For thousands of years, people have depended on the healing powers found in nature to treat illness and disease. Decongestants purchased over the counter are based on a Chinese plant that has existed for more than 5,000 years.
Mold is used to produce antibiotics such as penicillin.
From the sap of poppy plant seed capsules come such pain-killers as morphine and codeine. And more recently, the bark from Yew trees in the Pacific Northwest has been found to contain anti-cancer agents. Before the 1950s, natural products were a major component in pharmaceuticals, and today make up 25 percent of all prescribed medications. During the past 30-40 years, however, interest has been focused on the use of modern synthetic techniques, and the need for natural products diminished. Now, through increased public awareness of health issues, there is renewed interest in the use of natural products.