A space dedicated to talking all things herbal, that are worth talking about. Join me on this journey, as we explore the botanical world of medical herbalism. What we know, what we don’t know., & more! Naturally healthier living, together.
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Make thy Medicine. Yet another annual reminder of why the apothēcary shelves are restocked with various Apple Cider Vinegars (yes, thats right.. 3-ways to optimise those medicinal benefits from this one batch of apples, as we shall see!), fresh from my gardens’ September harvest. The truth is, Apple Cider Vinegar is by far the most…
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Nature is everything, and us humans, are just a part of it. Through its many elements, perhaps our most powerful symbolisms that represent nature, are what we term ‘green space’ (defined as naturally planted open land, with trees) 1, and plants. The benefits of human interaction with the natural world., is perhaps generally accepted., and…
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There are so many ways that botanical medicine can impact neurological function, and now that we’ve addressed this as a concept that is known to be based on the best knowledge., and best available research, we are better equipped to consider some of the plants and practical ways that we can optimise cognitive health, reducing…
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Meet thy Medicine. As summer gets well on its way., so too., does our botanical medicine cabinet. Seasonal allergy…, insect repellent., sunscreen…, Nothing.., is going to get the better of our well-earned break this year, we got this covered!! So, we (probably) know by now, what to definitely pack…, Aloe, Tea tree, Coconut Oil…, we…
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Phytomedicine for Cognitive Health & Dementia. Part I. Part II. As the ongoing search for development and discovery of new pharmaceutical treatments continue., existing knowledge must be scrupulously considered for potential leads that we hope will eventually introduce us to the future’s curative treatment for cognitive decline, and the neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and…
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Phytomedicine for cognitive health & dementia. Part I. Part III. From an understanding of the pathophysiological map of cognitive decline and the dementia conditions, a therapeutic approach might focus on nutrition by means to better improve outcomes, and reduce or slow down progression of the dementia diseases. Managing Lifestyle and reducing risk. Lifestyle and diet…
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I. Understanding some principles of dementia & cognitive decline, will better target phytomedicines.
Phytomedicine for Cognitive Health & Dementia. Part II. Part III. What is dementia? Dementia refers to an impairment of cognitive function, it is a progressive, irreversible clinical syndrome effecting the ability to think, remember, or to make decisions that impacts daily activities 1. It is defined as early-onset (or young-onset) dementia, when the dementia develops before the age of…
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Meet thy Medicine. Cold and dark mornings of January. If you have found your mood is particularly low in the last few days., then you’re not alone. In fact, the third Monday of January is looming., typically termed ‘Blue Monday’ and is widely termed the saddest day of the year. A ‘social myth’? Maybe so,…
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Sleep Medicine..? Part I. Part II Back in Part I it was considered that the gut is alike the liver., in that it has a critical role in the metabolism [of nutrients, proteins, fats, oral drugs…] once they have made contact with the colon microbes. In the same way, the enzymes of the gut microbiota…
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Sleep Medicine..? Biotic: Supporting the gut microbial population, maintaining the health toward a favourable state. There are 2766 microbial species that are thought to represent the human gut, and the majority is made up of gram-positive Lactobacillus spp., Firmicutes and Gram-negative Bacteroidetes. A remaining 10% is Fusobacteria and Verrucomicrobia phyla 1, 2. Diet, stress, hormone…
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Sleep Medicine..? The Microbiome-Gut-Brain Connection. There are trillions of microbial cells as bacteria within the human gastrointestinal system. Here, their role is in the production of the bioactive molecules, substances and metabolites that can then support the physiological processes and systems within the body. The vital functions of these gastrointestinal microbiota, have metabolic capacity even…
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Herbal Sleep Medicine. Circadian Regulation: behaviours that are restorative and critical for us to function. For some of us it is inevitable that whenever you read this., at some point over the next few hours you will carry out your daily routine of… sleeping. Our very own multi-synaptic pathways, control secretion of melatonin through the…
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Herbal Sleep Medicine. How well did you sleep last night..? Various disordered sleep patterns have been shown to have significant effect on cardiovascular health. Studies have found that in particularly disrupted sleep, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, long or short-durations of sleep as well as sleep insufficiency have each been associated with higher cardiac-metabolic morbidity 1, 2,…
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Seasonal Herbal Medicine. Valentines Day.., ..the time of year that we celebrate a recognition of those qualities held in another., that attracts and draws people together… Love is certainly in the air. And, like bread is for butter…, those herbs don’t mind a good pairing every now and then too… Lemon & Ginger, Rosemary & Thyme,…
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Herbal Sleep Medicine. How well did you sleep last night..? Did you know.. …that if you have received your vaccinations after having a good night’s sleep the night before., there has been found to be a greater immune response, and higher efficacy of the vaccine? 1. Studies also found that lack of sleep at night immediately after…
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Seasonal Herbal Medicine .V. Botanical Name: Picea glauca (Moench) Voss. Synonyms: Spruce Genus: Picea Botanical Profile Upward, cone shaped, slightly drooping with pinkish brown, glabrous branches, orange-brown, rounded buds 3-6 mm, and apex sharp-pointed needles as rigid, blue-green, bearing stomates on all surfaces at 4-angled cross sections 0. Fruit: Seed cones green or violet ripening pale…
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Seasonal Herbal Medicine .IV. Botanical Name: Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L. M. Perry. Synonyms: Clove Family: Myrtaceae Botanical Profile A small-medium sized evergreen tree, 8-30m tall. Branches are numerous with glabrous leaves, with lower surface containing numerous oil glands. Small, clustered flowers. Fruit contains one olive-shaped seed, known as ‘mother of clove’. Leaves, flowers…
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Seasonal Herbal Medicine .iii. Botanical Name: Commiphora myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. Synonyms: Myrrh. Family: Burseraceae. Botanical Profile The small tree can grow up to 5m high and 1.5m wide, mostly deciduous with a 3-foliate, oblong to oval leaf, small polygamous flowers on spiny branches 1. Collected after injuring the tree by making incisions in the stem of…
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Seasonal Herbal Medicine .ii. Botanical Name: Hedera helix L. Common name/ Synonyms: English Ivy, True Ivy Family: Araliaceae. Botanical Profile Leaves are coriaceous, 4–10 cm long and wide, base is cordate, with green upper surface, and a paler, radiate venation. 3-8cm leaves are ovate-rhomboid to lanceolate forming a flowering from summer – late autumn in…
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Seasonal Herbal Medicine .i. Botanical Name: Viscum album L. Common name: Mistletoe Botanical Profile Unconventional. documented through history as ‘.. never touches the earth’ 2. V. album does not grow on the earth, instead seeds from the berry are spread via birds to trees. Neither does it follow a conventional 12-month vegetation cycle and flowers…
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Sleep Medicine. When our sleep is interrupted or not of sufficient duration, the brain is unable to complete all of its work that is designed to take place, in order to restore body and mind. We know that generally we will function better after that good night’s sleep., but how much of our daily functioning…
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Seasonal Herbal Medicine. Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo L. Common Name: Pumpkin Family: Cucurbitaceae (Gourd) Botanical Profile Key Phyto Profile & Nutrition: proteins, phytosterols, polyunsaturated fatty acids, all 9 essential amino acids, and vital micronutrients. Linoleic acid (omega-6) and linolenic acid (omega-3), vitamins (carotenoids -carotene, β-carotene, ζ-carotene, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, taraxanthin, luteoxanthin, auroxanthine, neurosporene, flavoxanthin, 5,6,5′,6′-diepoxy-β-carotene, phytofluene,…
