Find out more about herbalism
| 19:55 UK time, Friday, 30 October 2009
For those of you that don't know, I'm a bit of a botany geek. I'm quite clued up on British plants and flowers, and also really interested in herbalism and the healing properties of plants. So I jumped at the chance to go out for a ramble with medical herbalist Christina Stapeley to find out more.
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Using common plants for medical purposes is an historical practise and a complicated science. The oldest recorded history of herbalism in the UK takes us way back to the Roman invasion. The Romans brought with them a wealth of knowledge that had been gleaned together from other civilisations.
It's easy to forget that long ago, before the days of modern medicine, herbalism was the best, if not the only, way that people could fight disease, heal injury and treat all manner of ailments related to everything from allergy and digestion to fertility and fatigue. It also set the foundation for much of our medical knowledge today.
My stroll in the Wiltshire hills gave me a chance to see some of our common plants in a new light and learn about how they can be used in clever ways.
In many cases botanical substances that we consider useful, serve to protect the plant against bacteria, insects and herbivores. We're not the only species to have learnt the benefits of plant extracts: just recently it was discovered that blue tits line their nests with aromatic substances to deter bacteria.
The best way to learn more about herbalism is to go on a guided walk. Many organisations including the Wildlife Trusts run events throughout the year where you can learn about wildflowers and other plants and their useful properties.
However, be careful, because where some plants heal, others are very toxic (for example, foxglove, hemlock and deadly nightshade) and some wildflowers are illegal to pick.
A few well-known plants with medical uses:
Stinging nettles extracts are used to treat rheumatism, arthritis and aching joints.
Elderberry has been shown to be effective in treating Influenza B.
Self-heals are used to stop bleeding when chewed and applied to cuts.
Ginger compounds are active against some types of diarrhoea.
Red clover extracts have been used to treat symptoms of menopause as well as easing eczema, coughs and even asthma.
Learn more about Herbalism from these websites:
Wildflower Information: Herbs and medicinal flowers
The Herb Society: Herbs in Medicine
The National Institute of Medical Herbalists: Herbal medicine
Grow your own medical cabinet by planting a wildflower meadow. See these links for information:
BBC Breathing Places: Find nature events near you
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~48~RS~)
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I'm quite jealous Martin. I watched this with interest as I'm thinking of doing a medicinal herbalism course at local college. I've already completed a Degree in countryside management, but feel I've so much more to learn.
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Very interesting piece to watch! Couldnt help but giggle at you picking the stinging nettels!
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I too am quite jealous as I missed the beginning of this weeks programme, due to the new timing and didn't see the plant bit(just the end). I've always been interested in plants and their healing properties - probably got that from my mother who was an old country girl, using, for example, a cabbage leaf tied around her leg, to promote healing.
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Thank you Martin for a superb feature on herbal medicine and with a real medical herbalist. This is really quite timely because the government are right now consulting on regulation of herbal medicine. There is a real risk this may not go ahead, which would mean the death of professional medical herbalism in this country. Anyone that wants to keep herbal medicine for the people of this country should let the government know now. Follow the links above to the National Institute of Medical Herbalists website and click on "News, Events, Media". There is a mass lobby of MP's planned for Monday 2nd Nov at Westminster. The consultation ends on 16th Nov. Herbal Medicine is currently alive and well in the UK but you will have to stand up for it if you want that to continue or you and your children will no longer be able to access the wonderful healing power of plants through professionally trained medical herbalists.
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Great programme, loved the healing plants info but where can I get the recipe for the 'nettle cream'?
I make elderberry rob (great flu buster) and hawthorn syrup for treating high blood pressure. Both work reaaly well, far better than commercial flu remedies/beta blockers!!!!
The cabbage leaf is good for healing as well as honey to draw out infection or to keep a wound clean.
More herbal remedies would be good.
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Thanks Herbal James for the update, I did not realise the Goverment were considering this. I will check out the website and forward this info to friends and family. This sounds like a move backed by the drug companies. Herbal medicine is the way forward and this action would be disastrous.
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Hello Autumn Watch Team!!
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you all for a wonderful show this year, so far!! Mum and I are avid viewers, and I am regularly watching the site for updates on everything! :)
Also: Compliments to the presenters!!
Martin Hughes Games' - I love your enthusiasm for everything, it really rubs off on the viewer!! =D xx
Chris Packham - you do make me laugh so much, and I really do love your geeky insights into the world of nature-is good to know there's someone like me out there!! xx
Kate Humble - you truly are the most amazing female :) I love your love for nature and all things animal!! I want to be just like you when I am a little older, travelling, conserving and enjoying my job!! xx
And Simon King - I simply want to marry you!! Lol!! Because you're fabulous, and your love for wildlife is most inspiring and a beautiful quality. And you always make me smile with your constantly happy lovely face!!:) xx
Thanks guys!! You're doing a fab job, keep up the great work!! xx
And a brilliant well done to the crew, team, producers, editors etc, and camera crews for amazing shots and hard work! xx
Love from Angie - aged 21, from North London!! :)
(Not too far from Hackey!! =D )
Xxxxxxxx
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Oh and of course a HUGE well done to the stars of the show - the ANIMALS!! =D xx
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Dear Martin
I just thought you and your readers would like to know that the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) organises an annual Herbal Medicine Week - usually in June, and qualified herbalists all over the country, and also in some other parts of the world, take people on herb walks as well as holding other events. But generally, if you have a local herbalist and can get a group of people together, and ask the herbalist nicely, they'll probably take you out for a walk.
You can find details of the Week on the NIMH website. You'll also find your nearest herbalist there. Or check out the CPP website - Christina Stapeley is a member of the CPP rather than the NIMH - but we have the same training standards and share many members.
The second thing is to back up what James has said - you can find the full story on http://actnow.nimh.org.uk/
along with what you and readers can do about it.
In short European legislation to harmonise all medicines across Europe comes into force in 2011. Herbalists in the UK are in a unique position. But that position can only be maintained if herbalists are given legal status and become authorised healthcare professionals.
If we do nothing and herbalists do not become regulated, the likelihood is that within about 10 years there will be no herbalists left to take you on these walks. Partly because herbalists' practices will have become so restricted as more and more herbs will become banned so herbalists will not be able to help their patients properly and partly because their suppliers will all have gone out of business.
Regulation is all about patient safety. Of course many, many herbalists practise very safe and effective medicine, but there are differences and this is because there is no single standard. For instance, a properly qualified herbalist today must have a degree, insurance, CPD and so on, and of course knows the limits of their competence. Anyone can practice a as herbalist and some do with just a weekend's training, or after reading a book. Regulation will change that and make sure that when you see a herbalist they are someone who knows what you mean when you tell them you have idiopathic thrombocytopenia pupurea.
Please support herbal medicine and make sure that generations to come can also go on herb walks. And let's get herbalists off the endangered species list once and for all.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Hi Martin,
I wonder if you could let me have all the data you have from the double blind, randomised, control based clinical trials carried out to support the claims you make for there hebal remedies? If not then you must stop feeding these totally unproven messages to the viewers of your programme. On the last programme I watched you had rubbed a tincture of somthing or other on your sore arm (I think) and 'it felt much better'. Well - that's it then - we can stop spending billions of £ every year proving safetly and efficacy of medicines - we just need a sample size of one - and if he says it works - trial over.
You (and the BBC) have a 'duty of care' in this programme - there are a lot of young watchers. Please don't fill thier heads with this unproven and misleading bunkum.
Alec 4038
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I thoroughly enjoy Autumnwatch (and Springwatch) and was particularly interested in the item on medicinal herbs last Friday 30 October. I was particularly interested in the sting nettle ointment as I suffer from a variety of aches and pains. On Saturday I went to a health shop but they do not stock nettle ointment, only capsules. Please could you let me know where I could get the ointment?
Many thanks.
L Oxley
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Been watching your current series with great interest! I live near to many woods and forest areas and country parks and try to get to them with my camera and binoculars when i can, work permitting! Bill has got a good stand in with Chris, all the best to Bill of course! Alan
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I was particularly fascinated by this part of the programme. I wondered where I can get hold of the recipe for the nettle cream?
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Alec4038. It may be an idea to widen your perspective. Modern medicine and pharmaceuticals are a great asset to the human race, but in the same way that no-one in these blogs is saying herbalism is a panacea...Neither are modern medicine and drugs. Some Drug trials including placebo controlled double blind trials have been skewed to meet the researchers aims. That I am afraid is a fact.
Kudos to this program for highlighting that some insidious chronic conditions MAY be managed better by medicinal herbs, especially when conventional medicine has failed.
Certain conventional heart meds would never have been possible anyway, without natural plant entities being recognized for their healing compounds.
The future of anti-arthritis treatments and other inflammatory diseases may well be rooted in medicinal herbal compounds.
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