Medical Plants (sub. Botany)

Medical botany emerged from early explorations into plant properties, revealing valuable medicinal uses.

Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Greeks documented botanical remedies, laying foundations for herbal medicine. Through trial and error, they identified plants like willow for pain relief (precursor to salicylic acid) and foxglove for heart conditions (digitalis).

Renaissance botanists like Paracelsus and Linnaeus advanced botanical classification, enhancing understanding of plant-based therapies. Expeditions during the Age of Exploration uncovered new medical plants to the Europeans. These early studies not only shaped modern medicine but also underscored the enduring importance of plants in healing practices worldwide.