06/11/2016
Episode 18 ( Herbal Medicine ) ... !
A thousand years ago , gardens were also scientific " field " laboratories , looked after by eminent scientists who wrote manuals on the medical properties of plants >Herbal medicine wasn't seen as an alternative medicine but was very much part of medical practice , with many hospitals keeping gardens full of herbs , for use in medicines , and new drugs were discovered and administrated . This kind of herbal discovery has been made since the dawn of civilization. There are records from Egypt , Mesopotamia, China and India that reflect a tradition that existed before we discovered writing . In the west, the first " herbal" ( the book listing and explaining the properties of herbs ) was Creek and written in the 3rd century BCE by Diocles of Carystus , followed by Crateus in the 1st century CE.
As the Muslims land grew, merchants and travelers came across exotic plants , trees , seeds and species previously unknown to them. They collected and brought back a huge number of samples of raw ingredients, along with knowledge, and information about their use , combining the world and its harshest of environments going as far a field as the steppes of Asia and the Pyrenees. The discovery and wide use of paper also meant that on the spot detailed recording of their journeys and observations could be made . With this vast amount of data and material coupled with their scientific medical knowledge, many new traditional and herbal medicines became available. All these discoveries meant that a huge amount of information was build up and spilled out of colossal encyclopedia works .
" And in it , their drink is mixed with ginger . "
( Al- Qurran 76:17 , mentions ginger as one of the drinks of paradise .Today ginger is used to relieve nausea and vomiting . )