We herbalists often come in for attack by people that have not seen our work first hand. The accusations is that our medicines offer no more than a 'placebo' effect. By this they mean that our medicines only work because the patient believes in them, and that they would receive the same benefit even if the medicine contained only sugar water! A similar accusation is that any apparent benefit is due to the time and sympathy we give during the consultation, not to the herbs employed.

The case below is an excellent example of the weakness of the placebo accusation, and shows that it cannot be the explanation.

A mother contacted me as her five month old baby had recently developed eczema out of the blue. He is soley on breast milk and has just started teething. His mother eats well and neither parent is atopic (prone to eczema, hayfever or asthma). Furthermore, the baby had not been vaccinated (which can cause/coincide with the advent of eczema).

I gave her three pots of cream (Chickweed, Comfrey and Chamomile), and asked her to try each one, because I have found from experience that some eczema cases respond better to one or other of these creams: Chickweed is cooling and softening, Comfrey has skin mending properties and Chamomile is distinctly anti-inflammatory.

The mum reported back today, after a week long trial of the creams. Neither the Comfrey nor the Chamomile made any difference, but the Chickweed resolved the eczema. The inflammation, redness, itchyness, change in skin quality and the dryness have now gone and the baby is back to his happy self. She now has a bigger pot to be used when needed.

So what does this case tell us about the placebo accusation? Firstly, I did not spend more than ten minutes on the case, so it wasn't the 'consultation' effect. Secondly, I had not influenced the mother towards one cream over the other, she saw with her own eyes which one worked. Finally, and most importantly, the patient was a baby, who could not be affected by any of the placebo mechanisms, could he?

The fact is: herbal medicine works in many, many cases. I'm sure I have far more success than any local GP with the kinds of cases I treat. My patients know it. In the meantime I hope I've given you a bit of mental resiliance next time you hear a 'rationalist' dismiss herbal medicine as mere placebo.