According to, "The NYU Dispatch," there is ample evidence that medicinal plants have been used since ancient civilization to supplement diets and cure common ailments. These plants produce beneficial compounds that act as a natural defense mechanism against things like disease and fungal infections. The earliest record of medicinal plant use was found from the Sumerian civilization. There are also records and recipes utilizing hundreds of medicinal plants from ancient Greek and Egyptian civilizations. Traditional Chinese medicine and Indian ayurveda also form the basis for the most commonly practiced forms of natural medicine today.

 

Research is still ongoing as scientists try to justify the public’s interest in medicinal herbs and spices. Scientifically proven or not, “super” ingredients rooted in traditional medicine have spurred major health crazes, from wheatgrass shots, kale chips, avocado toast, to turmeric lattes (also known as “golden lattes”). Specialty food stores, supermarkets and even large department store chains are not shy to cash in on these trends, giving rise to opportunities for novel food inventions and new food producers to enter the scene. The South China Morning Post reported that in Europe, imports of spices and herbs have increased by 6.1% annually between 2012 and 2016.

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Used in conjunction with scientifically-proven modern medicinal therapies, traditional Chinese medicine is said to do no harm to the patient as herbal treatments present little to no side effects.