In the early 19th century, when chemical analysis first became available, scientists began to extract and modify the active ingredients from plants. Later, chemists began making their own version of plant compounds and, over time, the use of herbal medicines declined in favor of drugs. Almost one-fourth of pharmaceutical drugs are derived from botanicals.

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Recently, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some part of their primary health care. In Germany, about 600 to 700 plant-based medicines are available and are prescribed by some 70% of German physicians.

In the past 20 years in the United States, there has been a tremendous increase in the public’s desire to seek out herbal medicine. This trend is largely due to public dissatisfaction with the pharmaceutical companies, the cost of prescription medication, as well as mistrust in the drugs themselves often times coming with a long list of non-deadly and deadly side effects for minimal health benefits.