Herb facts & stats

Question 1

The Roman physician Galen created herbal remedies with up to how many ingredients?

Accepted Answer

up to 100 ingredients. Galen's elaborate herbal mixtures, called 'galenicals,' influenced medicine for centuries.

Question 2

About how many years ago is there evidence of people chewing coca leaves in northern Peru?

Accepted Answer

over 8,000 years ago. Coca leaf chewing is one of the oldest continuously practiced herb uses in the world.

Question 3

The WHO estimates what share of the population in some Asian and African countries uses herbal medicine for primary healthcare?

Accepted Answer

about 80%. In many parts of the world, herbal remedies remain a primary source of healthcare rather than an alternative to it.

Question 4

A 2014 Australian study found what share of tested herbal remedy products had ingredients that didn't match their label?

Accepted Answer

nearly 60%. The study raised concerns about quality control in the herbal supplement industry.

Question 5

In 2018, the FDA found hidden pharmaceutical ingredients in how many supplements marketed as 'herbal' or 'natural'?

Accepted Answer

over 700 products. 'Natural' labeling doesn't guarantee a supplement is free of undisclosed drug ingredients.

Question 6

About how many years ago does the earliest archaeological evidence of medicinal plant use date back to?

Accepted Answer

about 60,000 years ago. Humans appear to have been using plants medicinally since well before recorded history.

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