A popular tradition has existed since an immemorial time in the use of medicinal plants in France. During a long time the public was able to address the herbalists who offered advices and plants for their health and healthy lifestyles. During the twenties century the appeal to the pharmaceutical chemistry supplanted these practices. Herbalists have gradually disappeared as a result of the suppression of their degree in 1941.
An increasing number of French, shows a renewal of interest for the use of the medicinal plants today. Their need for plants and quality advice, are still not satisfied because of the specific situation of France in the production and liberation of healing plants, the most restrictive and coercive in Europe
Indeed, while the Belgians herbalists issue freely some 360 medicinal plants, drugists Swiss an equivalent number, French pharmacists have monopoly of the liberation to the public of healing plants (article L-512 of the Public Health Code) while few of them seem to develop the skills required to bring the services and the advice waited on behalf of the public.
Furthermore, the modes of production which are at the source of the pharmaceutical supplies do not still guarantee a good conservation of natural resources. Finally, the quality of plants generally proposed in pharmacies does not seem to match the one expected by a certain number of consumers.
At the same time, the French producers who could ensure a quality of products and the perpetuity of the resource cannot sell to the public that 148 healing plants, without being able to give any therapeutic advice, according to the Decree n°2008-841 of June 22th, 2008.
Professionals specialized in the production and the issuance of the healing plants are thus necessary to redefine the quality and the precautions of employment for plants, as well as their perpetuity. That is what proposes POPULUS, independent collective of citizens and of bodies (experts, users and professionals) by working on the acknowledgement of the traditional medicine by healing plants and on the validation of its usual remedies in France.
If you wish propose a partnership, suggestions, or indicate a dysfunction, you can contact us.
Document PDF
Statement, goals, objectives,
and composition of the team.
Survey POPULUS (also available in french)
Knowledge and practices
about medicinal plants
in France.