Herbalism :: essays research papers fc

Using plants for medical purposes is an idea that has been around throughout history. Many different types of tribes, cultures, and religions use what is found in nature to remedy their ailments, prevent illness, or prolong beauty. Many of these pecks use symbols, creams, or even watch the stars to achieve these actions all over the world. We see symbols of herbalism even as utmost back as the Garden of Eden. The bible states,Out of the ground the Lord God made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and skillful for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and bad. Genesis 29 (1)The trees in this passage from the bible ar symbols of longevity, strength and fruitfulness. Trees represented perfect beauty and complete harmony in and with nature and change. This type of symbol is pertinent throughout time. The Buddha, for example, sat under what he called the cosmic tree and reached enlightenment. Later Buddha was re born as a monkey and became king of the monkeys he then divined the monkey kingdoms downfall through a mango tree. When his divination came true he stretched himself across the gap between two trees, hotshot of them the mango tree, and allowed himself to be used as a bridge, sacrificing himself to save his kingdom.1 These be some of the many reasons that Buddhists of todays world consider the tree a sacral part of nature and their lives. Another culture that considers the tree and all nature sacred is the Japanese. Over the centuries the Japanese people have treated trees and plants with the utmost respect, and have taken care of them in the form of bonsai. Bonsai are small trees that are lovingly shaped and molded to be visually aesthetic and to seem as though the tree was older than the one who created it. Although the individual may have seemed youthful, one cannot judge a book by its cover or a person by their looks. Like Bonsai, many other herbs may make people seem younger . Some herbs are said to be able to slow down the aging process, or at least the effects, and consequently make the person seem more youthful. I must stress that herbs cannot change your features so that people might look eighteen again, but they may help people loose those wrinkles or sagging skin.