TY - Data T1 - Medicinal plants of Turkmenistan II A1 - Documentation Information Center DO - 10.12389/ariddc.01522 PY - 2026 DA - 2026-09-21 PB - Arid Land Ecology and Resources Science Data Center AB - This second volume of the encyclopedia Medicinal Plants of Turkmenistan was written out of my boundless love for my homeland and its people, as well as my profound reverence for the unique experience of our ancestors in living in harmony with nature.For tens of thousands of years, the extraordinarily rich flora of Turkmenistan has served as an inexhaustible source of remedies for a wide variety of illnesses. Our land, the natural environment of our homeland, is a source of strength, health, and longevity. For our ancestors, knowledge of the beneficial properties of the environment was not merely a matter of well-being but often the only means of survival. They created an ancient science devoted to understanding the mysteries of water, soil, air, and plants.A powerful instinct for survival and the accumulation of practical experience enabled humanity, long before the discovery of the chemical composition of plants, to find the medicinal herbs it needed and to learn how to distinguish edible natural foods from those that were unsuitable for consumption. From that time onward, the history of medicine began, and it can therefore be said that the first physicians on Earth were what we would today call herbalists or practitioners of phytotherapy.As time passed, new medicinal plants continued to be discovered, and the “pharmacy” of our ancestors was continually enriched with new plant-based remedies.In the course of developing agriculture, humanity learned to use not only wild plants but also cultivated plants for the treatment of diseases. Pottery and ceramic vessels made it possible to prepare infusions and decoctions from medicinal plants and to store the medicines thus produced. While studying the rich architectural heritage of Turkmenistan, scientists discovered among numerous archaeological artifacts examples of ceramic and bronze vessels used for grinding and boiling medicinal plants.The renowned ancient physician Hippocrates wrote: “Medicine is the art of imitating DB - EGIDC UR - https://data.dcxjegi.cn/portal/metadata/55fa3e65-840d-4e51-bc1c-7fad04eba702 ER -