How Ancient Civilizations And Their Medicinal Plants
Beth Norwood | October 8, 2011Man has always been in awe of nature and her forces. He has received nourishment and also faced destruction too. He has not been able to fathom the power of nature and has bowed down in reverence and worships her.
Man has over the ages learnt to explore the potential of the abundant plant life existing on earth and use it for his benefit. He derives food from the plant life and also depends upon the medicinal plants for cure simple aches, pains to major illnesses and diseases. Plants nourish man and provide him with food, clothing, shelter and complete protection.
Recognizing the medicinal and curative properties of medicinal plants, man has for generations help the plants in veneration and worshipped them besides studying their properties and growing them. Ancient civilizations and excavation sites like the ones at Iraq have provided clue to the fact that 60,000 years ago men used to cultivate medicinal plants and held them in high esteem.
Certain mystical plants and medicinal plants with hallucinogenic plants capable of producing hallucinations as well as helping individuals transcend the consciousness into higher realms are used by yogis and people who practice spiritual rituals and study. Certain sects in oriental cultures as well as other ancient societies use shamanistic practices involving few special plants.
People believe even today that plants and trees have souls and are a lower form of life as compared to the souls in human bodies. Many cultures have believed certain types of trees to be guardian angels of guiding spirits. Hindu culture holds different types of trees such as peepal, banyan and others as holy and believe that different deities reside under each tree.
Men consider all sources of nature that provides nourishment to be an aspect of Mother who feeds and nourishes her children. Accordingly in many cultures coconut is called mother coconut for it not only provides food, but provides oil, fiber for clothes, rope, and hard shell for various uses. Similarly cocoa plant is called Mama coca. Buddhists worship the tree under which Lord Buddha meditated and was enlightened.
If you thought that plants were homes to angels and good spirits, you might be surprised, for plants and various portions of plants like belladonna are used by witches who practiced witchcraft to prepare brew and poisons. Most of the cultures also believe that certain trees and plants are homes to evil spirits and ghosts who are to be appeased so that they do not harm the inhabitants.
Nature is abundant with both good and bad. Similarly there are good plants and there are plants that are poisonous or bad for man’s use. It is for man to learn to use good things and avoid using bad things and respect nature and be thankful.
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