A Brief History of Herbalism
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Directions: Select the best answer for each of the following questions and then click on the submit button.
- It is likely that the use of plants as medicines dates as far back as
the origin of humankind
Biblical times
A.D., 1492
1,000 B.C.
- Before written records, herbal knowledge was passed from generation to generation by means of
revelation
word of mouth (orally)
cave drawings
extrasensory perception
genes
- The first written record of herbs used as medicines was made over five thousands years ago on tablets of clay made by the
Egyptians
Romans
Greeks
Sumerians
- A book that lists and classifies herbs is known as a(n):
encyclopedia
catalog
herbal
herb bible
- This plant, used by the Chinese for at least 5,000 years, is the herb from which Western scientists have derived the modern drug ephedrine:
echinacea
ma huang
ginseng
melaleuca
- The ancient Indian system of herbal medicine is known as . . .
Ayurveda
Materia medica
Hatha yoga
Hinduism
- This Greek physician and herbalists, often referred to as the "Father of Modern Medicine," is credited with having written, "Let your Foods be your medicines, and your medicines your food."
Euripides
Pythagoras
Galen
Hippocrates
- During the Middle Ages, knowledge of medicinal plants was furthered in Europe by _______, who also translated Arabic works on herbs.
Monks
Druids
Barbarians
Noblemen
Barons
- The early European settlers in America had little respect for the herbal wisdom of the Native Americans.
True
False
- When Lewis and Clark made their famous expedition Westward from the Mississippi River, one of their goals was to learn as much as possible from the Indians about their beneficial herbs.
True
False
- This herb from the Peruvian rain forests of Central America has recently become very popular in the United States as an immuno-stimulant (supports the immune system in its attempt to keep us well.)
Ma huang or Ephedra
Uña de Gato or Cat's Claw
Ginkgo biloba or Maidenhair tree
Noni or Morinda citrifolia
- From native Africans we discovered this herb, which has proven to be beneficial for the prostate gland:
Pygeum
Saw palmetto
Noni
St. John's Wort
- From the Australian Aborigines we discovered this herb, which was used by British soldiers during World War II as an antiseptic for wounds:
Ma huang or Ephedra
Uña de Gato or Cat's Claw
Tea Tree oil or Melaleuca
Kangaroo Claw
- From the South Pacific we discovered Noni (Morinda citrifolia), which has proven to have many health benefits including stimulation of the immune system.
True
False
- The increased interest in herbs that we are seeing today will undoubtedly prove dangerous for an already overly-exploited environment.
True
False
- Many cultures in less industrialized nations are discovering that there is great economic potential in protecting their rain forests for herb harvest.
True
False