Integrated and Complementary Medicine Today, many still turn to natural remedies, often as adjuncts to conventional medicine. Honey remains widely recommended by health authorities like the World Health Organization for mild cough relief, especially in children over one year old. Herbal teas,

Regulation and Safety By the early 20th century, governments began regulating medicines to ensure safety and efficacy. The 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act in the United States, for example, marked a turning point. Pharmaceutical companies started producing standardized cough medicines with known a

Scientific Advances and Pharmacology The 18th century ushered in the Age of Enlightenment, with increasing scientific study of medicine and chemistry. Physicians and pharmacists began to isolate active compounds from plants. For example, the expectorant effects of squill and the analgesic prop

Islamic Medicine The Islamic Golden Age (8th to 14th centuries) saw advances in medical knowledge with physicians like Avicenna (Ibn Sina), who authored “The Canon of Medicine,” a medical encyclopedia that influenced Europe for centuries. Avicenna recommended various treatments for