FASHION, OVERUSE, AND HABITAT DESTRUCTION:
In the UK, a survey revealed that 25% of people regularly purchase over-the-counter herbal remedies. At present, up to 90% of the plant species collected for medicinal and cosmetic use are taken from the wild. The estimated volume of wild-collected plants in Europe annually is as much as 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes. It is thought that at least 150 European plant species are now at risk from over-collection in the wild. Herbal medicine is now very popular. This is particularly true of over-the-counter herbal remedies. However, the general public is led by the media in their knowledge of herbal remedies, which means only a few herbs are popular at any one time. At the moment, popular over-the-counter herbal remedies include:
Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) for anxiety and nervous disorders.
Echinacea and Goldenseal (Hydrastis spp.), for colds, catarrh and minor infections.
Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) and Panax ginseng for stress and
Ginkgo biloba for circulatory problems and memory.
Some of these well-known plants are now at risk of becoming extinct in the wild.
Many plants are threatened by loss of habitat. For instance, Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), which is used in arthritic conditions, grows in bogland, and is becoming increasingly scarce in Britain.
There are alternatives to all of these plants that are equally effective. For example:
Garlic (Allium sativum) is wonderful at boosting the immune system and warding off infections.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is a well-known, easily cultivated plant that helps with anxiety.
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is far more plentiful than Goldenseal and has very similar properties.
Oats (Avena sativa) and Vervain (Verbena officinalis) are good for stress.
Rosemary (Rosemarinus offinalis) is an excellent circulatory tonic.
IS WILD BETTER?
Wild-harvested medicinal plants such as American Ginseng (Panax quinquifolium) are sold for three times as much as for the cultivated variety. There is no evidence that wild-harvested material is better. It is cheaper because it relies on low paid, seasonal labour and low capital investment. “Wild-harvesting” and “Wild-crafting” are terms used by some manufacturers of herbal remedies to indicate that their remedies are gathered from the wild. There are some companies that do try to ensure that their plants are harvested ethically and sustainably. However, there is no legal definition of the terms, and buying remedies with these labels is no guarantee that they are from sustainable sources. If you buy biodynamically or organically cultivated herbal remedies, they will work as well as wild collected herbs. You will have the added bonus of knowing you are contributing to the protection of the flora of this planet!

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