David Pirie
The Therapeutic Properties of Calluna vulgaris - A Qualitive Controlled Goethean Trial
Abstract
The object of the project was to assess the evidence for the therapeutic properties of Calluna vulgaris using the holistic Goethean Science methodological approach to conduct a qualitative Goethean Science based trial.
Calluna vulgaris was chosen as a Scottish indigenous herb little used in the modern herbal clinic. 20 volunteer herbal students performed a blind tasting of Calluna vulgaris tincture and recorded their impressions on a questionnaire. The results were then compared to existing medicinal uses of Calluna vulgaris.
From the literature search the main therapeutic actions of heather were as a relaxing nervine and a urinary diuretic antiseptic. The results of the trial overwhelmingly confirmed the relaxing properties with 94% of volunteers registering this response. On the other hand there was no evidence at all to substantiate the diuretic action as not one single volunteer recorded this.
The study group, who on average recorded a strong astringent sensation, confirmed the old usage of Calluna vulgaris as a tanning agent for leather, and its modern day claim as a medical astringent. This may form the basis for further investigation.
