v Herbal Medicine and Social Justice Audrey Marchbank

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.

Our common Lime— the one most frequently planted here in Britain where it is often seen along roadsides (Barker, 2001) —is a hybrid of the two species native to the UK; Tilia cordata and Tilia platyphyllos (Bruton-Seal & Seal, 2017). All three species can be used interchangeably, although the main variety used medicinally in the UK is the most readily available, Tilia x europaea. The leaves of this large deciduous tree are heart-shaped with greyish or paler downy underneaths. The flower stalks bear about three to six creamy yellow flowers with five petals and five sepals, with a spoon-shaped false petal opposite each true one.

Care is needed when collecting the flowers, though; harvesting must take place after initial flowering, in midsummer— when the flower has just opened (Hoffman, 2003) —leaving any that look like they are developing seed capsules (Bown, 2003).

And if any more praise were needed for this beautiful tree, its smooth, white wood is reported to be especially valuable for carving as it is and never prone to woodworm. Indeed, Grinley Gibbons’ carvings of flowers and figures in St Paul’s Cathedral, Chatsworth and Windsor Castle are mostly made from the wood of the Tilia tree (Grieve, 1973). I wonder if carving it generates the same calming and soothing effects as drinking the tea. I’m sure it does.

References Barker, J. (2001) The Medicinal Flora of Britain and Northwestern Europe, Winter Press: Kent Bown, D. (2003) Herbal, The Essential Guide to Herbs for Living, Pavilion Books Limited: London Bruton-Seal, J. & Seal, M. (2017) Hedgerow Medicine, Merlin Unwin Books: Shropshire Grieve, M. (1973) A Modern Herbal, Merchant Book Company Ltd: Surrey Hoffman, D. (2003) The New Holistic Herbal, Element: London