Seeds likely used for herbalism were found in archaeological sites of Bronze Age China dating from the Shang dynasty (c. Only a few fragments of these works have survived intact, but from what remains, scholars noted overlap with the Egyptian herbals. The earliest known Greek herbals came from Theophrastus of Eresos who, in the 4th century BC, wrote in Greek Historia Plantarum, from Diocles of Carystus who wrote during the 3rd century BC, and from Krateuas who wrote in the 1st century BC. In ancient Egypt, the Ebers papyrus dates from about 1550 BC, and covers more than 700 compounds, mainly of plant origin. In ancient Egypt, herbs are mentioned in Egyptian medical papyri, depicted in tomb illustrations, or on rare occasions found in medical jars containing trace amounts of herbs. Some ancient cultures wrote about plants and their medical uses in books called herbals.

Written evidence of herbal remedies dates back over 5,000 years to the Sumerians, who compiled lists of plants. A physician preparing an elixir, from an Arabic version of Dioscorides's pharmacopoeia, 1224Īrchaeological evidence indicates that the use of medicinal plants dates back to the Paleolithic age, approximately 60,000 years ago.

Pills and potions piano chords