Some of these plants were so extraordinarily useful that our ancestors labeled them as sacred and thus surrounded them with special protection. Vedas, the sacred books of Hinduism, list five plants considered sacred: Asvattha or Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa), Darbha/Kusha or Halfa grass (Desmostachya bipinnata), Soma (identity of that plant has been lost, but its properties were very similar to ayahuasca), Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) and Rice (Oryza sativa). Other cultures revered plants such as ayahuasca, peyote, ibogaine, basil, coca, diviner's sage, sacred mushrooms, San Pedro cactus, kratom and many, many others. These plants are the most promising targets for ethnobotanical research and a potential source of powerful new therapies that will revolutionize medicine. One of these ancient medicines is already changing the therapeutic landscape throughout the world: Cannabis resurfaced to become the most popular alternative medicine treatment in the United States.