Asian Medicine

Two-thirds of the world’s population depend upon herbal resources for their primary health care needs. Furthermore, a large number of modern drugs are derived from plant material or conceived, modelled and discovered based on the practice of traditional medicine. Most people, particularly from rural areas in developing countries, have their access initially to traditional herbal medicines to relieve or cure their ailments. Traditional medicine health practices are based on many years of experience obtained by humans in their journey in evolution. Primitive man found remedies for illnesses from his surrounding vegetable, animal, and mineral kingdoms. Some of these remedies were based on mistaken beliefs or mysticism. This brought about the advancement of various systems of medicine like the Chinese system, Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani.  Ebers Papyrus of old Egyptians, or the Samhitas of Ayurveda were veritable fortune houses of human knowledge on herbal remedies and ethno-therapeutics.