Posted on February 20th, 2023.

Having used and studied plants for their therapeutic gifts for over 20 years I have witnessed the value of their healing potential. My obsession started with Essential Oils. Teaching Aromatherapy at Cambridge Regional College was a great opportunity to talk excitedly about my favourite subject matter to people who had chosen to hear it!

Now I offer my experience and education to support people interested in taking a Complementary path.

Plants have proved their power and compatibility to the human body, mind and spirit since ancient times.

Within every country and culture throughout 'history there has been a recognition of interdependence between nature and humanity.

There is a growing awareness that what we put into our bodies either creates health or adds to the destruction of our well-being.

This is a return to what our ancient ancestors knew about health in less scientific detail but more so because they lived with a closer connection to the earth.

Plant and Holistic medicine is an inherent part of a healer's practise. Throughout Ancient Greece, Egypt, Babylonia, Native American, Ayurvedic and Chinese Traditional Medicine illness was/is treated by fasting, plant cures, an energetic shift and/or praying for a revelatory vision/dream.. using what they discovered works.

The term physis means the healing power of nature. A physician is a person who assists and encourages this power.

Western Herbalism has roots in Europe while combining Native American medicinal heritage, which 'New World' physician settlers came to adopt.

Plant and healing knowledge is based upon empirical observation, experimentation and experience which was/still is passed down through generations.  

European herbalism became unfashionable in the era of 'Heroic Medicine' (1700 – 1900) when blood letting and purging became all the rage. Indeed it was outrageous in it's punishment – often until the patient could take no more and died.

This was a massive shift from the ancient tradition of working with the bodies own healing capabilities 'vital force' or 'chi'.

Common plant knowledge has sadly been diminished through the witch hunts, medicalisation of child birth, dismantling of chiropractic and eclectic traditions in the 1920’s Rockefeller hijack of medicine and lost in the transition of moving into towns during the industrial revolution and the advent of scientific chemical pharmaceuticals.

Chemical medicine consists of isolated elements or synthetic copies of plant matter. For example the first contraceptive pills were synthesized constituents of Wild Yam which mimic the effects of progesterone within the body.

Synthetic medicines frequently cause adverse effects, leading to further symptoms needing further treatments, causing a downward spiral of ill health. 

According to stats shown by Philip Day – renowned health researcher, author and journalist – third biggest killer of Europeans is pharma and surgical intervention….

The true cost of living in a chemical world is coming to light. The planet, creatures and people are being poisoned. Chemicals have become integral to our way of life from the pesticides sprayed upon crops, the artificial additives in our food, the medicines ingested which invariably end up in the drinking water, pollution from fossil fuel dependency... the list is endless and endemic.

Scientists desperately search for cancer cures, but perhaps we should shift our focus to create a healthy environment upon which our existence and planet depends?

When we consider the effects of plants such as Barley, Poppies and Tea we recognise the connections and impact on our lives

Plant chemistry works in synergy with the body. A fine example is chlorophyll being the closest in it's chemical make up to the chemistry of blood.

Like plants we depend upon air, sun and water and earth to feed and grow us. 

Why is it such a leap to recognise plants as medicine?

This could turn political – but we’re here to think further about plants…

Throughout time and place plant matter has mattered to human beings very existence, our health being of prime importance.

As a herbalist I see therapeutic plants and trees everywhere. The wayside and hedges are filled with renowned plants of powerful medicinal value. Take Hawthorn for example, growing in abundance all around, this plant has a long and cross cultural reputation of being a tonic for the heart.

Plants offer a complex and gentle medicine composed of many active constituents that work on different body systems. By combining scientific research and traditional knowledge a rounded picture develops of each herb's range of medicinal uses.  

Herbs have a balancing effect upon the different body systems, nurturing and nourishing, helping us adapt and cope with stress, strengthening and rebuilding.

'Weeds' like nettles, dandelions, plantains and docks have the ability to act as catalysts to trigger the body's own healing response offering their strength, persistence and compatibility.

Plantain – innocent little plant

Local medicinal plants are available seasonally and free.

The supermarkets contain a plethora of medicinal plants that the apothecaries of old could have only dreamed of accessing . 

Turmeric has been gaining a reputation for offering an incredible array of services to the human body whilst Cayenne Pepper is famous for it's use in treating stomach ulcers. A popular remedy for stomach ulcers is drinking green cabbage juice neat and alone as often as possible until symptoms clear up.

Dr Christopher cites an example of a man who was in so much pain with his persistent and long term stomach ulcers that he tried to take his own life by taking a tablespoon of Cayenne powder. Having gone to sleep his wife woke him the next morning – he’d had the first full night’s sleep for years and the pain had subsided, he continued with the Cayenne and was cured. Cayenne is a styptic for external bleeding and from this case and others it would seem to have the same property on the inner tissues also. Heart Attacks and wounds/severed limbs.

Plantain is a good blood purifier - it is a very powerful plant which is helpful in that it is available most of the year round and grows just about everywhere. It was one of the nine sacred herbs of the Anglo Saxons and is the best herb for blood poisoning and has a reputation for having cured a gangrenous limb removing the need for amputation – Dr Christopher (1976) Abbe Kneipp (1821-97) states ‘plantain closes the gaping wound with a seam of gold thread; for, just as gold will not admit of rust, so the plantain will not admit of rotting and gangrenous flesh.’ This is truly awesome and exciting!

Use for stings – insects and plant, hay fever, allergies, healing wounds, inflammation, varicose veins, eczema, gangrene, infections of teeth and gums, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel, ulcerative colitis, coughs, chronic bronchitis, hot tired feet, burns, scalds, malignant ulcers, leucorrhoea, menorrhagia, diarrhoea, tumours and ringworm. Herbs such as Plantain and Yarrow renowned for their wound healing ability both have properties of astringency.

Mullein is a demulcent and expectorant plant which is a specific for the complaints of the respiratory system. It has a long history of use as a magical protector and healer, the stems were also used by the ancients as candle wicks dipped in tallow. The leaves have been used as toilet paper, nappies, food wrappers, soothing insoles for shoes and flannels. With its reputation for healing the lungs the method of use was to smoke it, it is considered to have harmless, pain relieving narcotic properties –mildly tranquilizing - while soothing irritated and inflamed nerves. It can be used for colds, coughs, T.B (inhibiting the growth of the bacteria that causes it.), asthma, tonsillitis along with diarrhoea, cold sores, haemorrhoids (anti-inflammatory with astringent tannins), soothing to the bowels (in this instance milk is considered a good carrier for mullein to help it stick to the insides of the colon) and urinary tract infections. It has a long history of use for all conditions of the glandular system such as swollen glands. Mullein has an affinity to the spine relieving rheumatism and helping to set broken bones – another reference to the doctrine of signatures by its very appearance. Mullein infused in oil is an excellent remedy for earache. It is also very drawing and like other demulcents when used as a poultice will absorb and draw toxins through the skin – helpful for swollen glands, splinters and abscesses.

Some expectorants are referred to as amphoteric as they can act as either a stimulant or relaxing way according to the conditions of the internal environment in which they are administered. Mullein, garlic and Elder are all Amphoteric Expectorant herbs and are most useful in a broader treatment of the lungs.

Lobelia – is considered by Dr Christopher to be one of the greatest herbs the world has. It is a general corrector of the whole system. Lobelia Inflata is anti-asthmatic, strongly antispasmodic, expectorant, emetic and nervine. It has a general depressant action on the central and autonomic nervous systems and on neuromuscular activity. As an antispasmodic it causes relaxation and expansion of any contracted parts of the respiratory system – opening the airways, directly affecting the respiratory centre within the brain stem, producing stronger and deeper breathing. It may be used with many other herbs to treat many conditions especially when relaxation is needed. 

Its specific use is for bronchial asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough, spasmodic croup – any condition in which the breathing is irritable, spasmodic and oppressed. The herb helps to relax the muscles of the smaller bronchial tubes, thereby opening the airways, stimulating breathing and promoting the coughing up of phlegm. It is a powerful emetic and will induce vomiting – clearing obstruction and congestion within the body – this is also the case for the circulatory system. Lobelia is a diaphoretic which promotes sweating; it has also been used to help with giving up smoking tobacco. The chemical constituent widely considered is an alkaloid called Lobeline – which first excites the nervous system, then depresses it – similar to tobacco. In vitro testing has found constituents of Lobelia able to destroy tumour cells which are otherwise unable to be killed. Although Dr Christopher talks of Lobelia as a helpful herb to use in the case of threatened abortion in pregnancy – the herb will either heal the mother or child or both whichever is applicable, I’m concerned that using it in modern society with its realm of libel could be a question mark. With the possibility that the herb that could cause vomiting, diarrhoea and dizziness, it is difficult to prescribe in such sensitive circumstances. I’m not sure I would not want to use Lobelia during a pregnancy – however threatened the miscarriage may be (saying this, if it looks very likely that a miscarriage is occurring I can see the temptation in trying to save the foetus if at all possible). However in the case of a long and enduring labour which is exhausting and stressful to the mother a quick shot of Lobelia tincture could help with regulating the muscular action of the uterus while relieving pain and relaxing the mother. There is a long list of Medicinal uses for Lobelia, whether alone or in combination with other herbs. When it is needed as a stimulant it should be used in conjunction with other stimulants such as Cayenne, Rosemary or Peppermint. Care must be exercised in administration and dosage as overdosing with Lobelia can result in respiratory depression, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, convulsions and even coma.

Asparagus Root This has a wonderful reputation as a supreme tonic since ancient times. A Taoist story tells of an old man – Tu Tze-wei who lived till he was 145 years old on a daily Asparagus tea, he walked 50 miles a day and managed to have 80 wives/concubines to boot. 

It is a nutritive diuretic which strengthens the kidneys rather than forces them to work, it is gentle on the entire system, and used for enlargement of the heart, congestive heart failure, oedema, jaundice, uric acid build up such as gout, arthritis, kidney stones. 

It is a rejuvenative brain tonic which aids poor memory, ADHD, helps with the side effects of chemotherapy (is that really a therapy I wonder?). 

Asparagus root can help with infertility, frigidity, cystitis, erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, post hysterectomy dryness, menopausal symptoms, AIDS, Cancer, rheumatism, T.B and sciatica. It enhances immunity.

Nettle – is a nutritive tonic – if in doubt give Nettles (Hoffman). 

Improves the body’s resistance to pollens, moulds and environmental pollutants. It stabilizes mast cell walls which stops the cycle of mucous membrane hyperactivity, nourishing and toning the veins – circulatory stimulant, improves veins elasticity, reduces inflammation and helps prevent blood clots. 

Nettle seed especially is cleansing and detoxifying, lithotryptic – especially good at eliminating protein waste products (urates) so is helpful in gout, arthritis, muscular soreness, tissue acidity and kidney disease. 

Nettles helps kerb the appetite, making it useful for people who want to lose weight and diuretic. It helps all protein pathways in the body – digestion, immune response, liver metabolism, skin reactions. It is high in proteins, vitamins, acetylcholine, flavonoids and dietary fibre. It is considered a specific for low blood pressure. 

Nettles can be used for headaches, bronchitis, infertility, jaundice, leukaemia, night sweats, postpartum haemorrhage, premature gray hair, psoriasis, rickets, sinusitis, tuberculosis, and encourages convalescence. 

Nettles were given in a well documented case when a woman’s thyroid was restored after she had had it surgically removed for hyperthyroidism and regretted it. It has a reputation for use in muscular atrophy and weakness, it is an excellent strengthening tonic and has a place for use in pregnancy in toning the pelvic and thigh muscles ready for birth – uterine tonic (along with all its nutritive properties). Nettles also have a reputation for getting people off of dialysis. 

The practise of urtication is where one intentionally stings oneself with the purpose of inducing a rush to blood to the area stung, which has anti-inflammatory effects, provides tempory pain relief. Urtication energizes the nerves, muscles, capillaries, local lymphatic system and the production of antihistamines; it can help relieve the pain of arthritis, coldness in the extremities, gout, lumbago, muscular weakness, M.S, palsy, rheumatism, sciatica and tendonitis. 

Besides urtication compresses can be used to treat arthritic joints, burns, chilblains, eczema, gout, heat rash, insect bites, mastitis, neuralgia, rash, sciatica, tendonitis, varicose veins and wounds. 

As a flower essence it is recommended for anger, emotional coldness and for people who feel they have been stung by others, helping them to reconnect with other people again and to release their anger, stress and finding harmony within themselves. 

To deactivate the sting of nettles for consumption as food/medicine/poultice cooking or pureeing will do so, also when dried and powdered the sting is deactivated. 

Care must be taken when collecting nettles, gloves should be worn – some stings are very strong and can make it through gloves. 

Nettles also have uses for storing fruits helping to deter pests and help maintain their flavour better. Nettles have been used for making rope, dye, fibre, paper, and as a tea in the garden for watering plants – stimulating growth of plants, boosting resistance to bugs, boosting the plants volatile oils and when adds to compost, nettles hasten the breakdown of organic materials.

The World Health Organisation's statement offers 'Health is a state of complete physical, emotional, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'.

This definition recognises a 'Wholistic' approach to humanities well-being, acknowledging all aspects of an individual as a mind, body and spirit within the context of their environment and culture. 

This includes our relationship to our mother-ship planet earth and how we can survive and thrive together.

Herbalism promotes our innate capacity for self healing, working on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels of existence.

Simple self help is always a good place to start. As Master Herbalists Hedley and Shaw state ' No matter what ailment we may suffer from, we can always do something ourselves to enhance our well being'.

Traditionally used remedies such as honey and lemon and elderberry syrups have proven themselves over time. As have the benefits of fresh air, a plant based diet, plenty of water, exercise and rest.

Knowledge about which plants may assist you, methods of harvesting, preparation and treatment is vital. Plants are powerful but not all are helpful.   

Alternatively it is possible to purchase tinctures, essential oils, ointments and dried herbs already prepared for you, while a Herbal consultation enables a practitioner to provide you with a suitable formula tailored to your needs.