In prehistoric cultures, the treatment for disease were
mainly plant based materials including herbs and substances derived from
natural sources. Since plant materials
quickly rot under most conditions, mankind only used what was required for that
particular ailment. Even today
historians are unlikely to fully understand which plants were used in
prehistoric medicines. Only a
speculative view can be obtained by researching the climate of the respective
society of that era and then checking which species of plants continue to grow
in similar conditions today. Unlike the
ancient civilizations which could source plant materials internationally,
prehistoric societies would have been restricted to localized areas, also it
has been researched that nomadic tribes had greater variety of plant materials
at their disposal as they did not stay in one place for a long period of time. The effects of different plant materials was
been found through trial and error and well passed on from generation to
generation. Gathering and dispensing of
plant materials was in most cultures handled by women, who cared for the health
of their family. Plant sourced material
are an important cure for diseases throughout history from the time of Stone Age. This fund of knowledge have been passed down
orally through the generations and generations.
The fungus, commonly found
in alpine environments, have been used as a laxative by prehistoric peoples
living in Northern Europe, since it is known to bring on short bouts of diarrhea
when ingested, and was found among the possessions of a mummified man. Though according to modern research, the study
of prehistoric medicine heavily relies on artifacts and human remains, and on
anthropology. Uncontacted peoples and
certain indigeneous peoples who lived in a traditional way started relying on
plants for ailments and thus during that time the processing of discovering which plant
was edible to humans were going on since Stone Age. Many of these plants were found to cure
ailments or soothe a fever. In the
earliest scientific tradition, herbal medicine became a medical practice, in a
line descending directly from those distant beginnings and till today it
remains an important part of medicine in many parts of the world and slowing
getting out of existence due to the influx of modern medicine. The physicians without any degree or
qualifications stumbled upon herbal substances of real power, and they never
understood the manner of the working of the herbal medicine on the patients,
all they knew was that some plants cure the ailments. The long centuries of primitive experiments
resulted in able to identify hundreds of herbal medicines which cured a varied
list of ailments and is even used today in modern times. During the early primitive period things such
as cuts, bruises, and breakages of bones, without antiseptics, proper
facilities, or treatment of infections, also there were evidence of rickets,
bone deformity and bone wastage caused by lack of vitamin D and men lived
longer than women, but out of all these, mankind was able to find solutions to
most of the common ailments primarily through plants which relieved the cause.
Earths and Clays
also provided prehistoric peoples with some of their first medicines. This could
have been related to geophagy extremely widespread among animals in the wild as
well as among domesticated animals. Geophagy, in particular was very widespread
among contemporary non-human primates during the Stone Age. Also, early humans could have learned about
the use of various healing clays by observing animal behavior, the way
animal roll over in earth to cover their body with clay and earths. To this dad, clay is used both internally and
externally and for treating wounds, and after surgery. The external use of clay and Geophagy are still quite widespread among aboriginal
peoples around the world, as well as among pre-industrial populations.
