Medicinal Plant Afternoon: When Britain ruled the waves

The Royal College of Physicians is home to one of London’s hidden botanical treasures: a medicinal garden of more than 50 years standing featuring over 1,300 plants.

Join leading academics and clinicians for the second in a series of summer afternoon lectures and garden tours offering a fascinating insight into the history of horticulture and healthcare.

In ‘Botany and imperialism’ Professor Michael Black of King’s College, London, looks at how the acquisition of plants and their products has been associated with imperial activities at least from Roman times through to the heyday of the British Empire. From the search for spices driving the early imperial explorations of many European powers to the vogue for plant collecting that characterised Britain in the 19th century, Professor Black examines how botany and Empire grew stronger together.

Following tea and a tour of the garden led by Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians, Professor Peter Houghton, also of King’s College, unveils the enticing story of ‘Aphrodisiac plants’. Across cultures and time plant species and extracts obtained from them have gained a reputation for increasing sexual desire, enhancing performance, or both. Whilst the renown of certain species may be explained by dubious theories such as The Doctrine of Signatures, Professor Houghton reveals that modern science is supplying evidence to support the traditional use of certain plants.

Whether your pass time is gardening, your profession medicine, your passion history or a combination of any of the above, a few hours in the splendid surroundings of the Royal College of Physicians’ medicinal garden in the company of our experts makes for the perfect summer afternoon.