Herbal Healing & Witch Hunts: Uncovering Hidden Histories in Medicine
In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Dr. Dilis Clare explores the historical suppression of herbal medicine through the lens of politics, economics, and power. Together with host Caitriona Hegarty, she traces the roots of modern medical systems back to colonial trade routes, pharmaceutical turf wars, and the systematic sidelining of traditional knowledge—especially during the witch hunts of the 14th to 18th centuries.
From opium-laced tinctures to the branding of herbalists as witches, this episode reveals the real reasons herbal medicine was pushed to the margins. Dr. Clare reflects on the cultural erasure of herbal wisdom and asks critical questions about who benefits from the current healthcare hierarchy. She also explores how society’s portrayal of older women has been shaped by centuries of fear, propaganda, and scapegoating.
This episode is a fascinating blend of medical history, cultural commentary, and empowering insights—calling listeners to reconnect with nature, reclaim herbal knowledge, and question the systems that shape our beliefs.
🔍 Topics Covered
- Why herbal medicine disappeared from modern curricula
- The economic & political forces behind herbal suppression
- Witch hunts and the targeting of herbalists & midwives
- The role of opium in early pharmacy & colonial medicine
- Turf wars between herbalism and pharmaceutical industries
- Who benefits from restricting traditional knowledge?
- Cultural myths: the “witch” as scapegoat and social threat
- The connection between rationalism and repression
🌿 Historical Remedies & Themes Mentioned
- Opium (Laudanum, Godfrey’s Cordials, Pectoral Drops)
- Digitalis (Foxglove), Colchicine, Taxol
- Material Medica through the ages
- Herbalists as midwives, caregivers & cultural carriers
- Witchcraft trials: Agnes Simpson, Alice Kyteler, Petronella of Meath
- The concept of “cunning folk” & wise women in folk medicine
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Got questions about herbal medicine or autoimmune conditions? Send them in for our upcoming “Ask Dr. Clare” segment in future episodes!