Abstract:
The practice of herbal medicine has existed since prehistoric times as the primary form of medicine. In this space age where the technology has very much advanced, herbal medicines still flourish and are finding exceptional acceptance in both the developing and the developed countries due to their natural origin and lesser side effects. Besides widespread use of botanicals as medicinal products in developing countries, such products are fast becoming a part of the integrative healthcare systems of the industrialized nations, known as complementary and alternative systems of medicine.
A number of herbal traditions have come to dominate the practice of alternative medicine. These include the western herbal tradition based on Greek, Roman and medieval sources, the essentially Ayurvedic tradition of India and the Chinese herbal medicine. The traditional Chinese medicine continues as a distinct branch of modern medical practice .The traditional herbal remedies as alternative medicine plays a significant role in South Africa also, where it forms a part of the culture and beliefs of the indigenous population and also features significantly in primary health care. Botanicals or phytomedicines have always been a major component of traditional systems of healing in developing countries, which have also been an integral part of their history and culture. In the ancient Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda and Siddha are such examples [1].
