Herbs and Technology — contradiction or healthy tension?
Combining the two words “herbs and technology“ creates a tension that jumpstarts my critical mind. But then, on second thought, what is there really to question? And why? Both terms are so broad, there surely should be plenty of possible connections between them, shouldn’t there? A lot of work has been done to examine the commonalities and opportunities between herbs and technology. Here, however, I would like to take a step back and focus on that tension I felt initially.
This tension for me originates in the opposition between nature and artificiality. The living thing as opposed to the science of creating complex, goal-driven tools.
If one takes a closer look, there is actually not all that much of a tension between these two per se. In order to be able to use a herb as a herb, we always have to make use of technology, transforming the chosen plant into a food or a drug. Here, technology enables us to employ the plant by ingesting it, inhaling it, or applying it on our exterior surfaces. In short: the use of technology of some sort is required as soon as we go beyond the simple admiration or observation of plants. Pharmaceutical science and technology have developed to an extent that we can now hardly recognize the herbal origin of pharmaceutical products anymore. And yet, both pharmaceutical science and technology (initially) copied nature and later on transformed nature’s products and invented new ones, merely carrying the unnamed inspiration of the herbs at their origin.
Data Technologies and their flaw
However, what we are discussing now when we talk about herbs and technology does not begin or end with the processing of herbs. It includes new generations of technology, namely digital, even quantum communication technology and artificial intelligence (I still prefer the term artificial memory) resulting from the immense increase in the amount of data accumulated and the speed at which data is processed. Big data technology contains so much information and transfers data so fast, that systems using it appear to be intelligent. They eliminate waiting times and times of uncertainty; in this way, they promote the illusion of perfection and blurr our awareness of the magnitude of the unknown.
They are very efficiently helping us to accelerate the gathering and the exchange of information, helping us to observe large groups and systems, enabling us to externalize memory. However, their drawback is the very characteristic that is seen by some as one of their major achievements: the fact that they decrease our awareness of ourselves as unique, imperfect individuals, living through the mystery of our own cycle of life on earth among billions of other such individuals. Due to pace, size and elimination of uncertainties, big data technologies make us believe that we know it all.
Natural Healing
When talking about herbs on the other hand, we are in the domain of natural healing, which, in my opinion, always has to be understood holistically. Regarding body, mind and spirit as intricately connected and interacting, as an organism longing to be well as a whole. Remedies made from herbs (processed with low-tech) can carry not only the herbs’ healing ingredients but their healing example, if regarded in their quality as plants giving life and health to us humans. Their use includes the experience of us becoming aware of ourselves as a whole by realizing the connection of mind/spirit to the body and of learning to heal ourselves. Now I would like to connect these characteristics of herbal healing back to herbs and technology.
Tension is the source of creative dynamics
Herbs form to a very large extent the basis for all our drugs and, as plants, are the basis of human life. Their healing potential, as described above, goes beyond their ingredients. First, if given the opportunity, we might open up to the message the herb gives us through its very existence: as a living organism, complex by nature, imperfect, perishable — it is part of the basis of our existence and supports our health and well-being. Second, becoming aware of ourselves as a whole includes facing our imperfections, limitations and learning to heal ourselves includes learning to embrace ourselves with compassion, love and forgiveness.
If by using the possibilities of big data technologies, we could help bring more awareness to people about the use of herbs for human health and wellbeing as well as about the importance and relevance of plant-based foods and drugs for all human life, inspiring direct action, that would be an enormous achievement.
Outlook
Now, how can we combine all of the above thoughts in a sustainable way? What about the possibilities of virtually putting us right out there into nature or into a field of herbs respectively, even meeting people way out there when we use, say, a herbal remedy? Could we transport that experience without losing touch with our limitations? Can we combine the advantages of herbs and technology and turn them into a creative dynamic? Yes, it is certainly possible, if done correctly. But as showcased above, there are great risks, too. Ricolab works at this exact intersection, which is also why they are organizing a learning event on herbal healing in the digital age (see more info below).
This intersection remains an interesting field to work in. What about using big data possibilities for a better understanding of the needs of medicinal or food herbs to grow well? Could we enhance our knowledge while accepting the fact that we will never completely understand living organisms and systems (biotope), thereby avoiding so many grave mistakes that come from overrating human understanding? An example of this is how agrochemicals targeting insects can also indirectly negatively affect human health or genetic engineering. It creates the short-term illusion of resistance of a plant to agrochemicals as well as to pests, but at the same time has negative effects on soil health and the economic viability of farming and farmers’ economic survival.
These are some thoughts that could be at the basis of our work and discussions during the learning event and I very much look forward to learning with all the other participants — as long as we can acknowledge the limits of human and technological solutions.
Nina Zhao-Seiler was born in 1965. She got her TCM education during six years in Europe and the US followed by three years of internship and continuing education at the TCM University Teaching Hospital and associated clinics in Chengdu, China. She lives in Zurich, Switzerland with her family where she has been running her own TCM practice since 1998.
Since 2002, Nina leads regular TCM herb study trips to China, where she takes participants to identify herbs in the wild, visit herb cultivation areas as well as processing facilities. She initiated the first garden for chinese medicinal plants in Switzerland which opened in August 2016.
Nina has a BA in Chinese studies and history from University of Zurich and has taken the newly established Swiss national exam for naturopaths with a specialization in TCM. She is also a practitioner and teacher of Chen style Taijiquan.
Nina wrote this article for Ricolab, the independent, radical innovation lab of Swiss SME Ricola. Ricolab works at the intersection of Herbs & Technology, prototyping new businesses that combine traditional knowledge and innovative technology with a focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This article is one of a number of diverse views that we will be discussing at our upcoming workshop on Herbal Healing in the Digital Age. With this workshop we want to create and share knowledge on how herbal medicine and technology can be combined for the greater good.
