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Green Pharmacy: The History and Evolution of Western Herbal Medicine
Including the latest developments in the field of herbal medicine, this classic bestseller presents a fascinating account of the ideas, personalities, advances, and vicissitudes that have shaped the course of medicine and pharmacology in the Western world. The author provides an eloquent and engaging account of the use of herbal medicine from prehistoric times to the present, reaffirming the incalculable value of medicinal plants in the healing arts. She presents a strong case for the cyclical emergence of alternative medicine at times (such as our own) when allopathic methods of treatment have lost their safety and efficacy.
448 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 12, 2009
This is such a cool book! If I could give it more stars, I would. It's all about the history of herbal and chemical medicine. You wouldn't think this would be a page turner, but it totally is! It describes the "ground breakers" in each field and why they were so important. I was amazed that the same herbs used today were used way back in history for the exact same ailments! Very cool book.
April 18, 2020
I acquired this book mostly to find out more about herbal vs. regular medicine in the late nineteenth century, and while there is some valuable information, Griggs does what most history writers do--concentrates on the early and mid-19th century and skips over the late period quite quickly.
Still, the book as a whole was fascinating. It's a survey of how natural remedies have been used over the millennia, starting with the Neanderthals, and how practitioners of what we now see as "alternative" medicines have been repeatedly sidelined, attacked, suppressed, jeered at and ignored by the regular medical establishment. And yet they have survived, and even thrived. Griggs covers mostly the UK, USA, and continental Europe (France and Germany in particular) but there are sideshoots discussing the picture in other countries, so it is a pretty comprehensive history.
The most detailed chapters are the last few, covering developments from around the 1970s to 1997, the date of the book's last edition. This book absolutely cries out to be updated to cover the last 25 years, and could almost be split into two books--one on the more distant history, and one on the more recent developments with an expanded discussion of the ecological, political, and commercial problems.
The writing is lively and the whole book is very readable, especially the history chapters. I felt that I learned a lot overall and would recommend this book to anyone trying to reach a better understanding of why today's medical landscape is the way it is.
Still, the book as a whole was fascinating. It's a survey of how natural remedies have been used over the millennia, starting with the Neanderthals, and how practitioners of what we now see as "alternative" medicines have been repeatedly sidelined, attacked, suppressed, jeered at and ignored by the regular medical establishment. And yet they have survived, and even thrived. Griggs covers mostly the UK, USA, and continental Europe (France and Germany in particular) but there are sideshoots discussing the picture in other countries, so it is a pretty comprehensive history.
The most detailed chapters are the last few, covering developments from around the 1970s to 1997, the date of the book's last edition. This book absolutely cries out to be updated to cover the last 25 years, and could almost be split into two books--one on the more distant history, and one on the more recent developments with an expanded discussion of the ecological, political, and commercial problems.
The writing is lively and the whole book is very readable, especially the history chapters. I felt that I learned a lot overall and would recommend this book to anyone trying to reach a better understanding of why today's medical landscape is the way it is.
April 11, 2018
Well researched and engagingly written.
July 10, 2022
One reason your USA health insurance will cover chemotherapy but not herbal remedies, acupuncture or homeopathy (unlike in Germany or the UK) stems from the 1920s Flexner Report. This is, IMO, one of those key moments in history that everyone should know about. I learned about it, and so much more, from this most excellent and fun-to-read book. Highly highly recommended.
July 23, 2020
Recommend if you want a different understanding of how “western” (ah hem, I mean old white guy “we think we know better than you because we are white dudes”) medicine took over in the United States, and shoved out people like herbalists. I’m glad we’re getting back to some of these things, but with climate change, our fascist government and other things it’s a difficult one to grapple with at the moment.
A gripe (not with the book but with history): The American Medical Association only exists because they made an unholy alliance with the new pharmaceutical industry to sell ads in their journal at the time, and then they basically became the only medical society in the US. I had no idea there were others, and this book is a really fascinating read about all of that and more.
A gripe (not with the book but with history): The American Medical Association only exists because they made an unholy alliance with the new pharmaceutical industry to sell ads in their journal at the time, and then they basically became the only medical society in the US. I had no idea there were others, and this book is a really fascinating read about all of that and more.
August 25, 2020
A thoroughly researched and well documented book on the history and evolution of medicine. It's easy to cast a glimpse of shame on those in the past (especially after reading this) but we would do well to not forget about our current barbaric medical practices. I shall not go into details on that topic at the moment. Barbara has done an excellent job at laying down the facts in the most unbiased manner possible (to be 100% free of an unbiased view is to be 100% a liar). All of it is there- the quacks, the legit, the battles, the politics, the authoritarian, all of it. Medicine is a bloody mess. A must read for any medical or herbal student. The bibliography is worth its weight in gold.
February 10, 2023
Early chapters were more compelling than the last 6-7 chapters, which suffered from being written about times too close in the historical mirror to write about with clarity as to the most significant bits. And given since these last chapters are now over 25 years old, I found myself wanting a more recent source to look at things now. Still, a good overview of British and American herbal traditions, with a bit of attention to French and other European practitioners, that drives home both the longevity of herbal traditions and their challenging relationship with allopathic Western medicine and pharmaceutical companies.
August 23, 2020
Some bold faced lies and vague (and biased) references ...but if you don’t take some of the last few chapters seriously, it’s a nice review of the history of herbal medicine
July 9, 2022
Excellent resource.
March 10, 2023
Illuminating, enlightening and engrossing. A great book!
November 7, 2013
Wonderful tale of the roots and politics of herbal medicine over the centuries, replete with wonderfully outspoken characters.
Not that its fiction, this is a really well researched non-fiction history of herbal medicine.
But its gripping all the same.
Not that its fiction, this is a really well researched non-fiction history of herbal medicine.
But its gripping all the same.
January 30, 2008
Loved this book. It gave me a new perspective on natural medicine versus conventional medicine.
January 15, 2011
Should be mandatory reading for any student of herbalism, homeopathy, or natural health.
November 14, 2013
Completely amazing book worthy of a doctoral thesis...she's amazing...amazing.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews