Introduction to the Third Edition

      Transformation is in the air. It is the keynote of all we see, do and hear. Our lives are being transformed from within and without, sometimes positively growing and other times painfully changing, but always in flux. The purpose of our lives and the direction of society are no longer what they were, as the basis of our collective reality and beliefs changes. It is a time of chaos, crisis and great opportunity. A fundamental change in perspective and context is occurring throughout society and as a result much has happened in the field of herbalism and holistic healing in the short time since the first edition of The New Holistic Herbal appeared.

      Herbalism is based on relationship—relationship between plant and human, plant and planet, human and planet. Using herbs in the healing process means taking part in an ecological cycle. This offers us the opportunity consciously to be present in the living, vital world of which we are part; to invite wholeness and our world into our lives through awareness of the remedies being used. The herbs can link us into the broader context of planetary wholeness, so that whilst they are doing their physiological/medical job, we can do ours and build an awareness of the links and mutual relationships.

      Consider, for example, the treatment of a stomach ulcer with herbs and with drugs. Comfrey, Marshmallow Root, Meadowsweet and Golden Seal can all be used to soothe and heal an ulcer and with the help of right diet and lifestyle it need not return. But there is also the chance here for people to become aware of the way in which the environment through plants is actively healing them, so that they can be more present in their world. Perhaps they can attune to the plants, visit the places where they grow, and establish a deeper rapport with nature through their healing process. Thus the treatment of the ulcer becomes part of a deeper transformative process.

      If drug treatment is considered in the same way, problems arise. One of the drugs frequendy used for ailments related to overproduction of stomach acid is Tagamet. This is effective for changing rapidly some of the biochemistry that leads to ulcer formation and irritation, reducing discomfort and making life more bearable. However, looking at it in a broader context, we soon become aware that difficulties intervene. The chemical process whereby this drug is made is renowned for pollution production. So instead of linking with nature’s wholeness, there is an immediate relationship with nature’s pain—a direct connection between your stomach and dead fish in a polluted river. Consider also the laboratory animals that died in the development of the drug, and the dependence on a multinational pharmaceutical industry not renowned for its selfless service!

      If holism embraces broader perspectives than simply internal pathology and individual lifestyle, then the choice posed here between two kinds of ecological relationship is a meaningful one in healing.

      Holistic medicine can only be truly holistic if the perspectives it embraces acknowledge the social and cultural context in which the ‘illness’ and the desired healing take place. It is a therapeutic and moral mistake to use herbalism to relieve people’s physical distress and illness only for them to return to and continue in patterns of thought, behaviour, work and culture that are the sources of the dis-ease.

      By the nature of things it is often extremely difficult to effect change in these broader fields of non-herbal therapy! However, it is becoming increasingly important for the holistic therapist to speak out, to take a stand, to take risks. Things either change through action or degenerate through inaction. The insights gained through exploring holistic medicine add to the momentum for positive, loving change. I would suggest it is right and appropriate for practitioners of holistic medicine to contribute to the issues of our time. The perspectives gained through ecologically oriented herbalism have much to contribute to the issues of environment, nuclear power, nuclear weapons and a stance of fear, aggression, alienation and oppression. We are at home on this planet—we have but to recognise it. From the ills of humanity through the gift of herbal remedies comes a clue, a signpost, to this reality. We are part of a wonderfully integrated whole. This is not the stuff of vague idealism and mysticism but a solid reality. It is the basis of this book and the whole of herbal medicine.

       Holistic Paradigm

      Herbalism is practised holistically, as orthodox medicine and other complementary therapies can be. But what is holistic medicine, other than the latest buzz word?

      As people in all fields of life explore the implications of a holistic and ecological world view, medicine is at the forefront. We have gone beyond the ideal of ‘treating the whole person and not the symptoms’ to begin to articulate a definition of a holistic approach to health.

      Holistic medicine addresses itself to the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of those who come for care. It views health as a positive state, not as the absence of disease. It emphasises the uniqueness of the individual and the importance of tailoring treatment to meet each person’s needs. The promotion of health and the prevention of disease is a priority, whilst emphasis is placed on the responsibility of each individual for his or her own health. The therapeutic approaches employed are aimed at mobilising the person’s innate capacity for self-healing.

      Whilst not denying the occasional necessity for swift medical or surgical intervention, holistic medicine puts the emphasis on assisting people to understand and help themselves, on education and self-care rather than treatment and dependence. Illness may be an opportunity for discovery as well as a misfortune.