Histórico do uso de plantas medicinais pela humanidade

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used since time immemorial. This knowledge has been passed down orally through the generations. Medicinal plants are used in the treatment and/or prevention of diseases, as raw material for phytotherapies, or for the isolation of active ingredients. Phytotherapy is the art of preventing and curing diseases through the use of natural practices, mainly by plants with medicinal character. The use of medicinal plants is increasing, due to their easy access, cost-effectiveness, and because they are natural raw materials. The population has been looking for help, relief, or even a cure for diseases in medicinal plants, but the incorrect use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines can lead to serious health problems. Therefore, it is necessary to be accompanied by a professional in the area, to guide the correct way to use the plant. In view of the facts addressed, this research aimed to analyse the historical development of the use of medicinal plants by mankind to obtain cures for diseases, complementing it with a set of notes on medicinal plants native to the Brazilian biomes and the different traditions that contributed to the empirical knowledge of the use of such plants.