A joint initiative between the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain's Museum and four other medical museums in London will explore the history of medicinal plants as part of the national Museums and Galleries Month (MGM) 2006.

In the spirit of this year's MGM theme, 'Making Connections', the Society is working with the Royal College of Physicians of London Heritage Centre, the Museum of the Order of St John, the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret, and Chelsea Physic Garden to delve into the history of medicinal plants.

The five organisations are working in partnership to promote each other's exhibitions, collections and events taking place during May, under the title London's Healing Herbs.

During May, a display of medicinal plants used through the ages will go display at the Society's headquarters. These will include:

-- fennel for Anglo-Saxon eye complaints
-- butcher's broom for medieval asthma
-- paeony for seventeenth century asthma
-- cinchona bark for eighteenth century malaria
-- bryony for nineteenth century whooping cough
-- digoxin from foxgloves for twenty-first century heart problems.
…and much more

Briony Hudson, Keeper of the Society's Museum Collections, said: "Museums and Galleries month is about collaboration and promoting the important work of museums and galleries. Working in partnership with other museums that have similar collections to ours is an effective way to raise our profile amongst potential visitors."

The Royal College of Physician of London Heritage Centre's exhibition looks at the healing power of plants; the Museum of the Order of St John explores the herbs associated with the festival of St John; the Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garret are leading a guided walk;while the Chelsea Physic Garden, London's oldest botanic garden contains 330 years of botanical and medical history.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain