Herbal Medicines and Other Traditional Remedies in Iran – A Tragedy Unfolds

Introduction Various parts of plants, including seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark or flowers have been used for medicinal purposes from prehistoric times throughout the world. In recorded history, herbal medications are mentioned in Egyptian papyri, traditional Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic as well as ancient Iranian Avestan texts. The North American medicine men, the African witch doctors and the Siberian Shamans, whose descendants may have been the Median Magi tribes of Iranian Zoroastrian healers, were all adept at magical rites, reading of sacred mantras as well as herbal remedies.