Where Can I Get Some? Last edited: 09 04 2011 07:50

The supply of herbal medicines

in the UK is undergoing a considerable change as a result of a recent European Union directive. It is now no longer possible to buy herbal preparation over the counter unless they have been granted a product license by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Regulation Audacity). Buying single herbs is still possible, of course, although it seems likely that some of these will be removed from the shelves under the guise of public safety, but really because the people at the MHRA will need something else to occupy themselves following the implementation of the directive.

Having said that, if you live in the Bristol area my dispensary, Urban Fringe is striving to make sure herbs and prepared medicines are still available. Elsewhere you can get a list of practising herbalists from the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy. Local herbalist will either be able to supply you themselves, or will be able to recommend someone locally.

Of course, you can always try growing some useful herbs yourself, or find places in the wild where you can sustainably harvest them. To learn more about how to identify herbs, and their uses you could do worse than sign up for the urban fringe newsletter below, which will let you know where and when herb walks and other teaching events are taking place.