Herbs are some of the most important plants that are cultivated by many people throughout the world. They are simple plants with various medicinal values that are used to treat various types of illness and diseases. Herbs have values that are yet undiscovered by the scientists and the researchers. From some of these herbal plants, many chemicals have been extracted that are further used to create various allopathic medicines. One of the most common example is that of quinine, a medicine used to treat malaria which was extracted from a tree. The chemical structure of the chemical extract was copied and a synthetic copy was used to create the medicine. There are many such medicines that have been created from various similar plants.

The use of plants as medicines for the various ailments started many thousand years ago. In the earlier prehistoric times, medicinal plants were the only source to treat various diseases when the other types of medicines like the allopathic, homeopathic medicines etc. were not yet discovered. Since those times, the use of plants for treating various ailments is being practiced all across the world. Today, the two countries China and India are the most famous countries that follow the use of herbal plants and also are the largest producers of herbal plants all around the world. Growing the herbal plants is no longer restricted to the herbalists. Instead throughout these two countries, there are vast numbers of farmers who specially cultivate herbs for their various medicinal values. As there are very few countries that follow the use of herbs and also cultivate herbs, the necessity to grow them is very high based on its requirements in the various countries. Thus, there are various people who just cultivate herbs in their farms.

Farming herbs is very easy and just requires very little requirements such as a small part of land with proper spacing between the plants and sunlight. Some of the herbs that are cultivated are partially considered as cash crops with very less risk involved with them and are tax free which when sold turn out to be very profiting. Today, there are also numerous herbs that are used in the creation of various types of medicines, cosmetic products like the creams, lotions, shampoos etc. Thus, the demand of herbs has also increased to a great extent. Another reason why the cultivation of herbs is today considered as growing gold is that the use of herbs and other herbal products amongst the people has increased to a great extent and so with the increase in this number of users, the need to grow the herbs has also increased to a great extent.

As a result of the high returns obtained from the medicinal herbs, they are believed to turn a simple soil into gold. Also, these herbs have life saving qualities and so they are no less than gold.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) originated from the strong roots of the ancient Chinese herbs which are followed for over 5000 years. The main concept over using the Chinese herbs as medicines was to maintain a proper balance between the nature and the other forms of the environment to maintain a good health. This knowledge of using herbs for a healthy body is one of the best gifts for the mankind. This ancient knowledge about herbs and their herbal remedies have been passed out from one generation to the next generation.

Huang Di Nei Jing- The Yellow Emperor‘s classic of internal medicine is considered to be the oldest medical book which mentions the use of herbs as medicine for various ailments. This ancient book consisting of medical theories and the various medical practices is believed to be used by the ancient Chinese people somewhere between 800 BC and 200 BC. Around 500 AD, another medical book named as The Divine Husbandman’s Classic was published. This book contained references and other textual materials about the properties of herbs, the first ever classification of the herbs other than the classification based on the taste of the herbs. In this classification, the herbs were classified into three main categories namely:

• Superior herbs- The herbs which nourish our life were categorized under this section.
• Middle herbs- Under this category, the herbs which correct our constitution were categorized
• Inferior herbs- In this final category, the herbs which help to eradicate various diseases were categorized.

This book on herbal plants and there uses also had the herbs grouped variedly based on their tastes and temperature and also mentioned about the toxic herbs. The book Grand Materia Medica had about 1892 entries which was further extended to about 5,767 until 1977 AD.

The Chinese herbal remedies include hundreds of different organic ingredients which work hand in hand to create the desired effect in the patient’s body. These herbal medicines are created from the roots, bark, seeds, leaves and flowers of the herbal plants. Each of these parts of the herbal plant has different organic ingredients which have specific effects on the body.

Today, the use of Chinese herbs has increased tremendously due to its great medicinal properties. According to the recent studies it has also been proved that the chemically synthesized, synthetic medicines have some or the other side effects but at the same time the Chinese herbs don’t have any side effects. Thus due to their simple yet powerful effects, Chinese herbs have become quite famous for their usage and effectiveness against the varied diseases. Even the most common medicines such as aspirin and other chemotherapy treatments have their strong roots from some of the most important herbal composition.

Mo yao (Commiphora abyssinica), A li shan wu wei zi (Schisandra arissanensis Hayata) etc. are some of the Chinese herbs that are used to treat various ailments.

Ayurveda is a self care system which originated more than 5000 years ago in India. Ayurveda uses herbal plants in various forms and combinations to cure a wide range of illnesses and sickness. Slowly, but consistently ayurveda is becoming popular all around the world with many practitioners adding various new practices, well researched and experienced principles and also therapies to improve the life. Thus it can be in a simple line said as the art of healthy living.

Ayurveda- The word can be divided into two root words “ayu” and “veda” which combine together to form the magical medical treatment method named ayurveda that uses various herbs. Ayurveda when translated means “the science of life”. This simple definition of ayurveda is further expanded by the experts making us understand the new meaning of ayurveda.

According to the great ayurveda experts, the meaning of “ayu” is not just restricted to life. According to the principles of ayurveda, when our complete body, all five senses, heart, mind and spirit function properly in a coordinated manner and are in proper balance only then it can be truly said as a true life or the living body. Similarly, “Veda” does not exactly mean science. It means an ageless never changing knowledge which is based on basic fundamental properties. Veda is also a map which will guide you onto how to benefit from knowledge.

Ayurveda not just provides you the basic information to cure disease and illness but also teaches us what life is and how to sustain the physical health and also our mind, heart senses and spirit. It helps provides a wide range of information from what a person should eat, drink and what type of lifestyle to follow to achieve maximum amount of benefit for a healthy living. Thus even if you don’t want to get too much into depth of ayurveda some small amount of knowledge is still necessary for a healthy problem free life.

There are two basic objectives of Ayurveda.

• The first objective of ayurveda is to keep an already healthy person healthy for life.
• While the next objective of ayurveda is to teach a person who does not have any knowledge of ayurveda or how to keep healthy the right method to get rid of the bodies imbalance and thus live a healthy life.

So, if you don’t have much knowledge about the science of healthy living, you better start taking your life a bit seriously and follow the ayurvedic principles to sustain the good health.

Since the prehistoric times, humans have been using plants and their products for shelter, clothing food and also as medicines. In the early 5^th century BC, Hippocrates a Greek doctor had listed about 400 important medicinal herbs that were used very commonly in the regular life.

Amongst the other countries, the use of herbs to cure diseases was a common practice in the countries like ancient China and ancient India. India has always been renowned as a storehouse of herbal plants and Ayurvedic remedies used to treat a series of diseases and illnesses. Nearly 4,500 years ago the Rig Veda an oral tradition was practiced by the people and books on the medicinal herbs was written along with the prayers and the description of the surgeries and prescriptions for the various diseases created from 67 different Indian herbs.

Herbs are generally related with their six tastes which are- sweet, bitter, sour, pungent, salty and astringent.

• Sweet: Wild asparagus or shatavari, ashvagandha etc. have a cooling taste.
• Bitter: Jeera, neem, coriander seeds etc. are mainly bitter in taste but help to reduce the accumulation of toxins in the body.
• Sour: Herbs like tamarind, gooseberry, lemon etc. are sour in taste and are heat producing herbs.
• Pungent: asafetida or hing, garlic/ lasan are very pungent in taste but act as an antidote for obesity and also help in weight gain.
• Salty: The rock salt is recommended by the experts as a cooling agent which also benefits the eyes.
• Astringent: various other herbs like the turmeric etc. are astringents which are used often as cooling herbs.

A number of various combinations made from these different herbs categorized by their taste are used to for the treatment of a number of diseases and illnesses. Some of the herbs that are used on daily basis include basil, aloe vera, ginger, garlic, turmeric, castor oil etc. Each of these herbs has a wide range of uses and beneficial effects on our body’s system.

Herbs maybe any parts of the plant such as leaves, barks, roots, flowers or seeds. The herbal extracts from any part of the plant are usually used in small quantities.  Large quantities or extracts of these herbs may affect or poisoned the body and results into various side effects. Thus it is very important to make a research before using any herbs as a medicine or home remedies for any type of disease. Utmost caution is very necessary for using any type of herb.

The herbs were always overwhelmed in the ancient science of ayurveda and have been seen to have a very gentle, soothing yet powerful effect thus improving the health and the beauty of humans.