v: Herbal Medicine and Social Justice
Low fuss, low frazzle Audrey Marchbank for Grass Roots Remedies The World Health Organisation advise the biggest determinant of our health in society today is our socio-economic status. Bear in mind that social determinants can be more important than health care or lifestyle choices in influencing health. So, it figures that often the individuals and community groups most affected by income and health inequalities are more likely to suffer from conditions such as stress and anxiety. This can certainly be seen at the Wester Hailes Herbal Clinic— a low-cost community clinic. The Clinic is part of Grass Roots Remedies, a worker's co-operative and social enterprise which aims to make herbal medicine accessible to those who are most in need of it. The aim is to provide people with the tools to feel their health is not something out of their control, but that they can have an active role in it.
In the Clinic, it’s common to see individuals suffering from symptoms of being overwrought, stressed, worried and unable to sleep due to concerns about their living conditions or financial hardship. The flower of the Lime tree (Tilia x europea) is a valuable addition to so many herbal prescriptions, providing support and relieving tension, a fine example of herbal medicine being used to correct social injustice. The flowers are rich in flavonoids and contain tannins, mucilage phenolic acids and volatile oil. They have soothing, sedative and expectorant effects, and are well known as a relaxing remedy (Hoffman 1983) aiding in insomnia, nervous palpitations and panic. I find a tea, drunk either hot or cold, delightful to sip to aid sleep or when feeling just a bit frazzled.
