Historical Importance and Documentary Attestation of the Salvia Species

Abstract

The knowledge of medicinal plants and honey plants has been one of the most important concerns of people since the beginning of their existence. The use of plants for therapeutic purposes has been transmitted over the millennia from generation to generation, and today we are witnessing a reconsideration of the traditional medicine, in the sense that research show that herbal medicines are products more biologically accessible to human metabolism than synthetic drugs which sometimes produce side effects. The lack of scientific knowledge to explain the therapeutic qualities of these plants has long made their healing power a "mystery." Due to the progress of science, the extraction of medicinal principles from the herbs and the synthesis of new drugs have emerged. Around the world there is a wide variety of Salvia spp. spontaneously growing plants; many of them have valuable medicinal properties while others are used for decorative purposes. The aim of the paper is to show how this ancient plant has conquered the world with its qualities.