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Discover Neighbouring Royal College Of Physician’s Medicinal Garden

Just around the corner from Regent’s Place and opposite Regent’s Park, lies Knowledge Quarter partner The Royal College of Physicians. The college is the oldest and most prestigious English medical foundation which has led the highest standards of medical practice for the last 500 years.

It’s not known to many, but within their grounds lies a medicinal garden which contains over 1,100 plant species with links to the history of medicine.  Included in the greenery list is a descendant of the tree under which Hippocrates taught medical students 2,400 years ago!

They also have a large collection of fruit plants. Below is a list of just some of the fruit trees grown within the garden and their medicinal benefits. Click on each of the following fruit plants to learn more: 

• Malus Domestica (apple) – Apples are known to have cooling attributes and can be used to reduce hot swellings
• Ficus Carica (fig) – Dry figs help coughs and are often used as a natural treatment of constipation
• Punica Granatum (pomegranate) – Pomegranates have powerful antioxidants which help to remove free radicals, protect cells from damage (which can cause cancer) and reduce inflamation
• Vitis Vinifera (grape) – The nutrients in grapes may help protect against cancer, eye problems, cardiovascular disease, and other health conditions.
• Citrus Aurantium (grapefruit) – Grapefruits have been found to successfully prevent kidney stones, fight gum disease and strengthen immune systems thanks to it’s high concentrate of vitamins
• Citrus Medica (etrog) – The Etrog fruit produces Citron Oil which has been found to increase the secretion of insulin by the pancreas, meaning there is a possibility that the fruit will one day be able to help fight diabetes. This strange fruit also reduces cramps, inflammation and can be used as an anti-bacterial agent
• Citrus Limon (lemon) – Lemons are known to treat digestion as well as fevers, as they increase the rate of perspiration helping someone to fight a cold or the flu. Fresh lemon juice can also be used to stem the pain felt from tooth ache.
• Citrus Latifolia (lime) – The lime is a great source of vitamin C, has been used as a treatment of the disease scurvy and helps to rejuvenate skin. 
• Citrus Sinensis (orange) – One orange provides a staggering 130% of your vitamin C needs for the day which can help reduce the likely hood of suffering a stroke, particularly in women. 

Discover more about oranges and lemons the podcasts below which were produced by Professor Anthony Dayan on behalf of RCP’s Dr Henry Oakley:

https://soundcloud.com/rcp-garden/oranges-and-lemons-part-1

https://soundcloud.com/rcp-garden/oranges-and-lemons-part-2

The garden has been beautifully designed and is a wonderfully calm space in the centre of London. The real joy of the garden is in its unique and bespoke collections of plants, which offer living examples of the history of medicine from the era of the pyramids of Egypt to today’s life-saving prescription drugs.

As the weather has finally begun to warm, why not spend your lunch break on a tour of the garden? The Royal College of Physicians hold free tours on the first Wednesday of each month from 2pm from March through to October and if there’s a bigger group, their events manager is happy to take special bookings. The garden is open to memebers of the public during normal office hours also, RCP simply requirest that you visit the main reception at the front of the building to obtain a visitors pass before entering the garden. For more information and how to book, click here. 

Last updated Friday 6 April, 2018