Images of nature in relation to mood modifying medicines: a user perspective

Appeals to nature are common, however the term is associated with multiple or even oppositional meanings. This article explores the way nature is evoked and references are made to chemicals in relation to both prescribed and herbal mood modifying medicines. Data are drawn from 23 interviews with people who were taking, had been offered or had taken, either or both prescribed and herbal mood modifying medicines. Fifteen of the 23 respondents used the ideas of natural and chemical when discussing their medicine taking decisions. Rather than a dichotomy between prescribed and herbal remedies in relation to the ideas of natural and chemical, the notion of translations, and ideas concerning risk, are suggested as more appropriate for understanding how different treatments are assessed.