A FESTIVAL EVENT AT THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF EDINBURGH, 9 QUEEN STREET, EDINBURGH
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) is presenting its sixth annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe show next week [18 – 22 August] with a new event linking botany and medicine in Edinburgh.
The RCPE’s Sibbald Library Productions will dip into the College’s wonderful collections to learn about doctors growing medicinal plants in dangerous times, pioneering women botanists, and what not to eat.
Using the College’s beautiful books, the event will tell the turbulent life story of the College’s botanist founder, recount Edinburgh’s part in a Georgian rhubarb craze, and warn of the more recent dangers of drinking belladonna laced gin and tonic.
Iain Milne, Head of Heritage at the RCPE, said:
“We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the College to learn more about the use of plants in medicine.
“Visitors will be able to view books and visit the College’s Sibbald Physic Garden, which contains plants used by the early herbalists from the 16th century to the present day.
“From lettuce to rhubarb, the use of plants for medicinal purposes has been fascinating yet, used incorrectly, can prove deadly.
“Foxglove has historically been used to treat heart conditions, but excessive ingestion can be fatal. Similarly, Nightshade berry juice was used by women in the 16th Century to make themselves more attractive, yet a single berry could be fatal to a child.
“Our event will look at a variety of plants - and poisons - and people who have used them over the years.”
ENDS
Contact: Lisa Rooke, RCPE - 0131 247 3688 / 07717 895628 / l.rooke@rcpe.ac.uk
Notes to Editors
