Northern Peru occupies the middle sector of the “health axis” of the Central Andean cultural area stretching from Bolivia to Ecuador. Few other places on the planet boast a medicinal flora as rich as this region. Archaeological evidence traces the use of plants used in traditional healing and divination practices of the region back at least 2,000 years. Current research indicates that, while the number of species traded in the market has remained almost constant, the composition of the local pharmacopoeia has changed since colonial times (Sharon & Bussmann 2006b). However, the overall number of medicinal plants employed seems to have increased. This indicates that the Northern Peruvian health tradition is still going strong, and that the healers are constantly experimenting with new remedies. Recent indications of this are the appearance of Noni (Morinda citrifolia) products in large quantities in plant pharmacies and markets in the region. This makes it quite obvious that local herbalists are carefully watching international health trends to include promising species in their own repertoire. The knowledge of medicinal plants is still taught orally, with no written record. An illustrated identification guide for the medicinal plants of Northern Peru and their uses (Bussmann & Sharon 2007) will hopefully help to keep the extensive traditional knowledge of this area alive. However, Traditional Medicine is experiencing increasing demand, even from a Peruvian perspective as indicated by the fact that the number of herb vendors, in particular in the markets of Trujillo, has increased in recent years, and the markets have an immense economic value. Also a wide variety of medicinal plants from Northern Peru can be found in the global market (e.g., www.raintree.com). While this trend might help to maintain traditional practices and to guarantee traditional knowledge the respect it deserves, it poses a serious threat, as signs of over-harvesting of important species are becoming increasingly apparent. Today the most serious threat to this millennial tradition is the destruction of medicinal plant habitats. Urban sprawl and the sugar industry have already greatly altered the coastal plains around Trujillo and Chiclayo. Climatic change and deforestation are threatening the mountain forest systems that are the source of many medicinal species. Most importantly, the high Andean ecosystems and sacred lagoons where many medicinally active species are found are in danger of being destroyed by large-scale mining activities (Downer 2006; Zamora Pérez 2007).