A Changing Horizon

The world of plants is a diverse one. Some are valuable because of their beauty, some because of their taste or medicinal properties. Still others are important in a simply ecological sense, as a part of the world's ecosystems.

Some of the herbs that are off-limits to home herbalists are very powerful. Foxglove, for example, is poisonous, but is also the source for digitalis, a heart medication. Likewise, this week's herb, tobacco, is not one that you'd want to stock. Nevertheless, it has had an important place in the medical world.

This week's article also reminds us that an herb is not necessarily useful, or a must-have, just because it is 'good for' something. Many other factors, including practicality, side effects, availability, and ease of preperation, must be considered. At times, these values are reduced to insignificance by pharmaceutical companies, who extract the meaningful compounds from natural materials.

Whether or not this practice is an inherently good one is up for grabs. Many home herbalists believe that fresh, whole herbs are safer and more effective. Some still prefer a store-bought pill or tea. Whatever your preference, you will, at some point, use fresh herbs, and, at another, a prepared medicine. Enlighten yourself about these medicines, and marvel at the familiar plant names that arise. Watch, also, the trends that bring herbs into and out of the newspapers and doctors' offices.

The herbal horizon is, indeed, changing all around us.