“Herb’s” head is in the sky and its root is within the soil. Calm and firm, it is seeking sublimation and awareness. Moreover, it wants to solve human’s and animals’ “need”. Wherever is cold, wherever is warm, wherever is moderate, wherever is dry, wherever is humid, wherever is any kind, its herb grows like there and meets the needs.

From my point of view, all herbs are medicinal, medicines, therapists. Herbs are powerful and flawless receivers. They receive nature’s information and devise a proper plan for continuation of its life and prosperity. As long as the human being regards these claimless intelligent creatures, he wins the showdown with the nature.

However, according to old and new scientists’ words and discoveries, some herbs are “medicinal” and they have emphasized on this feature. Species found from these herbs are wonderful and various and of course honorable for Iran. Thousands pain had been cured with these herbs and this therapy has been being continued although it is less seriously. Therefore, it is our duty to protect these treasures obtained free of charge and fattening them more.

“Traditional Medicine” is indeed accompanied with “Medicinal Herbs” and is its old friend. Traditional medicine is almost unknown for us today about which thinking ends up in pity. As the most precious property of our greatest scientists- which is their life- was spent on this way and demonstrated the summit of human’s spirit’s power. So, this arena is the Simurgh’s and high arena.

The valley of “traditional medicine” and “medicinal herbs” is the splendor way from the demand valley to the knowledge valley. Then the love and knowledge valleys will be passed and the satiety valley will be obtained. I should say uncomplimentary that there are many benefits in issue of “traditional medicine” and “medicinal herbs”. It would ensure the society’s health as well as lubricating our progress wheels.

Now the world and its countries inclination to natural compounds in medicinal and food industries has the will to “Return to self”. However, this will has been existed for years. Maybe a bit later but more persistent and richer, we want to clean this rustless mirror from dust. With this difference that we have included the valuable prefix of “Technology” which is wise and smart. In such a way, several ministries and governmental and non-governmental organizations in our country are concerning this issue and have joint effort and interaction with multi-direction look.

The presidency vice presidency for science and technology affairs set up the medicinal herbs and traditional medicine technology headquarter many years ago to reach the destination earlier and standing on the desirable point so that by ultraorganizational and ultrasectional coordination, it seeks the needs and discoveries and achievements more targetfully. Cultivation, production, processing, extraction, industry’s entrance, export, marketing and such things are pursuing with this old and persistent headquarter of vice presidency for science affairs’ setting, coordination and management. Hence, the national festival of medicinal herbs, natural products and traditional medicine by holding its 2 session –uncomplimentarily- is one of the successful festivals in the field of science and technology. This year in which we are about to hold its third session, many enthusiasts and our dear people are counting down for its inauguration.

Beyond such issues, the comprehensive scientific map of the country is before all of us for progress and the driving motor of knowledge-based and resistive economy. It has considered the position of medicinal herbs and traditional medicine seriously and has put them on its A-list. This means that there is no doubt for paying unfailing attention to these valuable issues. Compiling and announcing the national act of medicinal herbs and traditional medicine approved by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution left no doubt in “National Will” for paying attention to these topics for us.

Therefore, “ paying attention to knowledge-based companies and institutes active in this field from production to export and branding their goods, facilitating and making the base for increasing new technologies’ entrance to the market, supporting technologists and enhancing the power of economic enterprises, increasing sale and market share, planning and supporting for empowering researching institutes and assigning credit and supporting related projects and dissertations, supporting making laboratorial network in the field medicinal herbs and helping compilation of indexes of monitoring laboratories member of the network and assigning credits based on the results of evaluation and rating, establishing a comprehensive information bank nationally and regional center of science and technology transfer of Indian ocean rim countries, supporting development of registering and issuing certificate of producing herbal medicines and natural products, allotting and priorizing Iran medicinal herbs based on different industrial, researching and exporting needs and preparing the required lists in this field based on realistic approaches, taking active part in organizing the standard system of medicinal herbs and herbal-based products, identifying, measuring and evaluating the traditional medicine resources, supporting research in and producing traditional medicine and translating, amending and publishing original books of traditional medicine, credit supporting of compiling country’s medicinal herbs’ Atlas and supporting key and important economical herbs which are about to get extinguished, supporting and planning for holding and participating in national and international festivals and exhibitions” are notes which the vice presidency for science affairs and its medicinal herbs headquarter are unfailing and continuously carrying out. Holding the “ 3^rd national festival on medicinal herbs, natural products and traditional medicine” will be provided people some results God willingly which will please people of Iran in the “resistive economy, attempt and action” year.

*Soorena Sattari- Presidency vice president for science and technology affairs