Are you looking for a simple, natural way to soothe your stomach and ease digestive upsets? Look no further than a cup of chamomile tea! People have used this delicate and floral brew for centuries as a digestive aid, and for good reason. What is chamomile tea? Chamomile can refer to German chamomile (Matricaria recutita […]
gut health and digestion
How does stress affect the digestive system?
Symptoms of stress don’t just affect our mental health but also our overall health, including our gut health. But exactly how does stress affect the digestive system? And what can you do about it? This article will explain why stress causes problems in our gut and how we can fix these problems using simple lifestyle […]
Heartburn or Indigestion? This guide explains all
Do you know the difference between heartburn and indigestion? What about acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease? This article should help make things more transparent if you’re not sure. All these tummy troubles have something in common – a burning pain in the chest. Knowing the difference between these common problems can mean finding a […]
4 ways to relieve acid reflux naturally
Acid reflux is a digestive disorder in which your oesophagus becomes inflamed due to stomach acid coming up into your throat. This causes heartburn, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, regurgitation and nausea. This article explains some quick ways to relieve acid reflux with natural remedies. Do you have acid reflux? The symptoms of acid reflux include […]
Why your gut health is more important than you think
Gut health is more important than most people realise. The good news is that you can improve gut health. Your gut contains hundreds of species of bacteria, many of which can be very beneficial for your health. Beneficial species are beneficial because they produce substances such as vitamins. However, another important role is that they […]
The Gut-Skin Connection: How The Gut Microbiome Affects Acne
Acne affects most people at some time in their lives, causing a lack of confidence and low self-esteem. With an almost desperate need to get clearer skin, it is common to use many skincare products and antibiotic treatments. But, looking at what is happening in your body that causes your acne can be a better […]
SIBO: it’s important to find the possible causes
I see a lot of information about SIBO on websites and social media, especially in relation to giving advice on how to cope with the symptoms. Symptoms Common symptoms of SIBO include: bloating nausea or vomiting diarrhoea fatigue weight loss joint pain skin problems depression malnutrition Yet many of these symptoms are the same as […]
Can a leaky gut make you ill?
As a practitioner that uses functional medicine principles it is clear to me that to improve the health of someone with a complex, chronic condition, factors that contribute to the progression or the severity of that condition must be addressed. We might start by optimising lifestyle factors, such as diet, quality of sleep, type of […]
Some reasons a low FODMAP diet may not work for IBS
Research shows that if you have irritable bowel syndrome, eating a diet low in FODMAPs is likely to reduce your symptoms. I discuss what FODMAPs are and how they help IBS here. Briefly a low FODMAP diet restricts foods that contain certain types of carbohydrates, specifically fermentable carbohydrates. However, though a low FODMAP diet is […]
Simple herbal remedies for heartburn
Heartburn is a symptom of GORD or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. This burning sensation is due to liquid from the stomach rising up the gullet or oesophagus. Which can also leave a nasty taste in the mouth. This can be an occasional nuisance or it can be a severe and lifelong problem. […]
Food as medicine to prevent chronic disease
Given the regularity of food related news headlines, and especially those that seem to contradict ‘last week’s news’, it’s perhaps not surprising that many people are unsure about what they should believe. What should we eat to improve our health or even prevent chronic disease? Low fat or low carb? What about grains or gluten? […]
Reduce your IBS symptoms with a low FODMAPs diet
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition of the gastrointestinal tract, and many people say that food either triggers or exacerbate their IBS symptoms. Yet, there is considerable evidence that making a change to a diet low in FODMAPs can help to reduce these symptoms. IBS is a functional condition, meaning that there are […]
How to soothe irritable bowel syndrome with a hot oil poultice
Learn how to soothe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) pain quickly. If you suffer from IBS I know that you are always on the lookout for simple remedies you can use at home. In 2015 a German study tested the use of hot oil poultices on people with IBS. They found that using a hot oil […]
Are you happy with your current irritable bowel syndrome treatment?
If you have irritable bowel syndrome and are currently receiving treatment, the chances are, that your answer to this question will be no. In fact, research demonstrates that less than 40% of patients are satisfied with their current irritable bowel syndrome treatment. Which means that in the UK, where an estimated 6.5 to 13 million […]
Is all processed food unhealthy?
The extent to which a food is processed is a major determinant in how healthy that food is. The Western diet includes many processed foods and even some ultra-processed foods. Researchers now think that this processing may have a large role in what makes the typical Western diet unhealthy. Food processing includes food preparation methods […]
How to prevent traveller’s diarrhoea
Research suggests that Delhi belly or traveller’s diarrhoea affects up to half of the travellers to developing countries. With around a billion international travellers per year, that makes travellers’ diarrhoea a common problem. Yet the microbes that cause this gut infection are present in developed countries too. So, wherever you travel, knowing how to prevent […]
How to get rid of bloating
This is the second part in a series of posts. The first article covered What causes bloating, and this one follows up with how to get rid of bloating. Though relieving the symptom of bloating is important, as with many chronic health concerns to make a permanent improvement, it is necessary to find the underlying […]
What causes bloating?
A lot of people know the feeling of having a bloated tummy. That uncomfortable, unpleasantly full feeling, similar to the sensation of having eaten too much over the festive season for example. Yet, up to 25% of healthy people report having bloating frequently, and for some people bloating can be a daily occurrence. This is the […]
4R – Nutrients that repair a leaky gut
This is the next in a series of blog posts about the 4R program for optimising your digestion and gut health. Here I discuss ways to repair a leaky gut. You can read the previous posts in the series by following the links below. 1 Optimise your digestive health 2 4R program – Remove the triggers […]
Which foods are effective as an autoimmune disease natural treatment?
You might know that the foods we eat can make a big difference to our long term health. For better or worse. But, did you know that a healthy diet can reverse autoimmunity? If you have an autoimmune condition this might surprise you because generally, your doctor wouldn’t mention this. Yet, scientists found that food […]
Why am I reacting to everything I eat?
As a herbalist, I am often asked this question. If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, avoiding your trigger foods can help to prevent symptoms. Yet, if you’re not sure what your trigger foods are. Or you find yourself eating fewer and fewer foods, it can be a scary outlook. As well as creating a […]
How to prevent gallbladder sludge and gallstones with natural medicine
In Western countries, gallbladder sludge and the incidence of gallstones are common phenomena. In fact, 10% of the population may have gallbladder sludge or gallstones. We don’t know for sure, as these conditions often don’t cause any significant symptoms. This means many people are unaware they have a potential problem with a build-up of sludge […]
Food cravings! Are your gut bugs to blame?
Do you suffer from food cravings? Do you eat plenty but are hungry all the time? Or, are you wanting to make healthy food choices but find it almost impossible? Did you know that the microbes in your gut could be the cause? From the moment of our birth microbes live on us and in […]
4R – Reinoculate with a probiotic
This article on re-inoculation with a probiotic, is the next in a series of blog posts about the 4R program. This program is all about optimising your digestion and gut health. You can read the previous posts in the series by following the links below. Optimise your digestive health4R program – Remove the triggers4R – […]
Improve fat digestion with herbs
For decades most people have believed that eating low fat was the healthy choice. Now, finally this myth is being overturned. We now know that certain fats can make a contribution to a healthy diet. People are changing their food habits and are adding back foods with healthy fats. Yet for some, when changing to […]
Inflammatory bowel disease and the exposome
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not the same as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The inflammatory bowel diseases are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. These are autoimmune conditions of the digestive tract. That have chronic gut inflammation in common. Though not all researchers agree on their cause. We do know that genes may affect the risk of […]
4R – Replace what’s missing to optimise your digestion
This is the next in a series of blog posts about the 4R program that describes how you can optimise your digestion. Read the first two in this series by following the links: Part one: Optimise your digestive health Part two: 4R program – Remove the triggers The next R in the 4R program is for replace. The digestive […]
4R program – Remove the triggers
This is the second in a series of blog posts about the 4R program for optimising your digestion and gut health. You can read the first part by following the link below. Part one: Optimise your digestive health Remove the triggers of inflammation The first phase in improving your gut health is to remove the things […]
Optimise your digestive health
Good gut health and digestion plays an important part in the health and wellbeing of the entire body. So I have created a series of articles about how you can improve your digestive health. This is the first part. A healthy and well functioning digestive system is a cornerstone of good health. Yet, digestive problems […]
Parkinson’s disease starts in the gut!
Parkinson’s disease is a condition that develops over a number of years. The most common symptoms being: involuntary shaking slow, shuffling movements stiffness or rigidity of the muscles Symptoms don’t usually start before the age of 50. But once they develop they tend to worsen over time. The symptoms are due to a loss of nerve cells in the brain. […]
Is bone broth harmful?
Traditional slow-cooked meals made with meat on the bone have a reputation for providing health benefits. I’m thinking specifically of chicken soup here. What my mother used to call Jewish penicillin. Full of flavour, wholesome and packed with nutrients. Nowadays, bone broth is generally held in the same esteem. Providing healing nutrients in a form […]
Can a leaky gut cause migraines?
An estimated 15% of the population suffer from migraine headaches at least once. With more women than men affected. Those affected tend to need long term medication. But, prescribed medicines tend to be only partially effective, and have side effects. This leaves many people living with severe pain on a regular basis without hope of […]
Food allergy and food intolerance – a quick guide
Food allergy and food intolerance are becoming more common. Yet there is a lot of confusion about the difference between them. In fact, as a herbalist, I am often asked about food sensitivity. So, here is a quick guide. Food sensitivity Food sensitivity can refer to either an allergy or intolerance to food. Basically it […]
The Body Reset Diet – healthy eating plan
Do you know for sure which foods to eat? If you want a healthy eating plan, find out about my free body reset plan. I will explain why I chose these particular foods in this article. After all, it can be difficult to know which foods are good for us and which are not. What […]
Do you have a leaky gut?
The digestive tract is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients from our food. This involves the movement of digested food molecules through a porous intestinal lining and into the circulation. This means that to absorb nutrients we must always to some extent, have a leaky gut. To facilitate the digestive process the structure of the […]
Reasons why you should go gluten free
It is well known that people with the autoimmune disorder coeliac disease, must adhere to a gluten-free (GF) diet. But, if you don’t have coeliac disease is it really necessary to avoid gluten? After all, gluten-containing foods are staples in the western diet. And, people tell me that they really don’t want to give up bread, […]
The link between fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome
A diagnosis of fibromyalgia means you are most likely a woman between the ages of 20 and 50. You are also likely to also suffer with irritable bowel syndrome. Fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome often occur together. Not everyone with irritable bowel syndrome has fibromyalgia. But most people with fibromyalgia do have irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable […]
How can too much and too little stomach acid have the same symptoms?
Digestion is a complex process. It involves a number of stages, requiring the action of different digestive juices, acid, enzymes and hormones. It is a sequence of co-ordinated events designed to efficiently extract nutrients from our food. Unfortunately, things can go wrong. Stomach pain with a burning sensation is a common symptom. These symptoms are often believed to […]
Could SIBO be the cause of IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a very common condition of the gut. It often begins after a bout of food poisoning or other gut infection. People with IBS tend to have the condition long term and it can severely impact on their quality of life. Doctors used to believe that IBS was a psychosomatic condition. Sufferers […]
IBS: Multiple Causes and the Functional Medicine Approach
Are you feeling intense abdominal pain accompanied by changes in bowel habits? Do you experience constipation, diarrhoea or alternate between both? If so, you might be suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive disorder affecting millions worldwide. The symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, loose stools and constipation characterise […]
The benefits of probiotics for IBS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common, relapsing condition. Its cause is not completely understood. But its occurrence increases following gut infections, such as food poisoning or gastroenteritis. These conditions can cause changes in the gut microbiota. This article discusses the idea that the benefits of probiotics help to ease the symptoms of IBS? The main symptoms of IBS […]
Probiotics and prebiotics – What’s the difference?
Our intestines contain trillions of bacteria. In fact, far more bacteria than cells in our body. We are still learning about how these bacteria affect us. But, we do know they have a huge impact on our health and well being. As a result, probiotics and prebiotics are increasingly available as supplements. Here I explain what probiotics […]
Improve your digestion with bitters
A healthy diet may be the foundation for good health but what about good digestion? If nutrients are not absorbed they provide no benefit to the body. Efficient breakdown of foods allows easier absorption of nutrients. Unfortunately, poor digestive function is common. Many of the people that consult me have digestive issues. These range from constipation and irritable […]
What is a microbiome?
A human body contains trillions of cells. Yet most of these cells are not actually human cells, but microbial. Some estimates suggest that we may in fact be only 10% human! The remainder being mostly bacteria, yeasts and other microbes – our microbiota. In fact, even if these figures are over estimated the collective genetic material […]
Do I have irritable bowel syndrome?
Do you sometimes rush to the bathroom on waking? Does taking your first bite of breakfast cause you painful abdominal cramping, gas and bloating? Then you may have irritable bowel syndrome. This common condition of the digestive tract affects at least one in ten in the UK. Yet it could be many more as people often […]