Herbs & Heresy: The Untold History of Witch Hunts, Healing, and Control

Introduction

Throughout history, the line between science and superstition has been razor-thin. What one generation views as knowledge, the next may condemn as dangerous, even heretical. Nowhere is this more evident than in the witch hunts of the past—a period that saw healers, midwives, and herbalists persecuted not just for what they practised, but for what they represented: an alternative way of understanding the world.

This book does not claim to have all the answers. Instead, it explores the history, evidence, and power dynamics that shaped medicine’s evolution. By presenting trial records, historical texts, and modern parallels, my intent is not to push an agenda but to offer a perspective that allows you to form your own conclusions.

My interest in herbs, natural healing, and holistic knowledge inspired this journey. The more I explored the history of medicine, the more I saw the fingerprints of the past still lingering today. Many of the treatments that were once condemned as “witchcraft”—the use of plants for pain relief, herbal remedies for common ailments—have since been validated by science, yet remain overshadowed by the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory barriers.

This book examines how medicine moved from the hands of the people into the control of institutions, and how this shift continues to shape our understanding of healing. Were the witch hunts really just about fear, or were they also about consolidating authority? How much knowledge was lost in the process? And most importantly, what can we learn from this history?

I invite you to read, question, and decide for yourself. The past is not as distant as it seems, and the way we think about medicine today may be rooted in choices made centuries ago. By revisiting this history, perhaps we can reclaim some of what was lost and create a more balanced approach to healing—one that respects both scientific progress and the wisdom of tradition.

Let’s begin. (Download on Kindle)

Chapter 1: The Rise of Witch Hunts

A Climate of Fear and Control

Throughout history, societies have looked for scapegoats during times of crisis. In medieval and early modern Europe, that scapegoat was often the so-called “witch.” But the witch hunts weren’t just about fear of the supernatural—they were also about power, control, and the enforcement of societal norms.

During this period, witchcraft was legally defined as heresy and rebellion against divine authority. It was not merely seen as a mystical practice but as a dangerous, subversive act that could threaten the very foundations of religious and political institutions. The infamous Malleus Maleficarum (1487) played a major role in shaping public opinion, fueling paranoia by portraying witches as agents of the devil who sought to corrupt society.

Witch hunts swept through Europe and beyond, with infamous cases like the Witchcraft Act of 1563 in England, the North Berwick Witch Trials (1590–1592) in Scotland, and the notorious Salem Witch Trials (1692) in colonial America. These events were not random; they often coincided with periods of war, famine, economic strain, and religious conflict. When societies were unstable, people sought explanations—and all too often, those explanations involved blaming vulnerable individuals.

The persecution of witches wasn’t just about supernatural fears; it was also about undermining traditional knowledge systems. Many of those accused were herbalists….

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