The aim of these lectures is to present the history of plants in treatment and prophylactics and to look into various ways of obtaining herbal remedies and various forms of their use (also in the cultural context). The lectures also addresses the progress of phytotherapy and its place in modern world.

Herbal medicine is an essential part of traditional treatments handed down since prehistoric times. In antiquity, herbs were used not only in therapy but also to cleanse the organism. Formulas written down in those days preserved the knowledge on medical cultivation of plants. Due to the fact that humanity has been searching for treatment options in nature since prehistoric times, it is now possible to distinguish the Chinese, Indian and Mediterranean region pharmacopoeia. Medical application of herbs and other plants began as a trial and error method; those plants that proved effective found their way to the collection of medicines. The best example of the “empirical pharmacopoeia” was Indian herb medicine, but also the Slavic medicine, based on the use of local plants.

Superstitions and beliefs, especially symbolism (including biblical traditions), played a pivotal role in shaping knowledge about plants. In medieval Europe, Christians believed that God had placed plants and animals on the earth to serve humans. It was believed that the discovery of the secret of creation would make it possible to discover a panacea for all ills. 

This extremely fascinating journey through the history of herbal medicine leads us through the diversity of cultures whose customs, superstitions and beliefs strengthened faith in the effectiveness of plant medicine. Many of those plants are still used today.