Throughout the centuries, humans have developed knowledge and mastery of the extraordinary virtues contained within plants. For thousands of years, the only medication available to humans was phytotherapy. Its history is intertwined with that of humanity because in all cultures on all continents, plants have always been used to heal humans. And this is likely to continue for a long time!
A Recognized Science
More than 800,000 plant species grow on the surface of the globe, of which 250,000 are known. Among these, the WHO has cataloged more than 22,000 medicinal plants used by traditional medicines, but only a few hundred are commonly used today. Approximately 1,200 plants are listed in the French Pharmacopoeia. They all have recognized pharmacological activity and constitute a reservoir of raw materials, the source of almost half of conventional pharmaceutical specialties. Numerous clinical studies have provided indisputable evidence of the effectiveness of plants and analyzed with precision the major active principles. For example, in the field of cardiac tonics, Digitalis remains irreplaceable. It is extracted from the Purple Foxglove or the Woolly Foxglove. Its properties were discovered by an English physician and botanist. Willow bark, which contains salicyline, is the ancestor of our aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). The alkaloids of the periwinkle are used in the composition of several anticancer drugs, and thus, we could multiply the examples.
Some Dates in the History of Phytotherapy
- 3000 BC: Clay tablets engraved at this time list 250 species of plants.
- 1500 BC: Egyptian papyri mention hundreds of plants. The pharaonic civilization had an advanced medicine based on medicinal plants.
- 400 BC: Hippocrates, the "founder of medicine," writes a treatise on 250 medicinal plants.
- 16th century: Paracelsus, a Swiss alchemist physician, introduces the concept of active principle.
- 1980: Phytotherapy is officially recognized by the Ministry of Health as a full-fledged medicine.
- 1986: The Ministry of Health proposes market regulations for herbal preparations.
The Best of Nature
Thanks to phytochemists, information about the most interesting species is known. The ideal harvest date, the most favorable growth conditions: soil (calcium or siliceous), exposure (shade or sun), climate (dry or humid). We also know which part: root, stem, leaf, flower, or fruit is the most active. In phytotherapy, selected plants undergo rigorous control. They undergo systematic analysis for bacteriology, pesticides, and radioactivity, ensuring the respect of everyone's health. The plant carries within it all the complexity of life. It is the site of permanent interactions between a multitude of active principles that act in synergy, which explains their effectiveness and lack of side effects.