Medieval Herb Garden

Nice site, Ron.

All of the mentioned herbs, btw, are still used medicinally. Caution: Not necessarily for the ailments talked about.

Before using any herb medicinally, be sure and research it carefully, and separate clinical from anecdotal evidence. There remains, to this day, a lot of BS being promulgated.

Perhaps the greatest myth is the one spread by the New Agers, who insist, about herbs, that "they're natural. They're good for you." Fact is, like any medicine, there can be contraindications for herbal use, and you should be aware of them.

Right on the button, Dave.

When discussing this with people, the way I usually put it is, "it don't come much more natural than heroin." They seem to get the point right away.

Historically, the reason phytomedicine went out of favor in the U.S., was the controlled substances act of 1931. Until then, doctors had two pharmocopias on their desks; one for plant-derived medicines, the other for synthesized and man-made. Technically, phytomedicenal and alepathic.

But, because so many of the controlled substances were plant derived, phytomedicine got an undeserved bad rap. Eventually, AMA all but put a stop to it, and doctors could not prescribe herbal cures.

Just another case of the government, with good intentions, incurring bad ones.