Guest guest Posted April 24, 2006 Report Posted April 24, 2006 Dear All, 's email is of course a reminder as to why a knowlege of history is necessary - the meaning of words change, are different in different contexts. Not only 'specific' but also herbal actions (diuretic as a inclreasing elimination of urine, as in the biomedical context, or as an agent that affects the quantity OR constituents of the urine, as in the herbals) but also words referring to plant preparations. Reminds me of doing some research years ago on the history of weights and measures. There were dates (can't remember now, think it was a series of Acts of Parliament) when weights and measures became standard. Before that they weren't.Which of course effects information handed down in herbals about appropriate quantities... And of course the British government is to thank for Mrs Grieve - she wrote the book based on leaflets she had got together to educate herb growers and collectors when the WW1 caused a shortage of imported herbs. The govt employed her to get the information together, and it was eventully published as her book. See (1991) Lilies of the Hearth: the historical relationship between women and plants. East Camden, Ontario: Camden House. Similar collection of herbs in the UK also occurred during WW2. Appropriate thoughts on this Anzac Day, a national holiday in Oz, remembering the disaster involving the death of so many Australian and New Zealand troops in Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915. (lots of Turks also killed) Today is our day of the dead. sue Sue Course Coordinator, BNat Lecturer in Herbal Medicine Department of Natural and Complementary Medicine Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW Quote
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