Evidence of medicinal and ritual use of plants by early humans
By the Seed SistAs
Long before pharmacies and white coats, humans were already practitioners of plant medicine. The use of plants for healing stretches all the way back to the dawn of our species—an ancient practice rooted in instinct, observation, and a deep connection to the natural world. Here we will plot several interesting finds that give us glimpses back into the past, the human relationship with medicinal herbs and uncover the archaeological roots of herbal medicine.
We’ve always been captivated by our prehistoric past—a time before words were committed to paper, when survival hinged on heightened senses and an intimate awareness of our environment. When we tap back into that time, we as humans were so much more reliant on our senses for food, danger, even to find where to lay your head; looking for more dry places to rest and make home for a while.
When we cut off from modern technology, lighting and home comforts, it is shown that we revert back to a more primal state. Our senses are heightened in a different way, and sight, smell and hearing all improve. As do more intuitive decision making. We forget that although we now think of observing nature to gain clues as to how to live, what we can eat, or if danger is coming, we were once so much more a part of nature and these senses were there in ourselves.
We can see by observing our primate distant cousins that they show these deep-rooted instincts. Studies have shown that they seek out specific plants to treat wounds, soothe digestive issues, and ease pain—choosing herbs with antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory properties that aren’t part of their usual diet. It’s not just clever, it’s evolutionary, essential to thriving in the wild: A built-in drive to survive and heal.
So it’s no surprise that our ancient ancestors—hunter-gatherers and cave-dwellers alike—turned to the plants around them as their medicine cabinet. In fact, plants were our first medicine. And long before labs and clinical trials, we were experimenting through observation, trial and error, and centuries of passed-down wisdom.
Modern medicine, as we know it, is incredibly young. The global pharmaceutical industry—now worth a jaw-dropping £1.2 trillion—has only really taken shape in the past 200 years. That’s a blink of an eye compared to the millennia during which humans relied on plants, animals, and minerals for healing.
Archaeological Digs and The Roots of Herbal Medicine
Our DNA hasn’t changed much since the later Paleolithic era, but our methods certainly have. So what were our ancient ancestors using? How did they understand the healing power of nature?
To find out, we turn to archaeology. Sites like the Shanidar Cave in Iraq have revealed jaw-dropping insights—pollen from medicinal plants like yarrow and chamomile were found alongside Neanderthal remains. These herbs are known for their antimicrobial, relaxing and anti-inflammatory effects, suggesting Neanderthals weren’t just surviving—they were actively treating themselves. And as it turns out, we humans carry some of their DNA, meaning they’re part of our story too.
The environment itself played a massive role in shaping these practices. Ice Age foragers, for example, weren’t just gathering food—they were selecting plants with therapeutic benefits that weave into our understanding of the roots of herbal medicine. And some, like the resilient plantain leaf, have stood the test of multiple ice ages, surviving and thriving. Its ability to heal wounds and soothe bites means that this ancient little plant still has great relevance today in the home first aid kit.
Herbal Medicine Pouch – Ötzi the Iceman in the Alps
Fast forward to the Neolithic period, and we meet one of the most fascinating characters in ancient medicine: Ötzi the Iceman. Frozen in the Alps for over 5,000 years, his preserved body revealed not just the foods he ate, but the herbal medicines he carried. He had birch polypore mushrooms—known as an anti-parasite agent and for aiding digestion—and tinder fungus, which may have helped him start fires but can also double up as a wound dressing. He even had dried sloe berries, possibly for heart health and inflammation.
When scientists examined his body, they discovered he had Lyme disease, intestinal parasites, narrowed arteries, and was lactose intolerant—yet he was clearly prepared. His “medical kit” wasn’t accidental. It was curated, deliberate, and deeply informed. Ötzi is an example of someone with thousands of years of plant knowledge in his pouch.
Though written records of herbal medicine only emerge later in Mesopotamia and Egypt, archaeology tells a rich story. Burial sites often reveal plant remains placed with the deceased—clues to the plants they valued in life and perhaps believed would be useful in death.
Cannabis at The Yanghai Tombs, China
The Yanghai Tombs in China, where archaeologists discovered the grave of a medicine man buried with an enormous stash of well-preserved cannabis. These finds hint at a deep ritual and medicinal use of powerful plants long before written history began.
And the roots of herbal medicine story doesn’t end there. Early humans were just as intrigued by the line between healing and harm. Powerful plants, like belladonna and henbane, weren’t necessarily feared as they have become today. They were possibly worked with for magical and medicinal applications, revered and respected but seemingly not ignored. Finds imply these nightshade family herbs may have been used in spiritual rituals or pain management.
Black Henbane at at Houten-Castellum, Netherlands
Archaeologists have uncovered a fascinating peek into the ancient ritual mind. A large amount of black henbane seeds, a powerful pain reliever and also psychoactive plant, was discovered tucked inside a container crafted from the hollowed-out thigh bone of a goat or sheep. The container was carefully sealed with a plug made from black birch bark, hinting at deliberate preservation and use. Read more about Henbane in this blog.
The unusual find was excavated from a pit at Houten-Castellum, a Roman-era settlement in the Netherlands. Based on accompanying artifacts like ceramics and a wire brooch, the discovery has been dated to sometime between A.D. 70 and 100.
Black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), notorious for its potent effects, was described by first-century Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder as a seed that could spark giddiness and madness. While traces of the plant have turned up at other archaeological sites across Europe, it has remained unclear whether those were intentional uses or simply wild growth. The Houten-Castellum makes the intentions of the use more clear.
“This find is truly unique,” said Maaike Groot, a zoo-archaeologist at the Free University of Berlin that funded the dig. “It offers undeniable evidence that black henbane was being used intentionally, almost certainly for medicinal or ritual purposes, right here in the Roman Netherlands.”
For ancient medicine and archaeology buffs, this bone-and-bark container is more than just a curious relic—it’s a time capsule of early pharmacology.
Reconnecting with Ancient Wisdom
Our ancestors were more than gatherers and hunters. They were early medicine people, botanists, and herbalists, guided by instinct, environment, and community knowledge. Their healing systems weren’t primitive, they were profound.
Today, as we continue to explore the archaeological record and unearth the ancient roots of herbal medicine, we’re not just learning about the past, we’re reconnecting with our roots and the thought that we can be as knowledgeable and resilient as those that have gone before us, healing themselves of tooth issues, broken bones, wounds and revering plants in prayer and ritual. We are lucky today to have in many places, sanitation that makes wound care so much easier, x-rays that can tell us where bones are placed and how best to heal them, but we mustn’t forget that we are part of the Earth’s mysteries, waiting for us to reconnect with them.
These blog articles are herbal education resources, produced by the Seed Sistas. Gain insights and join us in the evolution of healthcare, please do leave a comment or question. Wellbeing empowerment for all…
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