That cup of chamomile tea you're sipping? It connects you to a Neanderthal 60,000 years ago. Seriously – scientists found traces of it in ancient teeth. Herbs aren't just folklore; they're humanity's original medicine cabinet, and modern science is finally catching up to what traditions always knew.

Think about the Egyptians scribbling garlic remedies for the heart onto papyrus scrolls way back in 1550 BCE. Turns out, they were onto something – half a clove a day can genuinely help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Or the Greeks chewing bitter willow bark for pain relief. Sound familiar? That humble bark became the blueprint for aspirin. Herbs are among other things the foundations of modern medicine.