The Story of Herbal Medicine - Past, Present and Future - February 2000

Herbs have been with mankind since the dawn of time; in fact, more correctly, humans evolved because plants existed. Historically some important legislation involving the use of herbs came in the form of a charter from Henry VIII and it helped set the scene for present day legislation in Britain which could be interesting to look at before going on to more recent events.

Most of us think of King Henry VIII (1491 - 1547) as a colourful character who enjoyed a rich court life and had a very soft spot for the ladies! But this highly intelligent Tudor Monarch had other sides to him, some of which are perhaps not so widely known. One of these was a compelling amateur interest in medicine and he was always ready to offer medical advice to those round him whenever the occasion presented itself. This interest was not merely theoretical - he found the actual preparing and compounding of ointments and plasters very absorbing. He is thought to have had the equipment necessary to carry this out and no doubt it accompanied him on his numerous journeys around his kingdom. We know that he concocted various recipes, over thirty of which are recorded as being devised by the King - balms, lotions and decoctions, to mention but a few. Apart from his general interest in the subject, many of the medical concoctions the King created must have been for his own use. He suffered from an ulcerous sore on his leg for a great part of his life and, states a manuscript (now in the British Museum), Henry devised a plaster which "Resolved Humour If There Is Swellgnje In The Legges". Among many others there was a "grane oyntement" invented by the King "to take away heat and indurations and to resolve and ease payne". One interesting "oyntment" was invented "for the Kings grace to coole and dry and comfort the membre" and yet another "to dry excorations and comforte the membre". It would appear that Henry's very active sexual life would frequently call for the use of these particular salves. The majority of the ingredients used by Henry were herbal as was the usual practise in those times - these plants and flowers were known for centuries and include plantain, fenugreek, linseed and marshmallow.
Herbal medicines and their production were certainly not the perogative of Henry VIII or his surgeons, apothecaries and physicians. The majority of housewives of the day made their own remedies from the ingredients at hand as indeed they continued to do for many years to come - well into the 19th century and beyond in some places. However, this still left a great many of the poor unable to pay the high fees of doctors and surgeons for medicine and treatment in times of ill health. Henry appears to have been concerned by their plight and when, having been on the throne for a mere three years, he produced his now famous "Charter of King Henry VIII". This charter was provoked in part by a previous piece of herbal legislation produced by his father, Henry VII.

This charter not only enabled the great number of poor people of this time to obtain the means of relief for diverse physical woes but also protected the position of the herbal practitioner. It left for posterity 'the cornerstone', which safeguards the practice of herbal healing in this country to this day.
This is illustrated in the final paragraph of the Charter:

"In consideration whereof, and for the ease, Comfort, Succour, Help, Relief, and Health of the King's poor Subjects, Inhabitants of this Realm, now pained or diseased: Best ordained, established and enacted by Authority of this present Parliament, that at all Time from hence forth it shall be lawful to every Person being the King's subject having Knowledge and Experience of the Nature of Herbs, Roots and Waters of the Operation of the same, by Speculation or Practice, within any part of the Realm of England or within any other the King's Dominiuns, to practice, use, and minister in and to any outward Sore, Uncome Wound, Apostermations, outward Swelling or Disease, and Herb or Herbs, Ointments, Baths, Pultess, and Emplaisters, according to their Cunning Experience, and Knowledge in any of the Diseases, Sores, and Maladies beforesaid, and all other like to the same, or Drinks for the Stone, Strangury or Agues, without suit, vexation, trouble, penalty or loss of their goods; the foresaid third year of the King's most gracious Reign, or any other Act, Ordinace, or Statutes the contrary heretofore made in anywise, notwithstanding."

We, in Britain, who enjoy a unique flexibility in the exercise of modern herbalist practices, owe much to our Great Tudor Monarch!

1923 - 1968

To move on in time we see that in 1923 a substantial number of M.P.'s supported 'The Medical Herbalists Bill', which was sadly squashed by a scathing English Chief Medical officer of the time. Subsequently, the National Health Service and growth of pharmaceutical drugs further eclipsed the use of Herbal Medicines and Natural Healing practices.
Although herbalists were grudgingly asked to join the N.H.S., the very meager budget allowed to them resulted in the herbalists concerned to opt to remain outside this institution.

In 1968, a Medicines Act officially allowed herbalists to practice and as usual we owe much to the herbalists of the time for gaining this next step at a time when herbalism was not universally popular. Somewhat flimsy and undefined, this Medicines Act safeguarded herbalism and allowed the phoenix to rise without excessive dampening to it's present flourishing, popular and increasingly demanded position.

The 1900's

The 1900's has seen massive interest and equivalent legislative moves and posturing. Public opinion and the work of herbalists and a number of organisations have kept it from being subdued or eroded.

To bring the story more up-to-date, lets look a little closer.

In Autumn 1998, The British MCA (Medicines Control Agency) presented a Document called MLX249 to the U.K. Industry. The document in the main, outlined the M.C.A.'s position regarding advertizing and labeling which contravene the legislation of herbs and dietary supplements. The Documents main issue was based around herbal products and dietary supplements found to be making unfair claims.

What remained, was the main bulk of the MCA's intentions which have to merge with the legislation and Laws of Europe as a whole, yet retain the British love and strong voice of the public concerning the use of herbs. The MCA.'s intentions are to give the public access to a wide range of safe, high quality herbal medicines with appropriate information about the use of each product (licensed and unlicensed).

All this is within the framework of European Medicines Law and on this point perhaps we have yet to see that the MCA's assurances remain stead fast, as they are fully intent on doing. In fact, the MCA (UK) should be praised in it's effort to listen to, and safeguard the UK's standpoint on access to herbs and in effect to lead in some aspects within Europe. The whole subject is huge, it doesn't just involve the checking of the wording on the herbal packaging of herbal products. It also seeks to make sure that herbs are not adulterated, are what they are supposed to be and that deleterious substances have not been added to the herbs. The list of safeguards is very long. However, perhaps the greatest changes in the legislation of Herbal Medicine are yet to be seen through the remainder of the realization that St. John's Wort interacted with a number of foods and drugs (over 50), the MCA quite rightly decided to completely reorganize how herbs are sold, sweeping aside much of the legislation in 1998.
Simultaneously, efforts are being made to standardise, upgrade and yet allow individual types of training which lead to the swelling numbers of well qualified herbalists in the UK, who will uphold these standards. The EHPA is the overall umbrella organisation for this and will endeavour to continue this on and into state regulation for all herbalists.

The British public love their herbs and will not be parted from them. In the end, the voice of the public is the most powerful. If we were to look at the future, we might optimistically picture a Britain that grows more of it's own herbs, perhaps in the numerous set-a-side fields around the countryside. Certainly a renaissance and knowledge of the many valuable home grown and powerfully useful backyard herbs, would make sense, encouraging the preservation of the countryside as the 'wisdom and knowledge of the weeds' increases!

For a more up to date overview of the legislation and politics concerning the sale of herbs and the position of herbal practitioners and their training go to Herbal Medicine and Practice Today.