Of Herbs, and Science, and the Space-Time Continuum

There is no simple explanation for the measurable and demonstrable fact that space and time are the same thing; either you take enough science classes in college to finally stumble across the one teacher who can explain this to you sufficiently well for you to understand it… or you’ll never understand it.

This bizarre factoid crystallized for Myrtle Maintenance Personnel when space and time were graphically compared to electricity and magnetism  -- viewed on one three-dimensional wafer, a particular wave is electric, on a perpendicular wafer it is magnetic -- but we have tried this same reference point in explaining space-time to other people with no success.

Everyone, it seems, is hardwired to handle universal truths in different ways.  The world can be divided into two categories:   those who are comfortable with this reality – that “how things really are” looks different to everyone – and those who are incapable of emotionally inculcating this wild uncertainty into their points of view.  Whole religious paradigms are built on this difference.

We are not going to discuss theology here, however.  We are going to discuss herbology, a field of inquiry in which seemingly all sides have been eager to sow the seeds of confusion. 

The medicinal value of certain plants in treating certain diseases and conditions is unquestionable, or at least, should be.  The only real question medical science can have regarding the use of herbal medicines relates to specific species and their application for specific uses; the quantitative and qualitative questions related to hypothesizing about, testing for, measuring and evaluating the effect of, etc., as pertains to particular plants and natural substances used in particular circumstances.

In other words, does naturally occurring substance ‘A’ (vitamin C in citrus fruits, for example) have any effect on pathogen ‘B’ (say, a particular influenza virus) when introduced to mammalian host ‘C’ (let’s call him “Fred” for convenience and personability)?  And if so, how large an effect at what levels, and what consequent side effects may be observed?

For those who really want to get into the scientific nitty-gritty, of course, there are millions and millions of variables and questions to be posited in any such study, and the general public will quickly grow tired and bored reading about them.  We recently saw a study regarding the effect of phytoestrogens in Pomegranate pulp on the rotavirus – at least, that’s what we think it was about.  Translating from the very precise language of the study was a large task in and of itself.  We will, however, be using our pomegranate leftovers in our compost and perhaps even in our pond in an effort to mitigate naturally occurring breeding grounds for this ever present noxious microbe.

Which brings us to the flip side of the equation – for those who wish to be more practical and less pie-in-the-sky “pure science” oriented, the possibility of endlessly studying the effectiveness of substances found in nature is not exciting; actually using substances found in nature is what it’s all about.

This tension reflects a very real problem of the ethics of natural medicine:  “natural” remedies are big business, and the promise held out by homeopathic cures appeals to the common sense sensibility of people burned out on the pathologically technophilic 21st century research machine which, after all, is responsible for horrors like Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Agent Orange, Chernobyl and BP Deepwater Horizon alongside of accomplishments like polio vaccine, test-tube babies, iPods and blue ketchup.  People are naturally skeptical about promises held out by scientists who have too often sold out for profit, but this has left them vulnerable to pseudo-scientists who didn’t just sell out, they were charlatan wolves in tie-dyed sheep’s clothing to start with.

It is some comfort that herbal medicines have labels reading some variation of “Claims made by this product have not been evaluated by the FDA, the USDA, or, in fact, anyone with a 9th grade science education” but it doesn’t solve the fundamental problem, which is that some of the claims made by herbal medicines are true and valid, and some are not, and Jane and John Consumer don’t have a reliable tool for determining which are which. 

It doesn’t help that Big Pharma, which stands to lose a considerable chunk of its profit margin if people start growing their own medicine in their own yards, has helped write and enforce most of the regulations affecting this particular niche market.

Nor does it help that medicinal herbs for which there are thousands of years of historical anecdotes providing clues for investigators end up on the invasive weeds database.  One of the most popular diagnoses of the last ten years is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).  Another is Metabolic Disorder.  And the same medicine is typically prescribed for each – Metformin.  The chief active ingredient in Metformin is galegine, a functional cognate of guanidine, which happens to be naturally occurring in an “invasive weed” called Goat’s Rue.  Midwives have used this medication dating back to Roman times to encourage lactation in new mothers.  Its very name comes from the fact that this Rue, when fed to goats, causes them to produce more milk.  But, the U.S. Forestry Service wants you to eradicate this plant when you see it.

It would appear to us, based on the long history of anecdotal evidence supporting the use of this herb for a wide variety of conditions related to endocrine system abnormalities and malfunctions, that it would be a very good thing for a medical school with a strong specialization in endocrine systems to study the effectiveness of home-remedies created with organically produced Goat’s Rue.  But who’s going to pay for that study?  The makers of Metformin?  Not likely.  We are planting large stands of Goat’s Rue this fall; we’ll let you know what we discover, though we are not equipped to give you any kind of titration charts or other specific data.  Barring an unexpected visit from the National Science Foundation for a grant we haven’t applied for, you’ll have to settle for anecdotal evidence.

There are other plants going in at Myrtle’s place this fall for similar reasons.  With children running about the place, we would be irresponsible not to have a large bed of Aloe Vera for sunburns and wasp stings.  Garlic and Leeks have long been known to be powerful anti-viral agents.  Red Clover and Goldenseal have, among other uses, cancer-fighting properties which hold promise.  Goldenseal can be used as an infection-fighter; it also makes a good companion planting for Raspberry, whose leaves are another favorite among midwives and nature-oriented gynecologists. 

And all of these plants are attractive groundcover for hardwood forests; since grass wouldn’t grow under our oaks even if we wanted it to – and we really don’t want it to – we have been looking for just the right things to grow on the shady side of our house. 

We aren’t alone; the economics of home-grown herbs are getting more favorable by the day.  From The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Plant Guide for Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.):

“Previously available only in specialty health and natural foods stores, goldenseal and other medicinal herbs became part of the general marketplace during the 1990s, and since then the demand has been increasing dramatically. Between 1991 and 1996, the wholesale value of goldenseal in the U.S. increased by as much as 600%. Since 1994 goldenseal has been one of the top six best-selling medicinal herbs in the U.S., and remains so today. Between 1995 and 1997, the medicinal plant market as a whole, as well as demand for goldenseal, experienced in excess of a 30% growth rate. Goldenseal is also available in numerous drug products and in a wide array of herbal products on international markets, e.g., in France, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, and other European countries. Since demand has increased greatly, and supplies have declined, the price of goldenseal has increased dramatically. In the early 1990s, the price of goldenseal ranged from $18 to $24 per kg. In 1999, the price ranged from $66 to $110 per kg. In 2000, the price of goldenseal was over $110 per kg, with some companies charging over $220 per kg. The current goldenseal shortage and the large increase in its demand appear to highlight the need for cultivated supplies to satisfy a growing domestic and international market.”

What little science there is on the subject also suggests that we are probably on the right track.  If you have an interest in natural remedies, the solution is not to buy more packaged products; the solution is to grow your own natural remedies, or if that is not possible, buy directly from someone who grows the herbs you need.

In fact, the biggest complaint regulators make about the natural remedy market is that there are no quality controls regarding the manufacture of homeopathic remedies, and to us at Myrtle’s place this sounds like a legitimate complaint – if you buy capsules purporting to contain red raspberry leaf extract, shouldn’t those capsules contain red raspberry leaf extract?  Since there is no way to guarantee they do, wouldn’t it be better to simply grow red raspberries, and make your own infused red raspberry leaf tea?  In addition to being fresher, which is usually better, it would actually be what it says it is.

And whether you’re talking about herbs or about the space-time continuum, things actually being what you think they are can only come as a relief.

Happy farming!