Pharmacognosy is a term that goes back to the 1800’s and is derived from the Greek word ‘pharmakon’ and ‘gnosis’ which means drug and knowledge, respectively.
You can read more here about the definition of pharmacognosy here.
You can read part 1 about the history of pharmacognosy here.
Old Chinese Medicine and Pharmacognosy
– Plants used for medicinal purposes can be traced back to Ts’ao Kang Moa from 1000 B.C.
– The Chinese had a belief that ever disease had a natural cure that could be found in nature with a special emphasis on plants.
– Many of their books contained recipes for every disease including the plants rhubarb, pomegranate, aconite and more.
– In total more than 8,000 formulas were prepared with more than 1800 raw materials that were primarily of plant origin.
The Greeks and the Romans and Pharmacognosy
– Many diseases were treated by drugs. Pythagoras (580 BC) used drugs including mustard. Hippocrates (466 BC) was familiar with natural drugs and wrote Corpus Hipocraticum in 460 BC. Theophrates in 370 BC who studied under Aristotle wrote about 500 plants including Ergot.
– Alexander the Great’s conquests helped increase the number of drugs discovered.
– Dioscorides was a Greek by birth and is often considered the first Pharmacognosist. He wrote a book called the ‘Greek Herbal of Dioscorides’ which detailed more than 5000 medicinal plants.
– Galen (134-210 AD) was a physician who also practiced ‘Galenical preperations’
Islamic contribution and Pharmacognosy
– The Arabs had number plants that were already known by the Greeks and Romans. The first dispensary or pharmacy was opened in Baghdad which was the center of trade in that day. Naturally, this would include the trade of herbs and spices.
– Ibn Al-Baitar was probably the most famous Arab pharmacognosist where his book ‘Jame-ul-Muffradat’ describes more than 2000 drugs.
You can read more about what Plant Medicine is here or clinical trials that have tested plant medicine here.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Plant Medicine
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