Archaeology Month invites us each year to rediscover the traces left by ancient civilizations. Thanks to archaeobotany (the study of ancient plant remains)1, researchers uncover seeds, plant residues, medicinal manuscripts, and vessels that once contained plant-based preparations. One of the most fascinating discoveries is how herbalism has evolved over thousands of years.2 From sacred rituals to modern laboratories, the use of plants in medicine reflects a journey shaped by intuition, observation, and scientific advancements.
Rituals and Remedies: The Roots of Herbalism
The earliest traces of medicinal plant use show that Neanderthals already used certain plants for medicinal or symbolic purposes3. In ancient societies, medicine, religion, and magic were closely intertwined4. This view continued in ancient Egypt, where plants were both remedies and sacred elements5.
Codifying Medicinal Plants
From Antiquity (3500 BCE), medicine gradually became more structured. In Greece, Hippocrates introduced a rational approach based on observation, hygiene, diet, and natural treatments, marking a certain break with religious explanations6. Simultaneously, writing played a key role: texts like the Ebers Papyrus listed hundreds of plant-based remedies, demonstrating already organized medical knowledge7.
Guardians of Knowledge: The Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, herbalism was maintained through the transmission of knowledge. Monks preserved and developed the use of plants, combining ancient knowledge with spirituality8. Concurrently, the Islamic world enriched this knowledge by integrating different traditions9 and introducing advanced scientific techniques10. Finally, indigenous knowledge transmitted through oral tradition around the world also played an essential role, preserving holistic practices based on nature that still exist today.11
The Chemical Revolution in Europe
In the 18th and 19th centuries, medicine experienced a major turning point with the isolation of active compounds from plants, such as morphine12. This development introduced pharmacognosy, a scientific approach to medicinal plants. Thanks to advancements like the microscope13, researchers better understood how they work, transitioning herbalism from an empirical practice to a precise and measurable science.
Modern Herbalism: Science Meets Tradition
Today, herbalism is both traditional and highly scientific. Researchers use advanced tools to study how plant compounds interact with human biology.
Many ancient remedies have been validated by modern research:
· Willow bark was traditionally used to relieve pain and led to the development of aspirin due to its active compound, salicin.13
· Turmeric, used for over 5,000 years in Ayurveda, contains curcumin, recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.14
· Ginseng, once reserved for Chinese emperors, is now recognized as an adaptogen that helps the body manage stress and fatigue15.
These examples show that what was once based on observation and experience is now confirmed by science.
In conclusion
Archaeology Month reminds us that the past is always present in our daily lives. Every herbal infusion, every botanical extract, and every natural remedy carries a history that began thousands of years ago. The evolution of herbalism shows that progress does not erase the past. On the contrary, it builds upon it. The future of well-being is deeply linked to its roots, and these roots continue to guide us forward.
References
1.Pearsall, D.M. (2015). Paleoethnobotany: a handbook of procedures (Third ed.). Walnut Creek, California: Left Coast Press. ISBN 978-1-61132-298-9. OCLC 888401422.
2.History, development & scope of pahrmacognosy https://viper.ac.in/images/naac/criteria-2/232_History_of_pharmacognosy.pdf
3.Shanidar Cave: Iraq's Flower-Burying Neanderthals
4.The Technological Advancements and Evolution of Prehistoric Medicine Shona Wilson* Department of Anthropology, University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska Cesta, Nova Gorica, Slovenia
5.The Ebers Papyrus - Egypt Museum
6.Kleisiaris CF, Sfakianakis C, Papathanasiou IV. Health care practices in ancient Greece: The Hippocratic ideal. J Med Ethics Hist Med. 2014 Mar 15;7:6. PMID: 25512827; PMCID: PMC4263393.
7.The Botanical Knowledge Behind Ancient Egyptian Pharmacological Texts | History Rise
8.Lehmann Hélène. 1818-2018 : du Codex medicamentarius Gallicus à la Pharmacopée française. In: Revue d’histoire de la pharmacie, 105e année, N. 400, 2018. pp. 571-606 https://doi.org/10.3406/pharm.2018.23716; https://www.persee.fr/doc/pharm_0035-2349_2018_num_105_400_23716
9.Moosavi J. The place of avicenna in the history of medicine. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol. 2009 Apr;1(1):3-8. PMID: 23407771; PMCID: PMC3558117.
10.Akash Yadav; Awan Kumar Pandey; Himanshu Jaiswal (2025) History of Ancient Herbal Medicine. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 10(4), 2344-2347. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25apr1442
11.Haider, R. (2024). Pharmacognosy and its History: People, Plants and Natural Products . International Journal of Social Science and Innovation (IJSSI), 1(1), 27–44. https://doi.org/10.59890/ijssi.v1i1.1501History - Drugs Containing Alkaloids – Pharmacognosy
13.Haider, R. (2024). Pharmacognosy and its History: People, Plants and Natural Products . International Journal of Social Science and Innovation (IJSSI), 1(1), 27–44. https://doi.org/10.59890/ijssi.v1i1.1501
14.What Tree Does Aspirin Come From? Willow Bark – ScienceInsights
15.El-Saadony MT, Saad AM, Mohammed DM, Alkafaas SS, Ghosh S, Negm SH, Salem HM, Fahmy MA, Mosa WFA, Ibrahim EH, AbuQamar SF and El-Tarabily KA (2025) Curcumin, an active component of turmeric: biological activities, nutritional aspects, immunological, bioavailability, and human health benefits - a comprehensive review. Front. Immunol. 16:1603018. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1603018
16.Is Ginseng an Adaptogen? What the Science Shows - Biology Insights
