han dynasty dating back much earlier date later augmented ''yaoxing lun'' ''treatise nature medicinal herbs'' tang dynasty early recognised greek compilers existing current herbal knowledge include pythagoras followers hippocrates aristotle theophrastus dioscorides galen roman sources included pliny elder 's ''natural history'' celsus 's ''de medicina'' ref name kay ref pedanius dioscorides drew corrected earlier authors ''de materia medica'' adding much new material work translated several languages turkish arabic hebrew names added
Applied science Medicine and health Traditional medicine