Just uploaded an excellent article by Linda Harrold, the first in her articles on the history of herbs, a very entertaining read, I've added links to other sites with information that enhances what Linda has written and the majority of photos are copyright free images from wikipedia, some are copyright the Herb Society and me. History Of Herbal Medicine In Britain.

I look forward to reading Linda's other historical herb articles, as an aside watch out for some more pages on Hilda Leyel written by me coming to the site soon.

Debs

I know Linda's article was about herbal medicine in Britain, but I thought I'd share the link to a radio 4 science show called 'Herbs, Pills And Potions' which was on the radio in 2004. Rajesh Mirchandani explores the medical traditions and practices of early civilisations beginning with Hippocrates and Galen, he looks at Indian, Babylonian, Egyptian and Greek medicine and explores the myths, and cures used by those early civilisations. Both programmes in the series can be listened to here:-http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/herbspillsandpotions.shtml

The second programme looks at Ayurvedic medicine.

I found Linda's article very interesting.
I would like to correct one item - namely the implication that Hilda Leyel gave up her medical studies to marry Carl F. Leyel. Hilda had given up her studies long before she met Carl Leyel, who was the secretary of Sir Frank Benson when they met. Hilda was a "Benson girl" having given her medical studies to become an actress! They married at the Strand, London in 1900.

Hilda's mother was Elizabeth Anne Drewitt, born 1850, the daughter of Robert Dawtrey Drewitt (1812-1878). Elizabeth Anne married Hilda's father, Edward Brenton Wauton in the ancient Saxon church of St.Mary, Burpham, Sussex on the 3rd July, 1879.

Hi Peter,
Thank you for both your kind words and your corrections.
I`m sorry for misunderstanding the information that I had gathered about Hilda.I based my comments on research from her book---The Truth about Herbs.
She says "My first intention when I left school was to be a doctor,and I started to train for that profession,but when I married at the age of seventeen my medical career was cut short "
It actually makes it more interesting that she became an actress. I do think that she was an amazing person and feel very strongly that she should be acknowledged even more than she already is for her services to the herbal world.
regards
Linda

Hilda was not 20 when she married, but she was in her 20th year.
Record of registration of the marriage is below:


Name: Hilda Winifred I Wauton
Year of Registration: 1900
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Strand (1837-1913)
County: London, Middlesex
Volume: 1b

I have recently read Linda's most interesting article.She raises many points and I wish to add a little extra to 2 of them.

"It seems bizarre to say the least that at a time when one would assume the Government would be fully occupied with the war effort they could invest so much in passing this legislation[1941 Medicines Bill]."
Not only Britain.In 1941 the Government of occupied France did the same thing when it legislated to cease the training of herbalists and to make it illegal to practise herbalism.At that time there were 4,000 retail herbalists in France ,serious competition to the pharmacists and medical profession in general.

There is an interesting article dealing with this matter which[hopefully!] can be retrieved at:
www.newhope.com/nfm-online/nfm_backs/Sep_00/som.cfm
The article is entitled "Vive l'Herboristerie".Apart from the legal background it is basically a description of The Herboristerie du Palais Royale 11 Rue des Petit Champa 75001 Paris,an absolute gem of a shop that was still going strong when I visited Paris last July.

"In 1994 the government decided under the guise of incoming European law to once again pass a law banning herbal medicine."Guise is very much the relevant word.We are told that the Directive on Traditional herbal Medicines is being pushed by Brussels.Yet if you look at the website of the old established French herbal firm Pere Blaize[www.pereblaize.fr/] you begin to wonder if UK legislation is not already more restrictive than in some other European countries.
In the Tisanes section of the website you will find an Anti-Diabetic tea.Under existing UK legislation it is illegal to advertise or claim to have a cure for diabetes.I certainly would not consider diabetes as an ailment for self medication.Far from it.

In the same website there is a Anti_Hypertensive tisane[shades of Potter's blood pressure herbs,long gone!],amongst the formula ingredients is mistletoe.According to Thomas Bartram's Herbal Encyclopaedia mistletoe is not on the General Sales List and is a pharmacy only herb.In the UK it is unlikely to appear in an OTC herbal preparation.

Makes you wonder what is really going on.
Kevin

Hi Kevin,
Thank you for adding those comments--I find them very interesting.I wasn`t aware of the situation regarding France in 1941.What did strike me as ,not sure quite what word to use,I`ll go for ironic,but thats not exactly what i mean, that as the same time as the govt were legislating against herbalists in this country,Hitler,being pro anything Ayrian,including its folklore,was openly advocating the use of herbs!

1994---I remember it well,having just qualified that year.I was attending my first GCRCH ( as it was called in those days ) confrence and Michael McIntyre,gave us a talk on the imment legislation against herbal medicine.I can still remember my horror at the thought that i had spent all those years training,and had moved down from Scotland to the south coast in order to set up my first practice and that it could all be for nothing.
It was amazing how quickly we were able to mobilize support from the public.I think the govt were rather surprised at the extreme reaction that it provoked.The frustrating aspect being , that they said it was doing this to bring us into line with the other european countries,when the reality was that none of the other countries actually bothered to act on what laws they had in place and just let the herbalists in their respective countries practice as they wished.
I also remember that as part of the protests,a march in London was planned and I had decided that I was going to chain myself to whatever was the most suitable railinga I could find! My family were so relieved when the march was called off following the govt backing down,as they knew that i was not making an idle threat,such is my belief and passion for the rights of everyone to obtain herbal medicine if they should so wish.

Oh dear, I can feel myself gettting all in a tizz,just thinking about it all.Time to make myself a nice cup of Melissa tea!!

Linda

Hi Kevin

I couldn't get the link to work and when I search their site for "Vive l'Herboristerie", I get a there are no results at this time error grrr! The www.pereblaize.fr site you posted is interesting I used google language translation tool to be able make more sense of it as I don't know much French. Please keep this sort of information coming, I find it fascinating I'm still looking forward to your article on old herb shops that we can add to the herbal history page.

Debs

Wonderful article, Linda - really made me think!

I remember the discussions around the herbal legislation in 1995 when I joined the Herb Society. I was so naiive then, I didn't realise exactly what was proposed and why. I suspect I would be joining you chained to the railings if it happens again!

Sarah

Just to let everyone know, Linda has done a small re-write of the section about Hilda Leyel in her article with the help of Peter Leyel. There has also been a photograph of Hilda in her Benson girl days added when she was Hilda Wauton, that may be new to a lot of people!

Debs

Hi Linda,
I was also surprised when I first heard of the French legislation particularly as the Germans were then promoting naturopathy and herbalism.It would appear that at that time the French Parliament was packed with members of the medical profession who put self interest first.

Debs,sorry you could not access the article.I am not sure but L'Herboristerie du Palais Royale may have a website,which like the Pere Blaize one would have a translation facility.

i have not forgotten about the promised article.I shall be in England in September visiting and re-visiting a number of shops mainly in Lancashire and Yorkshire.After that...

Kevin

Hi Debs,

This is the website of Herboristerie du Palais Royale,it has a translation facility
www.herbosante.com

I donot have a special interest in French herbalism but my daughter lives outside Paris and sends me little snippets.This site might interest you:www.phytosolution.com/[English language].it contains the history and photographs of L'Herboristerie de la Place Clichy,founded in 1881.The photographs are very inviting.

Kevin