THE HEALING POWER OF PLANT FOODS

Plants have been used as medicines throughout history. Our earliest human ancestors found plants to heal wounds, cure diseases, and ease troubled minds. Evidence exists that plants were used for medicinal purposes some 60,000 years ago. A burial site of a Neanderthal man was uncovered in 1960. 8 species of plants had been buried with him, some of which are still used for medicinal purposes today (Nursery Live).

Medicinal plants have been used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times. They may even be considered the origin of modern medicine. The bark of willow trees, for example, contains salicylic acid, the active metabolite of aspirin, and has been used for millennia to relieve pain and reduce fever.

Studies of wild animals show that they also instinctively eat certain plants to treat themselves for certain illnesses (“Medicinal Plants”, CORE, UK).

Many plant foods have therapeutic value. Here are some natural foods that can benefit health.