Drinking decoctions made from various herbs and fruits has been part of human life ever since the discovery of fire. It was often the only way for people to extract beneficial substances from plants for their bodies, particularly during long winters. Gradually, people learnt which herb was beneficial for which situation or illness, and those who mastered this art were the most respected members of the community. It is interesting to note that in the Middle Ages they were often labelled as charlatans because their recommendations did not align with the ‘latest scientific findings’. Indeed, this remains the case to this day. In defence of medical science, it must be noted that, both then and now, there is a huge group of people who are able to ‘scientifically’ explain and ‘justify’ the almost miraculous effects of herbs on the body. However, it is equally true that modern science is far from understanding, or being able to explain empirically, why treatment with herbal extracts actually works. This is despite the fact that we are now able to examine plants or parts