"...Alternative and herbal medicine has been around for centuries. In fact, there have been numerous cases of evidence showing that herbal medicine has been in use as far back as the Neanderthal period some 60,000 years ago. Other evidence of using herbs for medicine have appeared in cave paintings that are estimated to have been made between 13,000 and 25,000 BC. Most of our modern day synthetic prescription drugs have been based on natural substances and capabilities found in plants.
Now, many people argue that herbal remedies and medicines are not valid, because there have not been enough scientific studies performed to prove or disprove claims. Herbalists, people who specialize in herbal medicine, feel that a lot of the attempts to discredit herbal remedies and cures are brought on primarily due to money.
Pharmaceutical companies are not able to patent a natural medication, so the wide spread use of these herbal remedies would essentially put them out of business. Since they would be unable to corner a market and charge outrageous amounts of money for prescription only medications if herbs were too widely used, they must create synthetic versions in order to remain in profit. And they must discredit herbs for use in various medical treatments, in order to keep people buying their prescription medications instead..."
The rest of this article found here;
http://www.herbalmedicinekit.com/2007/05/25/intro-to-herbal-health-care/Here are a few more links to some interesting reading;
http://www.planetbotanic.ca/fact_sheets/fact_sheets.htmhttp://www.expresspharmaonline.com/20060331/research02.shtmlHere is a page with a few good links to more info;
http://www.katolenyardley.com/Resources_HerbalMedicine.htm