Herbal Medicine: Current Status and the Future

History of Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine represents one of the oldest forms of healthcare and has played a fundamental role in the prevention and treatment of diseases throughout human history. The use of medicinal plants dates back thousands of years and has been documented in nearly every ancient civilization. Long before the advent of synthetic pharmaceuticals, natural products derived from plants served as the primary source of therapeutic agents. Traditional knowledge regarding the medicinal properties of plants was accumulated through empirical observation, cultural practices, and practical experience, and was(5) transmitted orally across generations before being systematically documented in written texts.

Archaeological evidence suggests that the medicinal use of plants began during the prehistoric period, approximately 60,000 years ago. Early humans learned to identify therapeutic plants by observing animal behavior and through repeated experimentation. Medicinal plants were commonly employed for the treatment of wounds, infections, fever, digestive disorders, and pain. These remedies were prepared using simple methods such as crushing, boiling, chewing, or drying plant materials.(6)

The earliest written records of herbal medicine originated in ancient Mesopotamia, where the Sumerians documented the medicinal uses of numerous plant species on clay tablets written in cuneiform script. These records describe the preparation of herbal formulations and represent the beginning of organized medical knowledge.

Ancient Egypt made significant contributions to herbal medicine through the compilation of the Ebers Papyrus (circa 1550 BCE), one of the oldest surviving medical manuscripts. This document contains hundreds of herbal prescriptions and describes the therapeutic applications of medicinal plants such as aloe Vera, garlic, castor oil, and myrrh. Egyptian physicians employed these remedies in the management of wounds, gastrointestinal disorders, infectious diseases, and dermatological conditions.(7)

The Indian system of Ayurveda, which originated more than 5,000 years ago, is regarded as one of the world's oldest continuously practiced systems of medicine. Classical Ayurvedic texts, including the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya, provide comprehensive descriptions of medicinal plants, disease classification, diagnosis, and therapeutic approaches. Ayurveda emphasizes a holistic approach to health by maintaining the balance of the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—through diet, lifestyle modifications, and herbal therapies.(8)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), developed over 3,000 years ago, also contributed substantially to the evolution of herbal medicine. The classical text Shennong Ben Cao Jing documented hundreds of medicinal plants and introduced concepts such as Yin and Yang and Qi, which continue to guide traditional Chinese therapeutic practices.

  Indian traditional medicine

Traditional medicine refers to the knowledge, skills, and practices developed through centuries of experience and used for maintaining health, preventing disease, and treating illness. India has one of the richest traditional healthcare heritages, with documented use dating back more than 5,000 years. These systems are based on natural products, healthy lifestyle practices, dietary management, and holistic approaches to health. According to the WHO, traditional medicine emphasizes personalized, nature-based care and is increasingly being integrated into health systems where supported by evidence. The Government of India promotes these systems through the Ministry of AYUSH, which supports education, research, regulation, and healthcare delivery in traditional medicine.(9)

Traditional medicine is commonly used to support the management of

Evidence for effectiveness varies by therapy and condition; therefore, treatments should be evaluated using high-quality clinical research and should not replace proven medical care for serious illnesses.

Japanese traditional medicine                                                                               Traditional medicine has been used for centuries to prevent and treat diseases using natural products and holistic approaches. Among the various Asian traditional medical systems, Japanese traditional medicine, known as Kampo, occupies a unique position. Unlike many traditional systems, Kampo has become fully integrated into modern medical practice in Japan.(10)

Kampo medicine focuses on maintaining harmony among body systems through carefully standardized herbal formulations. These medicines are manufactured under strict pharmaceutical quality standards and prescribed by medical doctors in hospitals and clinics.(11)

Traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a comprehensive medical system that originated in ancient China and continues to play an important role in healthcare worldwide. Unlike conventional medicine, which often focuses on diagnosing and treating specific diseases, TCM emphasizes maintaining balance within the body to prevent illness and restore health.

TCM is based on the belief that disease develops when the body's natural balance is disturbed by internal or external factors. Treatment therefore aims to restore harmony rather than simply suppress symptoms. (4) According to the World Health Organization, traditional and complementary medicine is widely used across many countries, and evidence-based integration into healthcare systems is an important global priority. (12)

Current Scenario of Herbal Industry

According to the Ministry of AYUSH, Exports of all  AYUSH components and Herbal Products has seen a 27% growth during 2021 as to the previous Financial year. In contrast, Imports grew about 28% during the same financial year. [6] Ministry of AYUSH also informed about export of AYUSH and herbal Products in  the financial year 2020- 21 to be as $539.57million as  compared to $425.80 million in 2019-20. Among the  states Gujarat came out as the highest Exporter of AYUSH and herbal components in 2020-21 with a32.3% growth than The 2019- 20($189.59 million) resulting in an escalated exporting value of $246.78  Million. Maharashtra came second with $71.82 million  export growing at a 14.1% Rate as compared to $62.93 million in 2019-20. Rajasthan with third largest export Of $55.19 million with a growing rate of 61.5% as  compared to the previous year’s Export around $34.17  million. (13)

Introduction

Her compared ball medicine is still the mainstay of about 75 - 80%of the world population, mainly in the developing countries, for primary health care (Kamboj, 2000). This is primarily because of the general belief that herbal drugs are without any side effects besides being cheap and locally available(Gupta and Raina, 1998). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the use of herbal remedies throughout the world exceeds that of the conventional drugs by two to three times (Evans, 1994). The use of plants for healing purposes predates human history and forms the origin of much modern medicine. Many conventional drugs originated from plant sources: a century ago, most of the few effective(14) drugs were plant based. Examples include aspirin (willow bark), digoxin (from foxglove), quinine (from cinchona bark), and morphine (from the opium poppy) (Vickers and Zollman, 1999).Medical history from the beginning of time is filled with descriptions of persons who used herbs to heal the sick of the society. However, parallel to the onset of the industrial revolution we witnessed the rise of allopathic medicine. Herbal medicine was also an effective healing method, but was viewed less enthusiastically (Tithe, 1998).herbal products were discarded from conventional medical use in the mid 20th century, not necessarily because they were ineffective but because they were not as economically profitable as the newer synthetic drugs (Tyler, 1999). In the early 19th century, scientific methods become more advanced and preferred, and the practice of botanical healing was dismissed as quackery. In the 1960s, with concerns over the iatrogenic effects of conventional medicine and desire for more self-reliance, interest in “natural health” and the use of herbal products increased. Recognition of the rising use of herbal medicines and other non-traditional remedies ledto the establishment of the office of Alternative Medicine by the National Institute of Health USA, in 1992. Worldwide, herbal medicine received a boost when the WHO encouraged developing countries to use traditional plant medicine to fulfill   needs unmet by modern systems (Winslow and Kroll(15)

HERBAL MEDICINES AND THEIR ACTIVITY IN HUMAN DISEASES

Herbal Medicines Used for Skin Care

The skin serves as the body's first line of defense against environmental insults, ultraviolet radiation, microorganisms, and chemical agents. Healthy skin maintains body temperature, prevents dehydration, and provides immune protection.