The changing relationship between plants and medicine will be explored in this illustrated talk. For the ancients, all medicines were derived from plants. Modern science has dramatically changed our understanding over the past four hundred years, and today we tend to regard herbal remedies very differently from pharmaceuticals.
Some of the key figures in the story of plant derived medicines will be introduced, and how their work influenced the course of history.
The talk will end with an update about recent plant-based medicines that have been licensed for clinical use, and reveal how plants are providing us with many modern medicines, for diabetes, cancer, heart conditions and painkillers. We will even learn how science is beginning to understand how some traditional herbal remedies, such as Ginkgo and Echinacea, have an effect.
Some of the key figures in the story of plant derived medicines will be introduced, and how their work influenced the course of history.
The talk will end with an update about recent plant-based medicines that have been licensed for clinical use, and reveal how plants are providing us with many modern medicines, for diabetes, cancer, heart conditions and painkillers. We will even learn how science is beginning to understand how some traditional herbal remedies, such as Ginkgo and Echinacea, have an effect.
