Prehispanic Mexican Cultures
Herbs are almost as basic in Mexico today as they were in pre-Hispanic days. With today's spiraling cost of manufactured medicines, many Mexicans who live in the cities are now resorting to pre-Columbian remedies still commonly used in the rural areas. Traditionally, the poor seek medical attention from “curanderos”, or natural healers; the middle-class and upper class Mexicans usually see a medical doctor. But when they are desperate, they switch over.
The ancient Mesoamerican peoples developed to a high degree a prehispanic agriculture base don major crop, now widely studied and worldwide distributed. These crops were based on maize, beans, chili peppers, etc. Most of the Mesoamerican culture area is considered an important world center of plant origin and diversity. The three most complete Works on the knowledge and utilization of the flora by the Indians in prehispanic Mexico.
A significant segment of the Mexican population believes that curing with plants is slower but safer and less expensive than using drugs developed in a laboratory, which are often derivatives of the same plants. These homemade cures are especially appreciated for common, everyday ailments because they are known to cause fewer side effects than modern medicines.