About Herbal Products
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80 percent of the population of some Asian and African countries presently use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care. Archaeological evidence indicates that the use of medicinal plants dates back to the Paleolithic age, approximately 60,000 years ago. Written evidence of herbal remedies dates back over 5,000 years to the Sumerians, who compiled lists of plants with some healing properties. Some ancient cultures wrote about plants and their medical uses in books called herbals. Plants have been the basis for medical treatments through much of human history, and such traditional medicine is still widely practiced today.Modern medicine makes use of many plant-derived compounds as the basis for evidence-based pharmaceutical drugs. Today there are at least 120 important drugs derived from plants in use in one or more countries in the world. Have you ever wondered how aspirin is made? Or which plants will slow down your heart rate? Find out with our roundup of three (3) common drugs derived from plants below:
Caffeine
Used to treat fatigue and migraines, find caffeine in coffee beans, tea leaves, cacao pods, kola nuts and garana.Many medicinal and everyday products incorporate caffeine. According to Chinese legend, emperor Shennong discovered it in 3000 BCE when he dropped tea leaves into boiling water and the result was a restorative drink. Kola nuts were traditionally chewed in West African cultures to reduce hunger pangs and increase energy levels. Meanwhile, cacao pod residue was discovered in an ancient Mayan pot.It was the Ethiopian ancestors of the Oromo people who first harvested coffee beans for energy. Caffeine, however, wasn’t isolated from coffee beans until 1819. Today, caffeine relieves migraine symptoms but is most commonly used for its energizing properties, no wonder most of energy drinks in the world nowadays contain caffeine . Who doesn’t need a cuppa on a Monday morning?
Aspirin
Used for pain relief and anti-clotting, Salix is found in willow bark. Salicylic acid, which is a key component of aspirin, was first identified by Hippocrates. The father of medicine realised that the white powder derived from willow bark could alleviate aches, pains and fevers. In 1763, Edward Stone first isolated the active ingredient and it has since been used in medicine for its analgesic and anti-clotting properties. There are many different varieties of willow tree and the bark of each carries a different potency of salicylic acid. This acid chemically reacts with acetic acid to form aspirin.
Cocaine
Used for anaesthesia and as a recreational drug. Cocaine is derived from the Coca plant (Erythroxylon coca). Cocaine was discovered by the ancient Incas in South America, who chewed the Coca leaves for energy. Then the Spanish colonised the Americas and declared chewing the leaves to be the work of the Devil. Needless to say, they quickly changed their minds! The Spanish legalised chewing Coca leaves as well as taking a 10% tax cut from each crop. Cocaine was first isolated from the Coca leaf by German chemist Friedrich Gaedcke. The purification process gradually improved over the years until cocaine became a suitable anaesthetic. The drug is still used medicinally but is more commonly known as a recreational drug
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Herbs are the original form of medicine. Herbal Capsules and Powders available at All is Well Products.