Andrographis is traditionally an ayurvedic herb with an array of potent herbal actions to help support immune function.
The winter season brings with it a myriad of viruses and infections; herbal medicine can help to boost immunity and keep the body healthy. Immunomodulating herbs can help to build long term resilience whilst immunostimulating herbs can help to fight acute infections.
Acid reflux also known as Gastrooesophagal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition that causes the contents of the stomach to be regurgitated into the mouth.
Berberine is an alkaloid molecule we use regularly in the clinic with an array of applications including to help treat metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and PCOS amongst others.
Hay fever is a common condition in the UK caused by an allergic reaction to pollen. There are a variety of herbs that can help to alleviate symptoms and support the body's natural immune response.
Usnea is not widely used in the UK, however it is a valuable herb with an array of important uses including its benefit as a natural antibiotic and ability to help clear infection in the lungs.
To those unfamiliar, a tincture is a strange word that may conjure images of apothecaries of old and of mysterious, perhaps even witchy, concoctions and spells.
This article explains what a tincture is, why and how we use them and what are the alternatives.
What is brain fog? It feels like your thinking is clouded, memories and words are hard to pluck out of the ether and your head generally feels like it’s full of cotton wool. Multitasking and problem-solving may be more difficult and it’s easy to feel confused and overwhelmed. In fact, depression and anxiety are common secondary symptoms.
What a great Summer that was…but now it’s time knuckle down, saddle up, pull the finger out and ride that horsey into the fading sunlight.
Nettles are highly rated in herbal medicine for many different reasons.
All about prebiotics, what they are, and some herbs that we use as powders for helping with gut health.
How to make an iron tonic using a base of red wine and molasses, including dried apricots and a blend of herbal extracts designed to optimise iron absorbtion.
Bringing some summer sunshine into the winter gloom. St John's Wort is primarily known as a herb for banishing the winter blues and this has been borne out by a Cochrane Collaboration review , which is supposed to be the last word in evidence based medicine - which concluded that St John's Wort is as effective as standard anti-depressants in treating major depression, with fewer side-effects.
When food becomes medicine, and vice versa.
This is supposed to protect people from the plague - but in the absence of any recent outbreaks it is hard to verify that particular claim. However, it is really easy to make, and contains herbs with known antibacterial and antiviral properties. It also, of course, contains apple cider vinegar, which is a really brilliant thing all on its own.
The Psoriasis Association estimates that around 1.8 million people in the UK are affected by psoriasis1. Psoriasis is usually described as an immune-mediated, chronic inflammatory disorder that presents with silvery scales on bright red plaques on the skin. It commonly occurs on the knees, elbows and scalp, but different types of psoriasis can also affect other parts of the body. 50% of patients will suffer from some nail changes ranging from ‘pitting’ to complete destruction of the nail2. Many patients experience some associated itching of the affected areas of skin. Psoriasis is also associated with a type of joint condition called psoriatic arthritis which affects 30% of psoriasis patients3. Patients with psoriasis have a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome and lymphoma depending on the severity of their condition4. Patients with psoriasis may also have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and Crohn's disease6 7.
I recently ran some workshops for bartenders interested in making their own cocktail bitters, which prompted me to take a closer look at why these botanicals have such a widespread appeal. Here are some notes that I passed on to them during a workshop at the aptly named Milk Thistle Bar in Central Bristol.
Mankind has used bitters for medicinal purposes for millennia. We have evolved a highly sophisticated set of taste receptors for differentiating between the many shades of bitter, reflecting our development as a species across a wide range of habitats and available plant foods. The key point being that many toxic substances in nature share similar chemical characteristics, and our taste receptors have evolved to allow us to identify potential poisons. We can identify these chemical groups through our senses and our programmed response is generally one of repulsion.
Article written by Max Drake, 25 January 2016
£4.00 - £50.00