs and mineral products.

Chinese medicine has also continued many traditional practices. Most of the knowledge of early Chinese medicine has been gleaned from the Yellow Emperor's Nei Ching (Classic of Internal Medicine), which formerly was thought to date from before the year 2000 BC but is now believed to be from the 2nd century BC.

Indian medical systems, among them the ancient science of Ayurveda, have always been aware of the medicinal value of plants. To cite but one example, for at least 2500 years before the West recognized the medicinal properties of the Rauwolfia serpentina (sarpagandha) root, used by folk healers to calm violently disturbed patients. In the 1940's Indian scientists isolated the active substances from rauwolfia and discovered its added benefit as a remedy for high blood pressure.

Folk healers are unlicensed but not necessarily untrained. Like physicians, they pursue their specialties, learning by observation and imitation. Often healing is considered a gift that runs in a family and is passed down from mother to daughter or from father to son. The ability to set bones, for example, is thought to be hereditary as is the power to stop bleeding. Charms are often recited by the healer and jealously guarded.

Herbal medicines were used with magical practices, sometimes alone. Many of the herbs used by the American Indians--such as datura, coca, cinchona, curare, cascara sagrada, and the like--are now used as drugs in modern scientific medicine. Herbal medicines are assuming greater importance in the primary health care of individuals and communities in many developing countries and there has been an increase in international trade in herbal medicines. However, in most countries the herbal medicines market is not adequately regulated, and the products are therefore unregistered and often not controlled by regulatory bodies.

At eMedicinal.com, we have complied an herbal formula database of over 500 herbal formulas from the follwoing methods below! Click on the formulas links below to read about how the culture invented the formulas and what ailments their herbal formulas are used for.

You can either start browsing the formulas with the links below or you can use our powerful search engine to find the exact information you are looking for.

NOTE: You should not substitute herbs for any prescribed medications you are taking under a physician's care. Nor should you look to herbs as a cure-all. They tend to be much milder than synthetic medications and work more slowly, but they can be a healthy part of a balanced practice of health care. Please read our Caution Disclaimer before using the herbs listed on eMedicinal.com.