This textbook is seen as a turning point in how herbal remedies, or botanicism, are understood in relationship to medicine. Thomson asserts that botanicism is a form of anti-intellectualism, as he believes that "learned" doctors of medicine fail to provide care for regular people. He is also adamant against his work becoming too integrated into the medical sphere, and believes that he has discovered this form of healing, and, therefore, has some kind of "ownership' over plants, plant medicine, and how they are taught.