Arid Zone and Pakistan Overview Pakistan is basically an arid country as 92% area falls

under semi-arid to hyper-arid. regions. Thus, 74 million hectares out of 80 million hectares are

under arid environment . The rain fed and runoff agriculture covers around 5

million hectares in the country in addition to forests and rangelands.

The loss of rainwater and erosion of top fertile soils are the major causes of low productivity and sustainability of the rain fed agriculture

Medicinal Plants in Arid Zone1. Medicinal plants are a valuable natural resource and regarded as

potentially safe drugs.

2. They have been playing an important role in alleviating human sufferings by contributing herbal medicines in the primary health care systems of rural and remote hilly areas where more than 70% of population depends on folklore and traditional system of medicines.

Definition of folk medicine

Traditional medicine as practiced nonprofessionally especially by people isolated from modern medical services and usually involving the use of plant-derived remedies on an empirical basis.

OR Traditional medicine as practiced by non

professional healers or embodied in local custom or lore, generally

 involving the use of natural and especially herbal remedies.

Folk medicine

  Many successful medical discoveries of today were one time used as folk remedies. 

Examples are Foxglove which gave digitalis, St. John’s Wort as an anti-depressant,

Willow Tree’s salicylates and one rarely mentioned today, Goldenseal which was used 130 years ago for the

treatment of peptic ulcers as an antibiotic. 

It took state of the art technology and a Nobel Prize to discover they were caused by H. pylori bacteria, when all along, this was successfully treated with herbal tea from Goldenseal prepared by an herb granny.

History of Folk Medicines

The use of plants as source of Folk medicine dates back to about 4000 to 5000 B.C..

Drug plants had been extensively described by Aristotle, Theophrastus and others as early as 77 B.C.

Dioscorides (64-1600 B.C.) in his famous book ‘De Materia Medica’ has given invaluable and authoritative references about drug yielding plants

History of Folk RemediesThrough Out

World A Research Report Thereof

Drugs in Ancient Cultures: A History of Drug Use and Effects

Cannabis in China

he wider world is certainly no stranger to this drug, with thousands of cannabis legalization debates taking place across the globe. However, it has been in use for thousands of years and is believed to have been used in ancient Central and South Asia.

A 2,7000-year-old grave in western china exhibits the most recent evidence of the drug being used as a psychoactive substance in ancient times; around 789 grams, or 1.7 pounds of the substance was found in the shaman’s grave

Tobacco

Tobacco is the chief ingredient in Cigarettes. It is the most common drug that is still used all over the world. It is believed that it was first used in Asia and Native Americans also used it.

Native Americans used tobacco before being discovered by Columbus in 1492.

Betle Leaves – in Oldages

Ancient human stained red by chewing betel leaves (above) have been found in a cave in the Philippines

Opium -Global

Opium is undoubtedly the most widely used drug in ancient history. The history of opium is long and complex but scholars believe it was first cultivated by Sumerians in 3400 BC. Some of the ancient users of the drug include Romans, Greeks, Indians, Egyptians, Assyrians, as well as the Sumerians. Opium is derived from the latex found in the husk of the poppy flower. This latex contains morphine which is the active ingredient in the drug. Historically, the drug was used to provide pain relief, induce sleep, cure diarrhea and even improve libido.

Nutmeg-Ancient India

Ancient Indian and Asian cultures were prone to using Nutmeg recreationally. While it is mostly regarded as a cooking ingredient today, nutmeg is useful in the treatment of asthma and heart complaints and also serves as a sedative. Many ancient cultures believed that the spice had special or magical powers.

Blue Lotus in Egypt

Blue lotus was a favorite amongst ancient Egyptians. The drug tends to put users in a more talkative, relaxed and even, in some cases, aroused mood; although modern users point to the blissful sleep it can provide as one of the key reasons for its popularity.

Psilocybin –Ancient Time

Psilocybin was used by Ancient people in the Saharan Desert as well as throughout Central and South American cultures. Also known as ‘magic mushrooms’, they have been found in North African murals dated anywhere from 9000 to 7000 B

Betel Nut in Ancient ime

Beetle Nut is also a very common and popular drug. Betel nut, also known as areca nut has been around for thousands of years. Evidences prove that the drugs existed as far as 13, 000 years ago in the island of Timor in northern Australian.

People throughout Asia had been chewing areca seeds, more commonly known as betel nuts, for centuries before European sailors brought them to Europe during the Renaissance.

Harmal in India

Harmal was commonly used by West Indian , Iranian and Andean cultures. Interestingly, it was recently discovered in the hair of an adult male mummy and a mummified one-year-old baby in Northern Chile.

The older male was buried with snuffing trays and pipes which may have been used to consume the drug.

The remains are believed to be from 800 to 1200 AD.

Aspirin -global

As early as in 400 BC, Hippocrates gave Greek women willow-leaf tea (the tea contained aspirin like constituent) to relieve the pain of childbirth

Plants used in the folk medicines are rich source of bioactive molecules (drugs).

Everybody must have taken aspirin in one time or the other for the relief of the pain

Apple Cidar vinegar for sunburn relief Germany

Use a cotton swab to dab vinegar on a burn or add a few cups to a cool bath and soak in it. 

Russians also use this method to decrease fevers.

Coconut to fight fat - Sri Lanka 

You may have heard that coconut oil is a great way to slim your waist.

Well the people of Sri Lanka figured this one out way before the rest of the world. It's reported that the average Sri Lankan eats about 116 coconuts .

Try having about two tablespoons of coconut oil daily (in your cooking) and you could shed up to three pounds a month!

Cinnamon ( Darcheeni) for Acne in South Africa

Create an acne cream by mixing four tablespoons of honey with three teaspoons of ground cinnamon.

Apply it directly to the skin and leave it on overnight.

Use it every night for best results..

Ginger to regulate triglycerides - Indonesia

Indonesia is the world's largest grower and consumer of ginger and ginger products, with locals using it in their cooking, teas, candies and breads.

Their tradition has long pointed to ginger as an effective treatment for the heart, and there are studies to back them up.

Ginger and Black Tea- China

Add four slices of fresh ginger to a cup of black tea.

A British medical journal found that ginger is more effective than Dramamine in alleviating motion sickness.

This is old news to Chinese medicine, which has made use of it for thousands of years.

Black seed oil(Kalonji) -Middle East

The Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying, “Use this black seed regularly, because it has a cure for every disease except death.”

It was also believed to have been used by Pharaohs in ancient Egypt.

Oregano (Ajwain) in Cuba

Make an oregano tea. Steep half a cup of dried oregano in a cup of boiling water and let it steep for five minutes before straining.

Onion for Cold and Flue - Dominican Republic 

Finely chop half of a large onion. Mix with one cup of honey (the amount in a typical honey bear). Every night, take 2 tablespoons of this mixture with the juice of half a lime.

Onions have powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-everything bad super powers, which are enhanced by lime juice chock-full of Vitamin C.

Ginger and Lemon Tea for cold/flue Japan

This one is fairly popular among Westerners, and for good reason. It can ease symptoms of congestion, aches and pains, and nausea.

Grate about 2 inches of fresh ginger root and boil in 1 cup of water for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Squeeze in a fresh lemon and sweeten with honey

Turmeric to steady blood sugar levels - India

Indians use turmeric to treat high blood sugar levels, a practice that has been scientifically confirmed by research at Gujarat University.

Researchers confirmed that the active ingredient in turmeric, called curcumin, switches on the genes that keep blood glucose levels stable.

The compound can also help the pancreas make insulin when it is low.

In order to see the benefits of turmeric, start taking about half a teaspoon daily either directly or in your cooking.

Turmeric for diarrhea. India

This curry essential is now being widely embraced by the planet for its potent anti-inflammatory benefits from heart disease to arthritis and more.

Mix a bit of ground turmeric with water, milk or juice or take in capsule form.

Mushrooms to fight bad cholesterol - Japan

Mushrooms are a popular food and medicine in Japan, with the average Japanese woman consuming about 8 pounds of mushrooms a year.

This is because mushrooms are packed with antioxidants that prevent the liver's production of artery-clogging fats.

Mustard baths to calm muscle pain - England

Ever heard of a mustard bath? While it may sound like a hoax, mustard baths are used heavily in England to quell tight and achy muscles.

Mustard has healing plant compounds that draw out toxins through the pores to improve circulation, relax tight muscles and speed the healing of damaged tissue.

Chamomile tea- Latin America 

Make chamomile tea. Using your own dried chamomile is best, but chamomile tea bags are readily available in most grocery stores.

The plant sterols in chamomile love to soothe an upset stomach.

Chamomile tea to reduce bloating - Germany

Not only does chamomile tea soothe the stomach, it also causes the brain to produce more encephalins, or painkilling hormones that will help fight off depression and negative thoughts.

Garlic to fight off viruses - Russia

While garlic is used the world over to add flavor to food, in Russia they use this herb to get rid of colds, the flu or any other viral infection.

It has recently been proven that this pungent natural medicine is seriously effective. At the University of Florida in Gainesville, it was shown that adding one clove of garlic to your daily diet could cut your risk of viral infections by almost 43 percent!

This is because garlic is full of allicin, an immunity boosting sulfur compound that fights off the growth and spread of germs

Coffee to get rid of depression - Finland

This cold Scandinavian country is actually the world's largest consumer of coffee, drinking on average about 1,640 cups per year. Indeed, coffee was originally sold in pharmacies in Finland in the 18th century as a treatment for depression.

Now research from Harvard backs up coffee's use as an anti-depressant, finding that drinking 2 cups a day of caffeinated coffee could reduce your risk of depression by 34 percent, and if you drink 3 cups - by 42 percent.

The mix of caffeine and antioxidants in coffee stimulates the brain to produce more powerful antidepressant hormones like serotonin and dopamine

Coriander as remedy for stoach pain – Egypt

One of the world's oldest spices and a popular Egyptian remedy for stomach pain, new research proves the powerful effects of this ancient spice.

The research suggests that coriander seeds can speed up recovery from full-blown intestinal infections by destroying dangerous bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella.

This is because coriander punches holes in the bacteria's' protective outer membranes, effectively destroying them for good.

Honey to treat sinus infections - New Zealand 

Unpasteurized honey is one of the top treatments used in New Zealand for sinus and throat infections.

According to research at the University of Illinois and the University of Amsterdam, the natural antibiotics and enzymes in unpasteurized honey can destroy nearly 100 percent of bacteria and viruses on contact!

This includes the bugs that cause painful sinus and throat infections

Honey and cinnamon for acne relief.South Africa

 Cinnamon is a potent anti-inflammatory (in the body as well).

Applied with honey, which has healing, antibacterial and potent moisturizing abilities, this mixture can relieve redness and itchiness as well as speed acne blemish healing.

Mix 2 tablespoons of pure, raw honey with 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon. Apply to affected area and leave on overnight .

Cinnamon for Headaches -India

Mix a tablespoon of ground cinnamon with a tablespoon of warm water and apply the paste to your forehead.

Celery(Ajmood) Leaves for Upset Stomach-Spain

Boil some water and throw in a handful of celery leaves (make sure to rinse them first). Let the leaves steep for five minutes, strain, and then drink the tea. Celery is the enemy of acid buildup.

Black currant ( Kali kishmish)juice for

respiratory infections. Finland

 If you’re sniffling or wheezing in Finland, don’t be surprised if someone pours you a glass of black currant juice.

The vitamin-C rich berries are believed to help reduce the symptoms of stuffiness connected with cold and flu.

Arnica(Gaoo Chashm) to prevent bruises - Greece

A herb that grows in the mountainous regions of Greece, arnica has been a go-to remedy since ancient times for nasty bruising and closed wounds.

It has become the most popular homeopathic remedy worldwide due to its power of healing and treating the most serious of bruises

Aloe Vera to treat skin rashes - Mexico

Where the sun is hot and always shining, aloe vera is used to treat rashes and other skin problems.

Ayahuasca for many ailments –Peru

. The highly psychoactive combination of two South American jungle plants in a brew called ayahuasca is revered for its spiritua

A strong purgative, people suffering from ailments as serious as cancer have sought out this remedy treasured by cultures in the region for centuries.

Honey cough syrup- Pakistan

1tsp honey+ pinch black salt (kala namak) + pinch turmeric (haldi). Warm up slightly and take to relieve coughing and pain. If you take this as soon as you feel pain swallowing — which usually indicates the onset of a sore throat .

Olive Trees to Treat Acne-Greece

Greeks claim that he first oil trees grew in Greece when the goddess Athena planted a seed into the ground which immediately sprouted up into a beautiful olive tree.

Ancient Greek women found many natural remedies from the olives such as using the oil to help protect against sun damage to their skin and crushing the leaves of the olive trees to make a facial paste as a mask for the skin.

The mask helped cure acne and other skin irritations.

Tomatoes For Prostate Cancer Prevention -Greeks

Maybe not so ancient, but as far back as around the 15th century, Greeks believed that eating a tomato a day would lessen the chances of men developing prostate cancer. Definitely a tip worth noting.

Mint for Migraine Relief -Greeks

The ancient Greeks not only used mint as an aromatherapy because of its fresh relaxing aroma, but they also used mint to help relieve migraines and also for relief of stomach aches.

Fenugreek for Respiratory Ailments and Diabetes

The ancient Greeks first used the herb known as fenugreek as a part of their cattle-feed to help stimulate the digestion of their cattle and horses.

Fennel for Weight Loss and Joint Pain

The ancient Greeks saw fennel as a natural expectorant that was used to help combat annoying coughs.

It was also taken in the form of an herbal tea where it helped aid in weight loss aid, cramp relief and a treatment for muscle and joint pain

Flaxseed to Lower Cholesterol -Greek

Used as commonly in ancient times as modern days, flaxseed helps aid in digestion and lowering cholesterol levels and were a favorite prescribed healer of ancient Greek physicians.

Parsley-Urinary tract aid

Tradition says: Parsley root can be used for diseases of the urinary tract, wrote botanist and apothecary John Parkinson in a treatment recommendation he prepared for the Queen of England in 1629

Horseradish for Respiratory Infections -Greek

Used in ancient times to help prevent illness, during the cold winter months, ancient

Greeks would eat horseradish to help get rid of excess phlegm in the lungs and respiratory system such as sinuses

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)-North America

was used by Native Americans to treat fevers and rheumatism and to induce vomiting. Modern herbalists use it as an emetic too, as well as to promote coughing and clearing of the respiratory tract. They also use it cautiously because bloodroot can be toxic in large doses.

Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) –North America

Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) is native to North and Central America. The Mayans and Aztecs used it to relieve pain, and North American pioneers used it to treat rheumatism.

These cultures also used wild yam to treat painful menstruation and labor pains

Foxglove (Digitalis spp.) –Europe

Is native to western Europe, where folk healers used it as a diuretic and for other purposes.

Today, it is the source of the powerful heart drugs digitoxin and digoxin.

Belladonna (Atropa belladonna), -Italy

Also known as deadly nightshade, was once believed to help witches fly.

Its name may come from the practice by Italian women of using the herb to dilate their pupils, considered a mark of beauty.

It was also used to treat colic and peptic ulcers

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) -Australia

Was used by the Aborigines to treat fevers and infections.

Today we know that the leaves’ essential oil contains eucalyptol, which contributes to the herb’s ability to dilate the small airways of the lungs.

It often is used as an ingredient in chest rubs and balms for sore muscles and joints.

Ipecac (Cephaelis ipecacuanha)-South

America Was used by South

Americans to clear the stomach and respiratory tract.

European explorers took it home with them in 1672 and found it to be an effective treatment for amoebic dysentery

Quinine (Cinchona spp.)-South America

Is native to the mountainous regions of South America. Peruvians used the bark to make a treatment for fevers and infections.

Today, we know that its bark contains alkaloids that provide a remedy for malaria, which was used until the early 1900s and again after the 1960s, when resistance to the synthetic anti-malaria drug chloroquine developed

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) _China

The tree is native to China, where its seeds are used in herbal medicine to relieve wheezing and to treat incontinence and its leaves are used to treat asthma.

Senna (Cassia senna) –Tropical Africa

Is native to tropical Africa and was first used medicinally by Arabian physicians in the ninth cen tury.

Then, as now, its medicinal value comes from its strength as a laxative.

Senna causes the muscles of the large intestine to contract and prevents fluid from being absorbed.

Tea

Tea originated in Southwest China, where it was used as a medicinal drink.

It was popularized as a recreational drink during the Chinese Tang dynasty, and tea drinking spread to other East Asian countries.

Portuguese priests and merchants introduced it to Europe during the 16th centur

Visnaga (Ammi visnaga) -Egypt

Provided the Egyptians with a remedy for kidney stones.

Today, the herb still is used to ease the pain of kidney stones and is the source of a drug used to treat asthma.