28 mind, mind body body&&spirit spirit
herbal highs and lows
Darryl Bullock asks independent herbalists how the new Herbal Directive has affected their practice – and their customers’ choices – since it became law
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n May 2011, a new law came onto the UK statute books relating to the regulation of herbal medicine. The Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD) governs every herbal medicinal product sold in the EU. Previously individual EU member states regulated themselves, leading to different products, or similar products but in different doses, being available in different countries. Under the THMPD a company needs to demonstrate that the herbal medicine in question has been in use within the EU for at least 30 years (or 15 years within the EU and 30 years elsewhere) otherwise they must buy a licence to sell that particular product over the counter in the future. The intention was to prevent fraudulent selling of herbal medicines from unqualified charlatans but unfortunately THMPD makes life more difficult for genuine practitioners. The huge cost of the new licences (potentially up to £50,000) are prohibitive to smaller, independent traders and the worry is that control of herbal medicines will fall into the hands of big pharmaceuticals who can afford the licences. The Government has already approved plans for the Health Professionals Council to establish a register of practitioners supplying unlicensed herbal medicines, and practitioners will be required by law to sign. An unspecified period of grace currently in operation means that herbalists can continue to sell off ‘old’ stock, but any ‘new’ medicine will now need a licence. The MHRA (the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) have declared their intention to implement the Directive sensitively, however, enabling
systems such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda to continue. Chinese herbalist Tony Harrison, of the Natural Health Clinic, is resigned to the fact. “We don’t want regulation but without it we will lose our herbs,” he says. “We’re already having problems getting hold of certain herbs; being regulated might improve that.”
by appointment
The only herbal medicines exempt from the THMPD are unlicensed remedies made up for individual patients, following a consultation with a herbalist. Max Drake, independent herbalist at Bristol’s Urban Fringe Dispensary, says: “I can prepare medicines made up for individual use but there are quite a few medicines we make that we are no longer able to sell online because we can’t sell them without a face-to-face consultation. The possibility of a herbalist or anyone with any skill blending herbs together to make a
product and then branding it and selling it has gone. You can’t do that unless you have the requisite £50,000 or so for a licence.” Shops which sell individual herbs for food use will still be able to sell them to their customers but, as Max says, “Some wholefood shops will lose out, because herbs like valerian (a medicinal herb) will end up being regulated.” “Only regulated herbalists will be able to prescribe,” Max says. “In principle you could say that this is a good thing; it has been put together in the name of patient safety. But it’s passing control of all herbs and all herbal medicines to the big pharmaceutical companies. There seems to be a concerted effort by the industry to influence opinion against herbal medicine.” Becs Griffiths, of the Rhizome Community Herbal Clinic, agrees: “It’s defaming herbal medicine. They’re making people feel as if they need to be protected from all of these ‘dangerous plants’!”
happy shoppers
(L-R) Kathryn John, Lucy Barfoot & Lucy Duggan
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omething special is going on in a shopping centre in Bristol. Take an escalator to the first floor of The Galleries and you’ll find Lightbox: The Happiness Project, which offers free creative workshops to promote positive thinking and resilience. Lucy Duggan and Lucy Barfoot, both artists and brought together by a love of To-Do lists, initiated the whole thing. “We’re both determinedly happy people,”’ Lucy D told me. “And we’d both seen for ourselves how having gratitude and achieving goals can contribute to happiness. Then we discovered that this has been studied by psychologists and there is evidence to back it up.” “As humans every one of us is creative,” Lucy said “but for many there are few outlets and little time. Creative energy is stagnating in a lot of people: it should be flowing but it’s stuck.” Lightbox’s free two-hour workshops are open to anybody and use themes to unlock participants’ creativity, thus improving feelings of well-being. They’re also about confidence-building; finding the power to change and tackling isolation; and ‘the key is being around other happy people – it’s a universal goal – everyone wants to be happy
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Lightbox, first floor of The Galleries (opposite Boots, next to WH Smiths), Bristol. www.wearelightbox.co.uk
age old healing
Becs agrees: “It’s not affecting me on a dayto-day basis, although it does mean that I can’t buy prepared tablets. But it affects me in a much broader context: as a professional herbalist the first thing for me to do is to teach people how to treat themselves. Not being able to buy herbal medicines from a health shop is going to severely limit that. But Herbal Medicine will survive: people will find ways of using plant medicine, just like they have done for thousands of years.” The Natural Health Clinic, 39 Cotham Hill, Bristol tel 0117 974 1199 www.thenaturalhealthclinic.com, The Rhizome Community Herbal Clinic, St Werburghs Community Centre, Horley Rd, Bristol tel 0741 239 9154 www.rhizomeclinic.org.uk Urban Fringe Dispensary, 58 Colston St, Bristol tel 0117 927 6527 www.urbanfringe.org,
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Beccy Golding on free creative workshops and strong.” Every workshop begins with a group discussion followed by a creative activity. At the end there are recommendations to take back into everyday life. For example the Gratitude workshop uses book-binding and decorating to create a journal to take away. You write down things for which you are grateful every day for two weeks; acknowledging and recognising the good things in your life. Then fortnightly catch-ups enable people to explore the impact this has on mood and outlook. Other themes include Humour & Playfulness (dismantling and reconstructing toys), Vitality (papier mache piñatas), Nurture and Kindness (mosaic-making and seed-planting). There are also new 10-week courses staring in January 2012 specifically for young people with mental health issues or women at risk of offending. The project has a strong team of volunteers; in fact the third member of staff, Kathryn John, was originally one herself. They assist with drop-ins, help with workshops and form a participant steering group. However none of the three staff are actually paid; they are all working other jobs and doing Lightbox in their ‘spare’ time. Right now they’re fund-raising for salaries so they can give it the dedicated time it deserves. “We’re running on this great tide of enthusiasm, but it needs to become sustainable,” said Lucy. The Lightbox model: creative well-being opportunities right in the High Street – free and easily accessible to everyone – is one that deserves to be replicated across Sparkland and beyond, so go visit them (book beforehand to be sure of a place), unleash your creativity, become a volunteer or even make a donation!
As Max says: “The important point, and the one that most people are missing, is the difference between Herbal Medicine and herbal medicines. Herbal Medicine is a holistic health practice and an alternative view of healthcare to the conventional one. What the legislation is attempting to do is to stamp that out completely, and say that there is only one form of health care: evidence-based, allopathic medicine. It takes healthcare, and healthcare choice, away from individuals: we will all become passive bystanders in our own healthcare. Our customers are quite angry about this; they see it as symptomatic of what’s going on in society at large. We’re being straitjacketed: power is being devolved into fewer and fewer hands.”
Pagan winter
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talked to Mark from Bristol Open Circle Moot about how Pagans celebrate through the winter months. “The winter Solstice (Midwinter/ Yule) is important,” says Mark. “The Sun/light is reborn within the dark womb of winter. It’s a time of letting go of the old and welcoming in the new: a time to reflect, relax and celebrate with family and friends.” The winter Solstice is a time of rebirth, and traditionally evergreens were brought into the house to represent everlasting life. To celebrate at home, Mark suggests creating a Solstice altar with family and friends. “Decorate your house with evergreens and greenery. Light candles and, if possible, have a bonfire. Spend the evening with family and friends, sipping hot, spicy drinks. Give eco-friendly gifts, plants or products made from recycled materials.” The traditional Wassail on 12th night is another lovely way to celebrate in community. “We awake the cider apple trees with singing and drinking to their health, and scare away evil spirits to ensure a good harvest,” says Mark. “Imbolc, celebrated on February 1-2, is also important. The Earth energy is awakening as we see the natural world coming into life again…” Bristol Open Circle Moot meets every Tuesday, 8.30pm, King William pub, King Street, Bristol www.bristolopencirclemoot.org.uk For other Moots (Pagan meetings) in Sparkland visit http://pfwessex.org/moots.php
Wellspring Healthy Living Centre in Barton Hill, Bristol, offers low cost therapies to those on low incomes Mon-Fri. This is funded by full-price therapies given at the Wellspring ‘Oasis’ clinic on Sat/Sun. Get a weekend treatment there and double your feeling of well-being! Wellspring are also looking for therapists to join their team. www.wellspringhlc.org/oasis
The College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) will be putting up the cost of their diploma training courses in 2012. Enrol and pay before January to avoid the increase. www.naturopathy-uk.com
Arcania in Bath has recently moved: you can now find this treasure trove right behind Bath Abbey, at 6-7 Orange Grove BA1 1LP. Set up as an esoteric bookshop in 1985, Arcania offers natural beauty products, jewellery, textiles, books & CDs and is a herbal apothecary. They also offer massage, holistic treatments and online shopping. www.arcaniabath.com
The Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) is now offering its courses in Bristol – there’s an Open Day on Saturday February 4. www.ion.ac.uk
The Wells-based Nutritional Healing Foundation is also now offering its courses in Bristol. Run by Frances Hopcraft, the Certificate in Nutritional Healing 8-week course begins Thursday January 12. http://nutritionroots.org.uk
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