Long before the advent of modern medicine, herbs were the mainstream remedies for nearly all ailments. In ancient times, plants were assigned curative powers based on shape or color. Phytotherapy, also sometimes referred to as phytomedicine, has been a part of both eastern and western medical traditions since approximately 2000 BC. Herbs are one of the remedial agents which God has created for afflicted humans. Herbal medicines are being used increasingly as dietary supplements to fight or prevent common diseases.

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Nowadays health care professionals are aware of alternative medicine and of its great advantages. They are indeed of great importance which improves the individual's health and quality of life. Medicinal plants are potential renewable natural resources and are generally considered to play a beneficial role in human health care. Herbal medicines have immense scope in various fields of medicine and dentistry. With increased awareness, the use of herbal medicine has gathered significant importance over the past years. Herbal medicines can be used for treating many health ailments like diabetes, heart condition, skin problems, allergy, cancer, and respiratory problems. Herbs can also help one deal with the problem of obesity and they also promote good health.

In dentistry, herbal medicines are used for treating various oral lesions, such as lichen planus, oral submucous fibrosis, leukoplakia, pemphigus vulgaris, aphthous ulcer, candidiasis, herpes virus, and oral infections. It is also used in preventing tooth decay as well as in reducing dental pain. It has a wide variety of uses even in the field of periodontics. Periodontitis has been proven to occur due to various periodontopathic bacteria which has direct effect on periodontal tissues. Herbal medicine has an active role in reducing periodontitis. These can be used as a mouthwash, local drug delivery system in treating gingivitis, halitosis, for surgical wound healing, even in reducing inflammation around dental implants.