April 25, 2010
BBC2 8:00pm-8:30pm Tue 27 April
James Wong demonstrates the medicinal properties of wild plants.
He uses seaweed from Northern Ireland to create a luxurious body scrub, and turns elderberries into an anti-viral jam. Plus, he reveals how to create a mini flower meadow, and provides handy tips on avoiding the perils of practising homeopathic medicine.
Last in the series
April 19, 2010
BBC2 8:00pm-8:30pm Tue 20 April
Ethnobotanist James Wong explores the medicinal properties of shrubs and trees, demonstrating how to transform witch hazel into a cooling gel to combat shaving rashes. He also prepares a fragrant eucalyptus rub for treating sinusitis, makes a skin balm for cuts and wounds using St John’s Wort, and creates a pain-relieving frozen granita out of willow bark
Category General Education/Science/Factual Topics
Executive Producer Dan Adamson
Series Producer Lucy Hooper
BBC2 London 8:00pm-8:30pm (30 minutes) Tue 20 Apr
April 8, 2010
BBC2 8:00pm-8:30pm Tue 13 April
Ethnobotanist James Wong believes plants have more uses than just brightening up a flower border. They contain beneficial properties that could help ease the symptoms of minor everyday health complaints.
James focuses on petals, turning chamomile into a luxurious bath milk and honeysuckle and jasmine into soothing jellies for sore throats. Members of the public are impressed by his ear drops made from mullein flowers, while James puts his money where his mouth is and bravely tries out his own rose petal leg waxing treatment. He shows us how to make a chamomile seat and sniffs out the most fragrant rose varieties.
His recipes are simple to follow and cheap to make, and might just soothe your symptoms if you’re in need of help.
March 30, 2010
BBC2 8:00pm-8:30pm Tue 6 April
Ethnobotanist James Wong investigates plant based medicine.
Although his natural remedies for everyday minor ailments frequently use plants that we would consider to be exotic, many of these will grow really well in our own back gardens.
James shows us how to use lemongrass in an insect repellent spray, transform olive leaves into a pampering face mask, make a soothing burns treatment from aloe vera and chamomile and, perhaps most surprisingly of all, reveals that, not only can you grow tea bushes in this country, you can also turn them into a zingy mouthwash to help fight plaque and freshen breath.
Members of the public, in need of help, give his remedies and beauty treatments a go.
March 25, 2010
BBC2 8:00pm-8:30pm Tue 30 Mar
Ethnobotanist James Wong prepares a variety of edible plant-based remedies, demonstrating how turmeric can be used to ease muscular aches, and inviting two volunteers to discover how a pungent onion gargle can solve the problem of their recurring sore throats. He also creates a vitamin-packed watercress soup for people suffering from anaemia
Executive Producer Dan Adamson
Series Producer Lucy Hooper
March 23, 2010
BBC2 8:00pm-8:30pm (30 minutes) Tue 23 Mar
New series.
Ethnobotanist James Wong returns to demonstrate how to grow a variety of natural remedies. He begins by trying to revise perceptions of common garden herbs, preparing an insecticidal wormwood and sage repellent to banish moths from clothes, a migraine remedy in the form of feverfew butter, and an angelica stomach soother for indigestion
Executive Producer Dan Adamson
Series Producer Lucy Hoope
December 13, 2009
Wednesday 16 December, 20:00 on BBC Two
Ethnobotanist James Wong returns with a one hour Christmas special of Grow Your Own Drugs.
In his usual inimitable style, James tosses out the tinsel in favour of a more organic approach to celebrate the festive season in style. He delves into the origins of our favourite Christmas plants and shows us how to think entirely differently about how we make use of them in the build-up to Christmas. James demonstrates how traditional Christmas plants can be made into natural remedies, recipes and original hand-made presents to see you through the Christmas season.
Aching legs after five hours Christmas shopping could be soothed with James’s ivy toning cream. Holly chocolate truffles make a mouth watering and uplifting gift, just like his fragrant anti-inflammatory orange, clove and myrrh massage oil.
James also reinvents winter classics, with his hot toddy made from Christmas tree, cranberry mince pies for cystitis and stress busting egg nog made with home-grown saffron – to ease your anxiety when the in-laws arrive.
For those with a fondness for over-indulgence, James’s fizzy drink remedy – an effervescent rosehip sherbet – could do the trick. And if the after effects of too many sprouts cause embarrassment, children and adults alike are sure to be delighted with James’s cute fennel and peppermint mice.
As well as turning our favourite Christmas plants into remedies, indulgent gifts and amazing decorations, James also travels the length and breadth of Britain to seek out the country’s best Christmas tree, mistletoe and holly growers. And to top it all serves up festive drinks, snacks and canapes all made from plants around the fire at his winter garden party.
July 4, 2009
GROW YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS is a one-off special that will see ethnobotanist James Wong show us how to make everything from presents to tree decorations, hangover cures to indigestion relief.
As well as imparting his trademark enthusiasm for his favourite festive foodstuffs, gifts and natural remedies, throughout the programme James will tell the fascinating story of the role plants have played in the ritual of Christmas.
Whether it be pointing out how most festive food staples – like mulled wine or mince pies – are usually packed with anti-bacterial spices (always useful for December sniffles) or the way that winter’s plants and trees – mistletoe, holly, ivy, frankincense and myrrh – have been used to decorate homes and help soothe winter ailments since pagan times, by the end of the episode we’ll be raring to grow our own cranberries, make our own pine needle bath oil, festoon our mantelpiece with rosemary garlands or fashion our own Christmas fragrances.
June 22, 2009
Silver River Productions are making the second series to this great programme.
They are looking for people suffering from a variety of ailments, including, hayfever, PMT, dandruff, ear ache and many more. If you would like to learn more then please contact Juliet Redden on juliet.redden@Silverriver.tv or call 0207 307 2740.
April 1, 2009
Monday 6 April
In tonight’s final episode, ethnobotanist James Wong turns his attention to vegetables, demonstrating how to make a tasty artichoke snack as part of a low-cholesterol diet. He also uses garlic in a preparation to treat athlete’s foot. There’s also a beauty treat, as James turns cucumbers into a soothing eye gel.
James also makes sticking plasters from chillies and explains how their spicy properties could help relieve aching muscles. And a rugby team are eager to try out this remedy on their own limbs following a tough match.
Grow Your Own Drugs has brought together the nation’s ever-growing passion for gardening, cookery and a healthy lifestyle. With James’s botanical knowledge, combined with practical recipes, this fascinating series offers viewers a greater understanding of the properties of plants and how they can be turned into a whole host of natural remedies.