...no I'm not advocating anything illegal lol, just giving everyone the heads up that there's a new major 6 part series coming to BBC2 in March. It's aimed at showing how easy it is to make your own remedies and beauty treats from plants in your back garden.
It contains easy recipes for natural remedies and beauty treatments: Whether youre struggling with insomnia, the kids have eczema, or your partner is feeling under the weather, this programme could have the answer. The programme will also be accompanied by a BBC of the same title that will be available in early March. Airing date for the first programme is Monday March 2nd 2009, time to be announced.
James Wong, an ethno-botanist, has created a fantastically informative guide to plants and how their beneficial properties can help with minor everyday ailments. In a delicious mix of gardening, cooking, health and beauty, he devises a range of natural remedies which may help relieve the symptoms of ailments from acne to athletes foot, and winter blues to nits. He demonstrates how to make creams, cough sweets, teas, and much more from plants which can be easily grown in your window box, picked up at the local garden centre or found in the hedgerows you pass on your favourite walk.
Hi Debs,
That sounds a really interesting topic. Members from our herb group have been saying that they would like to find out more in paticular about herbal cosmetic use, so it's good to be able to pass that info on. How did you hear about it ?
Linda
82.19.185.47
Re: Grow Your Own Drugs...
January 16 2009, 11:11 AM
Hi Linda
I was looking for new herb books coming out over the next few months, I found the Grow Your Own Drugs book, so as it was a BBC book, I made the assumption it was a TV programme tie in. I contacted the publishers and they confirmed it and told me the airing date, they're also sending us a review copy in Feb that will go into our library after the review. So once I get the book for review I'll be able to tell you more
I think its wonderful news, I'm really looking forward to it. I think the BBC may be doing more with herbs this year. They have a Gardeners World special on Herbs (the one Jan Greenland is in - must find out the airing date for that!), lets hope we'll be treated to lots more programmes about herbs and their many uses throughout the year.
Our group loves making herbal cosmetics, in November, as part of our herb crafts for christmas talk/demo we made herb bath bags and salt scrubs to give as gifts. Last night we made things to use as part of a healthy detox after Jenny's talk on "A Herbal Detox", we made detox massage oil, a face pack using yogurt, oatmeal and herbs, and ivy leaf anti-cellulite oil which went the most delightful green colour. In March we have a lady coming to do a talk on making herbal creams and balms, so we'll be pampering ourselves again
I have a lot of books on natural/herbal cosmetics, let me know if you'd like a list with ISBN codes etc?
Debs
K Patmore
84.64.101.159
Re: Grow Your Own Drugs...
January 17 2009, 9:09 AM
To add to this, there should be a slot about the Physicians of Myddfai and Ethnomedica on Gardeners World some time this year. I think I have that right anyway, but with no TV myself I get all these programmes mixed up. Anyway, Carol Klein visited the National Botanic Garden of Wales and Myddfai this summer to do some filming with herbalist Lara Bernays.
Apparently it's part of a series on women in gardening, but I might have got that wrong too.
I'm going to try and get the chance to watch it, but should it crop up suddenly and someone sees it, I would love to hear what it was like.
Kristina
82.19.185.47
Re: Grow Your Own Drugs...
January 17 2009, 10:35 AM
Hi Kristina
I wonder if its all part of the same herb programme? If it's on the BBC you can general catch the programme for at least a week on the online BBC iPlayer, not sure when the new season of GW starts though. I'll definately keep my eyes out for it.
Debs
124.171.186.141
Hope it's it's comes to down under
January 18 2009, 10:36 AM
I will have to contact OZ ABC to see if they will air it too, sounds great
Back to basics
Robyn
86.12.54.19
Re: Hope it's it's comes to down under
February 13 2009, 8:20 AM
Hi everyone
I've just been sent the Grow Your Own Drugs book for review, and if its anything to go by, the series is not to be missed if you're wanting to make your own herbal kitchen remedies and beauty products. Teas, syrups, salves, smoothies, wine and face packs amongst many other products are covered, beautiful photos and a list of the top 100 plants and their uses. I'll be posting a full review very soon, once I've sat down and read the book properly. Definitely worth investing in!
Debs
89.243.216.2
Grow your own drugs
February 17 2009, 10:51 AM
Does anybody know if any qualified Medical Herbalists have been involved in the programme making? It would make sense as this is what we do all the time.
194.221.40.3
Re: Grow your own drugs
February 17 2009, 11:47 AM
Sorry, Sarah, I don't.
From the press and publicity, the external support seems to have come from a pharmaceutical angle and I'm wondering if this is to try and give it a basis of "credibility" so the BBC doesn't get attacked by the evangelical anti-complementary therapies brigade.
I had a quick look at the book accompanying the series last Thursday when Debs brought it to the Mercian Herb Group meeting. It really does look good, so the presenter or his researchers must have picked a herbalist's brains or resources somewhere.
The presenter appears to be one of the latest "Bright young things" cultivated by the BBC. It would be lovely to see him digging in his garden and growing his herbs and dosing himself and his family and friends, but we shall see.
Maybe he'd like to join the Herb Society and meet some real people in action!
Sarah
86.12.54.19
Re: Grow your own drugs
February 17 2009, 2:10 PM
To answer Sarah Beard's question - It doesn't look like any Herbal Medicine practitioners were involved with the making of the show, but I could be wrong, I guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks when the show starts? I do know that Professor Liz Williamson, Director of Pharmacy Practice at Reading University has acted as the consultant to the show.
I've been reading the book in order to review it both for the website and Herbs, and I have to say I'm impressed with it so far. James Wong, the presenter of the show is an ethnobotanist, who trained to Master's level at the Royal Botanic Garden's Kew, but the thing that comes through is his love of herbs and they wonderful things they can make, he was inspired to study just how people use plants by his Grandmother in Malaysia, apparently her plants and remedies were always to hand to cure and treat illnesses when he was a child, he recalls stories of her making remedies whilst he sat watching her from the kitchen floor.
Sarah H - Re your comments [It would be lovely to see him digging in his garden and growing his herbs and dosing himself and his family and friends, but we shall see. ] I think that's just what you will see, although maybe not in his garden, as it appears he travels about, but I could be wrong. There are lots of photos of him working with the herbs he gathers in what I assume is his kitchen. If the series is like the book it will de a delight to watch. I also agree about getting him to join the Herb Society, I may even be so bold as to contact him agent and make the suggestion lol!
Debs
This message has been edited by DebsCook from IP address 86.12.54.19 on Feb 17, 2009 2:11 PM
86.12.54.19
BBC2 to air homegrown health show
February 17 2009, 2:24 PM
Just read an article from the Guardian online that quotes James Wong as saying - "Natural remedies are sometimes portrayed as rather wishy washy and ineffective, This series will reveal that many plants contain the same active ingredients as over-the-counter drugs.Over the years we have lost the knowledge of how to make the most of plants' health benefits in our daily lives. The fact that many remedies are cheap to make and can be prepared in five minutes at home, makes them all the more appealing and convenient."
Perhaps he could be a speaker at the AGM. I am looking forward to seeing the progeamme and hoping to take advantage to try and boost my patient base. I shall certainly be mentioning at a talk I am giving tomorrow.
194.221.40.3
Re: Grow your own drugs
February 19 2009, 11:03 AM
I asked a colleague at NIMH if there had been any contact and she has come back to me today to say she will check with their press office. She said there has been a small amount of discussion on the herbalist's forum and that she's looking forward to the programme.
Did anyone see the trailer for it on BBC1 last night around 7.30pm? I'm hoping that the whooshes and flashes and wows won't appear too much in the finished programmes.
Sarah
86.12.54.19
Re: Grow your own drugs
February 23 2009, 10:20 AM
Hi Sarah
I didn't see the trailer, but I have seen the info on what the first programme will be about. It airs on BBC2 on Monday March 2nd at 20:30pm for those that are interested, I can't wait!
I got an email from Amazon to say my own copy of the book has been despatched this morning, so I'll have it to hand ready to go off and try any of the recipes that take my fancy. Must confess to already having tried the Lavender Bath Bomb and the Goji Berry & ****ake Soup recipes and I have a long list of others to try over the next few months. I really do hope this won't be a dissapointment, i don't recall looking forward to a TV show so much for a long while.
"In the first episode, the focus is on fruit. James shows how figs can be used to prepare a remedy which could help to relieve constipation. For those who have trouble dropping off, he shows how hops aren't just for making beer, revealing how they could aid getting a good night's sleep.
James transforms kiwi and papaya into a soothing face mask and creates a warming soup using goji berries to help feed a cold. The ingredients he uses can be picked up in local supermarkets or even grown in back gardens."
Debs
194.221.40.3
Re: Grow your own drugs
February 24 2009, 10:42 AM
I just thought you would like to know that according to Andrew Hoyle the NIMH information and Press Officer. There has been no official NIMH involvement that he is aware of. It is always possible individual members have contributed and not informed him.
My NIME contact said, "It seems a huge shame, hopefully NIMH and Herb Society get a mention on the programme and website."
I'm wondering if there will be a BBC site with opportunities for public comment and whether we could do a concerted campaign when the newspapers review the first programme to add some helpful information about joining the Herb Society if you want to learn more about herbs and contacting NIMH if you want to consult a medical herbalist.
Can someone on the Herb Society Council prepare a press release to go out the day the programme launches saying how delighted we are to see the programme?
Sarah
86.12.54.19
Re: Grow your own drugs
February 24 2009, 11:42 AM
Hi Sarah
the Herb Society do get a mention in the book in the resources section under plant information. No mention of NIMH is made in the book. I'll pass your comments re press release across to Gwenneth who is our PR person.
There is a BBC website (I blogged about it yesterday www.herbal-haven.co.uk/blog/?p=206 ) the GYOD site isn't live yet, it will be nearer the time, my blog post also has a link to an interview with James Wong.
Debs
Jenny
86.137.125.62
Re: BBC2 to air homegrown health show
February 27 2009, 10:33 AM
There has been questions on the UKHerbalist about the involvement of herbalists in this programme.
Aparently the NIMH was told of the programme after the making of it.
It seems the Institute has raised its profile with the news side of BBC and are very often consulted, but the features side of the corporation has yet to recognise the professional bodies. They are working on it as we speak.
Perhaps the Herb Society should contact the makers of the pragramme too. I'll get on to that!
Jenny
81.152.183.16
Re: Grow your own drugs
March 3 2009, 9:09 AM
Well, what did everyone think of the show?
Whilst it was a programme that looked good, overall I was surprised that most of the plants used where of the more exotic type (gogi berries--see forum posting ),papaya,figs etc. I thought from the trailers it was meant to be about the sort of plants that were growing in the garden or could be wild-crafted. Would have liked to see something about nettles, dandelions,cleavers etc. Suppose they are not interesting enough. Such a shame. I believe we are given the plants we need to heal us and that it is a mistake to ignore those that grow at our feet whilst we indulge in exotics grown thousands of miles away. People respond much better normally to plants that heve grown in the same area to where they live--suppose the plant and the person is coping with the same enviromental influences.
And on that note, I will get off my hobby horse, sorry !!
Linda
194.221.40.3
Re: Grow your own drugs
March 3 2009, 9:54 AM
I haven't seen the programme yet. It was a frantic evening when I got home and I forgot to record it, so will have to catch up on Iplayer tonight. I'm wondering, since James Wong learned his herbalism from his grandmother in Malaysia, whether he is using the plants he considers to be local and accessible. Maybe he has access to papaya growing in Kew Gardens and to Gogi berries in another stately home.
Maybe we need to attract our own film company to produce a home grown series on "Delectable dandelions", "nourishing nettles", "superlative sage" etc etc. What I haven't figured out yet is how much of each herb you need to grow and harvest to support a family's normal health needs. If we could quantify things, then maybe we could say "you need x number of plants for these many people" and could advise on the number of plant pots, square foot of land that would be required if you really wanted to grow your own drugs.
I have mixed feelings about the programme, I couldn't be doing with the trendy music and the sloppy photography, and I did get miffed at the "I'm not some hippy that believes in flower power" quote, plus he spends more time looking at the cameraman than the camera thereby not making eye contact with the viewer, so I didn't feel like he was engaging me personally, didn't someone tell him that eye contact is very important!?
I did learn something about figs mind, I never knew that figs were used to make a cure for warts! I'll be interested to hear what others make of the programme. I do think it could have been better, but given that herbs and their respective remedies are now on the TV it still gets a thumbs up from me Thumbs up also because the Herb Society gets a link on the iPlayer page lol!
Anybody that missed the programme and doesn't have virgin media to get iPlayer on catch up TV can view the programme online here the recipes from last night can also be found here
I'd highly recommend the book though to anyone interested in beginning to make their own herbal remedies for minor ailments. It's full of wonderfully easy recipes, lots of information on equipment required and herbs as well.
As an aside we have Christopher Hedley's recipe for making your own Syrup of figs using dried figs instead of fresh and his recipe also adds some ground ginger and no senna pods. http://www.herbsociety.org.uk/mh-herbmonger-dec08.htm
Debs>
This message has been edited by DebsCook from IP address 86.12.54.19 on Mar 4, 2009 1:27 PM
78.145.36.52
Grow your own....
March 3 2009, 6:15 PM
Hello,
My other half recorded the programme for me as I was at Garden Club. Interesting- yes. I also so wish these programmes were not quite so frenetic with camera shots flipping about like mad and all the jolly jolly children's TV style. Waiting to see if native U.K.herbs are used later in the series.I did wonder how many people will eat Woody Nightshade berries in mistake for Goji berries, very alike! But then perhaps that's my G.O.W. coming out(Grumpy Old Woman)
Jane
194.221.40.3
Re: Grow your own....
March 4 2009, 10:51 AM
I managed to watch the programme last night on our laptop as my computer died at 6pm. The wind was howling various gales outside and the connection failed in the middle of the programme but reappeared about five minutes later so I was able to watch it to the end.
As a piece of TV entertainment it was very well done. I could see it was aimed at the 20-35/40 age group of single students/professionals hence the upbeat music and soundbite subjects which make up so much of our modern media. The content was very good for what it was and I can see that James Wong will go far. I hope his agent has ordered sufficient glossy posters for adoring teenagers to put on their bedroom walls.
Garden centres will love the programme, although I'm not sure how many young singles have south facing patios and walls to grow their gogi berries, kiwi fruit and figs. Obviously life is so simple when you only have to transfer mature plants from a pot into a container and pat it down comfortably with a few handfuls of compost from a bag.
What was interesting to me was the story the pictures told, but the script ignored. Hawthorn, rosemary, elderberries and other UK herbs were much in evidence but only to those who knew what they were. He pointed out rosehips, but not the fact he could have used them in the soup instead of the gogi berries with virutally the same medicinal effect.
I'd like to know where the series was filmed because I don't think it was his house. It made me chuckle when the students made their face masks and it was obvious they'd forgotten to strain the kiwi fruit before applying it.
As Debs said previously, anything which empowers individuals to take an interest in herbs and use them for their own good can only be applauded. Maybe, with the recent interest shown by other celebrities e.g. Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and the winner of last week's Masterchef, herbs will start to trickle into mainstream thinking and we'll be offered other programmes in the future.
Sarah
86.12.54.19
Re: Grow Your Own Drugs...
March 9 2009, 1:06 PM
There's been a run on hops at the shop this last week, I wonder why lol! I managed to get a goji berry plant from the local Wyevale on Sunday, not cheap but the flowers are so pretty, the chap said that last year the plants were covered in berries. I'm going to pot mine into a larger pot this afternoon and give it a light prune. I didn't realise they were so spikey, they'd make a perfect burglar deterent hedge. Mine will go next to the fig tree that grows in a pot and will hopefully produce some figs this year.
Take your point Sarah about Goji Berries not being native, but they have been growing in the wild in this country since the 18th century so are now naturalised and grow in places such as the south and in the midlands. You can find out more about them in Hedgerow Medicine on page 87, where Julie has them listed by their latin name Lycium.
I'm looking forward to tonights programme this week focusing on flowers www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00j6xwh I do agree with you Sarah about ative herbs, maybe the BBC would be interested in doing something along this line if GYOD takes off. All this weeks recipes seem to contain native herbs marigolds, elderflower, viola and lavender, but in one recipe he uses rose geranium flowers, not everyone will be able to get hold of this especially at this time of year, it would only be available fresh, so far in the UK I haven't found a source of dried rose geranium, but I will give the recipes a try in the summer
Debs
91.104.151.231
I loved it
March 9 2009, 10:04 PM
I have just watched the second part in the series and I can honestely say that I am enjoying it very much, I can see that the programme is meant to appeal to young viewers with its camera work and music - brilliant get them all into herbs and reconnecting with Nature.
The programme producers did approach us a couple of yrs ago to be involved but we didn't get the email until too late as we were on tour.
The programme is showing plant medicine in a very positive upbeat light - fantastic.
Karen
Eibhlin
213.94.233.176
I agree - good show
March 11 2009, 5:07 PM
I've been watching 'grow your own drugs' too and think it's very enjoyable. I'm sure it's appealing to a wider audience than just us herby people. My mother thought the title of the show was a bit questionable but i pointed out that fewer people would watch if they called it 'Grow your own remedies'. Sad but true!
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