The Prophylactic and Therapeutic Role of Plants

For thousands of years, the man has known how to use the natural riches in order to provide themselves with daily food, but also to temper pain and heal themselves. By consuming the roots, leaves and fruits of vegetables, realizing their effects on their own body, the man has progressively identified the healing effects of plants. The oldest, but also the most widespread form of traditional medicine in the world has been phytotherapy. Traditional remedies had become useful, especially when they were tried by many people and proved to be good. Thus, regarding health care and disease treatment, different traditions developed, based on empirical knowledge that was transmitted from generation to generation, inherited from generation to generation, and for many thousands of years, in their simple form, or included in the popular beliefs. Our field research has highlighted the fact that, even today, the inhabitants of Oltenia frequently resort to popular treatment methods, phytotherapy still remaining an important means of treatment.