ABSTRACT
Medicinal and aromatic plants perform a vital role in human communities and help increase the quality of human life. Plant usage for medicinal purposes underwent a careful observation, experience, and trial-and-error experimentation by early humans. Medicinal and aromatic herbs have long been used in traditional medicine to treat illness of human and livestock. A large portion of this traditional knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plant species is still being transferred verbally from generation to generation by Indigenous communities. Unfortunately, as a result of population growth, overgrazing, fires, overexploitation, human encroachment, and other factors, these medicinal and aromatic plants are facing a challenge. This chapter seeks to provide an overview of the history and current state of herbal medicines in different civilizations, as well as their significant contribution to health improvement in developing countries, with special reference to Morocco. To save the world’s medicinal and aromatic plant resources from extinction, we need more research, greater protection, and a higher level of public awareness about our disappearing heritage.
