A History of Healing

In 1724, Robinson Crusoe author Daniel Defoe published his discursive travel memoir, A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain. In it, he made passing reference to Edinburgh’s flourishing Royal Botanic Garden, originating from the small physic garden at Holyrood Palace, Scotland’s first: ‘One is like our apothecaries garden at Chelsea, called a physick garden, and is tolerably well stored with simples [herbs], and some exoticks of value; and, particularly I was told, there was a rhubarb-tree, or plant, which throve very well.’ Rhubarb was highly prized due to its use as a purgative within the prevailing medical system, which used the four humours to balance the body.

Physic gardens are essentially herb gardens containing medicinal plants, and their origins can be traced back to ancient