Traditional Herbs and Foods with Medicinal Value

Traditional Chinese herbs and fruits as medicines are an essential part of the health care system in most countries, especially countries which are located in Asia. China has had a historical relationship with medicinal plants for more than 2000 years. Traditional Chinese medicine theory emphasizes on the self-healing power of man for curing disease and keeping fitness, and many of its therapies are employed for enhancing this power. Traditional Chinese medicine plays an important role in sustainable agriculture and food systems, it also offers a holistic approach to prevent diseases while making appropriate use of organic and herbal products, especially growth by small-scale family farmers. Herbal remedies may also be classified into three categories, namely, modern herbs, theoretical herbs and empirical herbs, in accordance with their nature/characteristics and the nature of current usage. There is no doubt that herbal products will continue to play a crucial role in the health care system of human societies, not to mention that secondary metabolites of plants are economically important as drugs, fragrances, pigments, food additives and pesticides. Integrative use of modern agriculture and science of traditional Chinese herbs with novel technologies will secure production of medicinal herbs in China and other parts of the world.