The Herb Room of the Aboca Museum, Sansepolcro
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When we think of medicinal herbs our mind’s eye immediately
goes to chamomile, rosemary and lavender and we are not aware of our own hidden
northern European heritage. These plants are part of our hidden heritage and
they have a useful place in prosperity for our future.
Spices and herbs on display
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I am exploring liaison with Mediterranean herb growers, and
developing links with potential Irish farmers. It would be such a pleasure to
travel rural Ireland and see fields of mallow and St John’s Wort and to see the
hedgerows harvested and valued. This would play a part in biodiversity, rural
sustainability and development and make connections between our love of the
land and the bounty of crops to harvest. This industry will see us well into
the future as part of agribusiness that does not depend on artificial
fertilisers or herbicides because the plants are naturalised and many thrive on
marginalised land. Plants often produce medicinal constituents as a result of
adaptation to marginal soil conditions.
Looking to the future I hope that establishing an industry
in herbal medicines will support education in herbal medicines. From an
education centre for schools, to a blended learning (on-line and direct
clinical training) course; from certificate level, to University degree level
courses in clinical herbal medicine. Robust clinical training is key to the
future of Herbal Medicine Physician training.
This is of key importance for herbal medicine practitioners
because they diagnose illness and prescribe medicines.
This is a new departure and a new vision for the next ten
years. It will be achieved with allies along the journey, agus le cúnamh Dé (and
with the help of the Gods-and Goddess's of course).
I do not know where this journey will lead, who I will meet
and how the future will come to meet me. It feels like a big task but one that
will present with one or two projects to follow at a time. I will keep you
posted.
Dr Dílis Clare
Watch this video of Aboca Herbs, Italy for awesome
inspiration.