Nikki Hawkes

Medical Herbalist

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herbal medicine

My 5 most popular herbal medicine posts:

Herbal remedies to heal skin ulcers

Could turmeric reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms?

Nigella sativa and osteoarthritis of the knee

Improve fat digestion with herbs

5 herbal remedies for urinary tract infections

What’s the difference between herbal medicine and homeopathy

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Herbal medicine and homeopathy have similarities but they are not the same. They differ in both the remedy itself and also in how the remedy is chosen. Let me explain…

Herbal medicine

Herbal remedies can be either the medicinal plant material itself or an extract produced from it. In some cases, the remedy might be a whole plant including the leaves, stems and roots. More often a remedy is from a specific part of the plant such as the flowers, bark, leaves, berries, seeds or roots. For example, elderflowers, willow bark, peppermint leaves, goji berries, fennel seeds and dandelion roots are all herbal medicines.

So, how do we use these plants to make herbal medicine? We can sometimes extract the herbs with just water, as in making a herbal tea, infusion or decoction. Or, we can make a tincture using a mixture of alcohol and water. There are other herbal preparations but as a herbalist, the herbal infusions and tinctures are the extracts I use most often. [Read more…] about What’s the difference between herbal medicine and homeopathy

Herbal medicine in cancer care

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Sky News is reporting today on the use of herbal remedies by breast cancer patients. The article includes comments made by a breast cancer surgeon suggesting that using herbal remedies may do more harm than good and delay the recovery of cancer patients.

The article goes on to say that complementary therapies such as herbal medicine are growing in popularity amongst breast cancer patients. I do not disagree; in fact, I would say that many cancer patients, not just breast cancer patients, are looking for natural therapies to help them in their fight against cancer. Indeed, the research shows that as many as 88% of cancer patients turn to herbal medicine and other complementary therapies, suggesting that these patients have a need that is not being met by conventional medicine. [Read more…] about Herbal medicine in cancer care

Rosehips improve osteoarthritis symptoms

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Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder in the world. It causes destruction of the cartilage and other parts of the joints, mainly in the hands, knees, hips or the spine. The damage leads to the osteoarthritis symptoms of joint pain and stiffness, which impair joint function and inevitably impact on quality of life.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are not the best choice of medicine for osteoarthritis for the reasons I discuss here. Yet, the medic’s preferred long term medication paracetamol is not all that effective for relieving the pain of osteoarthritis. One reason for this may be that paracetamol is not a strong anti-inflammatory. [Read more…] about Rosehips improve osteoarthritis symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by bacteria

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Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic arthritic condition of the joints. Like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis causes joint pain, swelling and stiffness, but these conditions are very different. While osteoarthritis is considered a disease of wear and tear, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Which means that instead of protecting the body against an invader, the immune system turns on it’s own body tissues, in this case the joints, especially of the hands, feet and wrists.

In developed countries such as the UK, around 1% of the population may have rheumatoid arthritis. It is a condition that tends to run in families, and it affects around three times as many women as men.

Understanding the underlying causes and triggers for a condition like rheumatoid arthritis can help us understand how we might be able to prevent its occurrence or progression. So this is an important part of the research into rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Scientists searching for the cause of rheumatoid arthritis believe that bacteria play an important part. In particular, at least for rheumatoid arthritis, certain types of Proteus bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections have been implicated. [Read more…] about Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by bacteria

Simple strategies for preventing a common cold

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Are you one of the lucky ones that never seems to catch a cold? If not then you might want to read on. This article is for those people who want to know about some evidence based strategies for preventing a common cold.

Of course there are plenty of remedies for reducing the symptoms and duration of a cold, but isn’t it true that prevention is better than cure? In fact, in traditional medicine systems such as herbal medicine, the ability to resist infections comes down to the innate health and vitality of the individual. A person in robust health is more able to resist infections such as the common cold. So, a herbalist would seek to support the vitality or vital force of the person so that they are less liable to infection and better able to resist disease. [Read more…] about Simple strategies for preventing a common cold

Does ginger protect against stomach ulcers?

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Ginger is a well known pungent, culinary spice, but it also has remarkable health-promoting properties. For instance, I’ve previously written about the use of ginger for easing painful periods and preventing menstrual migraines. But, ginger offers much more than pain relief. In this scientific review in the Royal Society of Chemistry Journal: Food and Function, researchers discuss the potential ability of ginger to protect against stomach ulcer.

The culinary and medicinal part of ginger is the rhizome, often described as a root, but actually an underground plant stem. Thought to have it’s origins in northern India, the remedy is now grown in many parts of the world. No doubt, at least partly due to its valuable contribution to several systems of traditional herbal medicine, including Chinese, Ayurvedic, Unani, Arabic, Greek and Roman. [Read more…] about Does ginger protect against stomach ulcers?

Peppermint and recurrent cold sore infections

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Cold sores are a common skin and mucous membrane condition caused by the herpes simplex virus 1. This virus is easily passed between people on contact. In fact, many people may be infected without realising.  After the initial viral invasion, whether it shows on the skin or not, the virus remains in the body. It is hidden from the immune system. Yet, the virus can still cause recurring infections. I wrote about ways to minimise this. See my article Stop cold sores coming back. However, researchers believe that the herbal medicine peppermint may destroy the herpes virus on the skin. So peppermint may have the potential to limit the spread of a cold sore infection. [Read more…] about Peppermint and recurrent cold sore infections

Experts confirm herbal medicines may protect against drug-resistant infection

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My mother often speaks of the father that she adored. A man that I never met. He died long before I was born, of tuberculosis (TB). Only a short time before the release of the antibiotics that his family believed could have cured his disease.

In fact, the discovery of antibiotics heralded an era in which people in the developed world lost their fear of bacterial infections. Indeed, when I was offered a TB vaccination at school, my mother said we should decline as TB was now curable. Yet, in this recently published expert review, researchers describe a new situation, where modern drugs are losing their ability to protect us from disease, and new solutions must be found. Herbal medicines are one area of intense research for potential remedies. [Read more…] about Experts confirm herbal medicines may protect against drug-resistant infection

Herbal remedies to reduce menopausal hot flashes

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Hot flashes are one of the most common problems of menopause. That periodic, sudden rush of heat and resultant drenching sweat can be most troublesome. Though many ladies turn to hormone therapy to help them through this time, there are concerns about how safe these medications are in the longer term. Which is why complementary therapies such as herbal medicines are a popular choice. A recent review of scientific studies shows that there are plenty of herbs with the ability to reduce the physical and psychological effects of menopause, including hot flashes.

The changes that occur prior to menopause, a time called perimenopause, occur in relation to a reduction in the number of ovarian follicles. This period can last for several years and usually starts in a woman’s 40s. It is a time of dramatic change in hormonal balance. Once the follicles are gone, the menses cease and menopause begins. This usually happens around the age of 50, but again there is quite a bit of variation, based on a woman’s genetics, nutrition and lifestyle factors such as smoking. [Read more…] about Herbal remedies to reduce menopausal hot flashes

Things to ask your herbalist

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Let us look at a scenario. You have a health concern and you wonder if herbal remedies can help. For instance, you might have heard that herbal remedies can improve health in people with your health issue. Of course, you could choose to check out the herbal remedies on the high street or online. But there is a great deal of choice and you are not sure which is best for you. So, you might decide that it would be better to seek the advice of a professional herbalist. So far so good.

Who can be a herbalist?

In the UK currently, anyone can call themselves a herbalist. In other words, some so-called ‘herbalists’ have no qualifications, training or experience. Mmmm that doesn’t sound too good. How would you know if the therapist could help you?

For instance, it is all too easy to find therapists who are happy to recommend herbal remedies without adequate training. They might select herbs with the notion that herb X is good for condition Y. But, this is not how a properly trained herbalist works.  [Read more…] about Things to ask your herbalist