Duncan Napier
Encyclopedia
Duncan Napier was a Victorian
botanist and herbalist. His early start in life was hard as he was orphaned at an early age. From his youth he was fascinated by plants and nature. His interest in herbal medicine started when he found a book about it on an Edinburgh
market stall. He had been apprenticed to a baker and, possibly due to the flour dust, had developed a chronic cough. After reading the book's recipes he experimented and made a Lobelia
Cough Syrup that cleared up his cough within six months.
Encouraged by this success, Duncan started to make other herbal medicines and try them out on his friends and family, collecting herbs from the surrounding areas of Edinburgh
in the Pentland Hills
. He became a member of the Edinburgh Botanical Society and was encouraged by his contemporaries to open a herbal shop. Duncan Napier opened his first herbal shop on Bristo Place, Edinburgh in May 1860, so that the local community could benefit from herbal medicine. The shop and clinic at Bristo Place remains open to this day and is now Scotland
's oldest and only remaining herbal house.
Duncan Napier collected herbs and plants from Edinburgh
and the Borders, often rising before dawn and returning in time to open his shop to the waiting queue of people. Bunches of herbs were dried in the basement to be made into syrups, tinctures and ointments. Some of these formula are still manufactured today. Family holidays were spent with his sons walking the Highlands of Scotland and collecting plants and herbs. His sons went into the business with him and it became D. Napier and Sons.
In the mid-19th century, British herbalists banded together into the National Association, which became the National Institute of Medical Herbalists
. This is still the oldest and major professional organisation for herbal practitioners in the UK, with members being recognised worldwide. Duncan was a founder member.
When Duncan Napier died at the grand old age of 91, the shop was taken over by his son and the business remained in the family for many years passing down through the generations. The last family member to carry on the practice was John Napier, a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists
, but when John died in the late 1970s the business virtually came to a stand still.
When Medical Herbalist Dee Atkinson MCPP, MNIMH took over the Napiers business in 1990 she found a treasure trove of antiques and a wealth of history that had been left untouched for many years. Dee immediately started to research the traditional old recipes such as Duncan Napiers 'Lobelia Cough Syrup' and built the business back up to include four stores - two in Edinburgh and two in Glasgow - each with a traditional herbal dispensary, herbal and complementary therapy clinics and a mail order service still selling Napiers' unique traditional herbal products.
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
botanist and herbalist. His early start in life was hard as he was orphaned at an early age. From his youth he was fascinated by plants and nature. His interest in herbal medicine started when he found a book about it on an Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
market stall. He had been apprenticed to a baker and, possibly due to the flour dust, had developed a chronic cough. After reading the book's recipes he experimented and made a Lobelia
Lobelia
Lobelia is a genus of flowering plant comprising 360–400 species, with a subcosmopolitan distribution primarily in tropical to warm temperate regions of the world, a few species extending into cooler temperate regions...
Cough Syrup that cleared up his cough within six months.
Encouraged by this success, Duncan started to make other herbal medicines and try them out on his friends and family, collecting herbs from the surrounding areas of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in the Pentland Hills
Pentland Hills
The Pentland Hills are a range of hills to the south-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. The range is around 20 miles in length, and runs south west from Edinburgh towards Biggar and the upper Clydesdale.Some of the peaks include:* Scald Law...
. He became a member of the Edinburgh Botanical Society and was encouraged by his contemporaries to open a herbal shop. Duncan Napier opened his first herbal shop on Bristo Place, Edinburgh in May 1860, so that the local community could benefit from herbal medicine. The shop and clinic at Bristo Place remains open to this day and is now Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
's oldest and only remaining herbal house.
Duncan Napier collected herbs and plants from Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and the Borders, often rising before dawn and returning in time to open his shop to the waiting queue of people. Bunches of herbs were dried in the basement to be made into syrups, tinctures and ointments. Some of these formula are still manufactured today. Family holidays were spent with his sons walking the Highlands of Scotland and collecting plants and herbs. His sons went into the business with him and it became D. Napier and Sons.
In the mid-19th century, British herbalists banded together into the National Association, which became the National Institute of Medical Herbalists
National Institute of Medical Herbalists
The National Institute of Medical Herbalists is the largest professional body regulating medical herbalists in the United Kingdom. It was first established as the National Association of Medical Herbalists in 1864 by a group of herbalists from the north of England, but currently has members in...
. This is still the oldest and major professional organisation for herbal practitioners in the UK, with members being recognised worldwide. Duncan was a founder member.
When Duncan Napier died at the grand old age of 91, the shop was taken over by his son and the business remained in the family for many years passing down through the generations. The last family member to carry on the practice was John Napier, a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists
National Institute of Medical Herbalists
The National Institute of Medical Herbalists is the largest professional body regulating medical herbalists in the United Kingdom. It was first established as the National Association of Medical Herbalists in 1864 by a group of herbalists from the north of England, but currently has members in...
, but when John died in the late 1970s the business virtually came to a stand still.
When Medical Herbalist Dee Atkinson MCPP, MNIMH took over the Napiers business in 1990 she found a treasure trove of antiques and a wealth of history that had been left untouched for many years. Dee immediately started to research the traditional old recipes such as Duncan Napiers 'Lobelia Cough Syrup' and built the business back up to include four stores - two in Edinburgh and two in Glasgow - each with a traditional herbal dispensary, herbal and complementary therapy clinics and a mail order service still selling Napiers' unique traditional herbal products.