Plants emerged on earth and began to evolve 60 million years ago. As humans evolved alongside plants, we began to experiment with them and herbal teas became a staple of cultural daily life. The use of plants for medicinal health purposes predates written history. All ancient cultures have recorded drinking plant potions.
CHINA: The oldest documentation of tea dates back to 7,000BC China, a drink made rom honey, fermented rice, hawthorn berries, and grapes. The Chinese system of medicine is based on the use of plants for medicinal benefits. Emperor Shen Nung in 2,00BC wrote one of the oldest books on medicinal herbs, documenting the study of more than 350 herbs and their benefits to human health. The Han Dynasty in 206BC and the Mind Dynasty in 1,368 AD added to the study of medicinal plants. A compilation of immense historical value, documenting the value and benefits of plants for health.
INDIA: The Indian study Ayurveda is a holistic approach to medicine dating back 5,000 yrs old. Ancient Ayurvedic text detail the etiology if ailments and diseases coinciding with the plant treatment for healing. This includes over 700 plant-based drinks formulated for specific medical purposes. Traditional Indian herbal medicine is prevalent all over the the world and still used today.
Greece: The Greek healer Hippocrates, (460B) is known as the father of modern medicine. The famous Hippocratic Corpus is a compilation of his work and features a detailed outline of 130 medicinal formulas made of herbs. His book was the first documentation that included the herbs nutritional value. Many famous botanists and physicians collaborated on the study of medicinal herbs during the time of Hippocrates and the study has proved invaluable to modern medicine.
Egypt: The oldest Sumarian medical tablet was written on a clay tablet, that listed hundreds of medicinal plants and their uses. The Pyramid Text, one of the oldest sacred texts from 3,000BC, included many herbal uses described in detail. This included teas, drinks and incense formulas. A special drink made of thyme, myrtle, and tea resins cinnamon was well documented.
Native Americans: Plants were meticulously studied by the Native Americans over a thousand years. Early on they developed a large knowledge base that included over 500 herbal plants. The herbal knowledge was used by early tribes and passed down orally through generations.
There are many fascinating historical texts that document the cultural uses of herbs and teas from Egypt, Arabia, Persia, United Kingdom as well. Over the years, herbal research has been well-documented and ironically also forgotten by cultures. Many of the ancient studies on medicinal herbs have been proven and backed by modern science, but the FDA is slow to approve consumption guidelines in modern times. However, there is a resurgence of interest in plants for the health benefits. The herbal supplements market was assessed at 71.5 billion in 2019 and forecasted to be worth 88.8 billion in 2025. The main factors contributing the market growth reflect a growing inclination for natural products, a greater awareness for health prevention, and better accessibility of information on the subject of herbal benefits.
We see another key point that has been lost over time, the enjoyment of herbs integrated into daily rituals. Currently herbs are making a big come back in the form of processed supplemental capsules and pills. The cultures of the past understood that a fragrant flavorful tea is much more satisfying.
