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Nikki Hawkes

Medical Herbalist MNIMH

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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

The health benefits of the medicinal herb Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

December 7, 2022 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

Glechoma hederacea - Ground Ivy - Medicinal herb

Glechoma hederacea L. — Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea is a medicinal herb otherwise known as ground ivy. It is a lovely sight in the spring as it is one of the first plants to flower. This evergreen, aromatic, creeping, perennial herb grows throughout the British Isles. It also grows in other parts of Europe, Asia, […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine

The benefits of herbal medicine vs conventional medicine

November 15, 2022 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

herbal medicine vs conventional medicine

You might wonder, now that we have modern conventional medicine, do we still need the alternative treatment option of herbal medicine? And the answer would be most definitely YES. In this post I will outline why I believe alternative medicine still has a lot to offer people who wish to improve their health. What is […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: herbal medicine, herbalist, herbs

What is a medicinal plant?

September 1, 2021 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

white dead-nettle is an example of what is a medicinal plant

A medicinal plant is a plant that contains substances that have a therapeutic value. These medicinal compounds or therapeutic constituents are bioactive compounds that can improve health or general wellbeing. People around the world use such plants for health and healing and have for thousands of years. We know this because we have ancient texts […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: herbal medicine, Medicinal Plants

How herbal medicines work from a modern perspective

August 22, 2020 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

how herbal medicines work

As a herbalist, part of my work involves the need to keep up with current research. Actually, as a bit of a science geek, it is a part I really enjoy. And especially I have to admit that it is very satisfying when published research supports years of traditional herbal use. Particularly when previous unfavourable […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: gut health, herbal medicine, microbiome

Herbal medicine vs homeopathy – what’s the difference?

December 9, 2019 by nikki hawkes 2 Comments

herbal medicine vs homeopathy

Herbal medicine and homeopathy have similarities but they are not the same. They differ in both the remedy itself and also in how we choose the remedy. 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 […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine

Herbal medicine in cancer care

November 14, 2019 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

turmeric powder a herbal medicine

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 […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: herbal medicine

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by bacteria

November 26, 2018 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

juniper is one of a number of herbal remedies used for UTIs

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic arthritic condition of the joints. Like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis causes joint pain, swelling and stiffness. Yet, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are very different conditions. While osteoarthritis is thought of as a disease of wear and tear, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that instead of protecting the body, […]

Filed Under: Arthritis and gout, autoimmunity articles, herbal medicine, pain and pain management Tagged With: autoimmune disease, chronic disease, herbs, immunity

Simple strategies for preventing a common cold

October 1, 2018 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

garlic cloves and sliced garlic

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 […]

Filed Under: general health, herbal medicine Tagged With: diet, green tea, herbalist, herbs, immunity, probiotic

Does ginger protect against stomach ulcers?

September 10, 2018 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

ginger tea - natural stomach ulcer protection

Though there are several natural treatments that may provide effective natural stomach ulcer protection, this post is looking at just one – ginger. This well-known pungent, culinary spice, has remarkable health-promoting properties. For instance, I’ve previously written about ginger as one of a number of home remedies, for easing painful periods and preventing menstrual migraines. But, ginger […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: ginger

Peppermint and recurrent cold sore infections

September 3, 2018 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

peppermint a potent antiviral herbal medicine

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 […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: herbal medicine, infections, peppermint

Experts confirm herbal medicines may protect against drug-resistant infection

June 18, 2018 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

Herbal medicine week 2018

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. The discovery of antibiotics heralded a new era. One in […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: herbalist, herbs

Herbal remedies to reduce menopausal hot flashes

June 4, 2018 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

Herbal remedies for hot flushes of menopause

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 […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine, women's health and hormones Tagged With: menopause

Things to ask your herbalist

April 9, 2018 by nikki hawkes 4 Comments

dried herbal remedies

Who can be a herbalist? In the UK currently, there is no statutory regulation of herbalists. Anyone can call themselves a herbalist. In other words, some ‘herbalists’ have no qualifications, training or experience. Mmmmm that doesn’t sound too good! How would you know if the therapist could help you? For instance, it is all too […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: herbalist, herbs

Topical herbal and natural treatments for psoriasis

February 19, 2018 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

psoriasis and natural medicine

Psoriasis is the chronic skin condition that causes red and crusty patches of skin with silvery scales. These often occur on the elbows or knees but can appear anywhere on the body. This recent systematic review in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology discusses natural treatments for psoriasis. Here, I summarise the findings for some of […]

Filed Under: autoimmunity articles, herbal medicine, skin health Tagged With: autoimmune disease, herbs, immunity, natural treatments

Herbal remedies for menopause symptoms

January 28, 2018 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

herbal remedies for menopause symptoms

Some women sail through their menopause and barely have any symptoms. Their monthly period diminishes and stops and that’s it. For the majority of women though, this is not the case and symptoms can be numerous and severe. Leading many to look at their options. These options might include hormone replacement therapy, bioidentical hormones, or […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine, women's health and hormones Tagged With: menopause

Fast and effective herbal remedy for mouth ulcers

January 8, 2018 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

mouth ulcer and herbal medicine

Mouth ulcers are a common condition that occurs as painful mouth sores on the lips, cheeks, tongue or gums. They usually go away without treatment within a couple of weeks. Yet, if you’re suffering from these painful mouth sores then that can seem an awfully long time. A 2014 study found that a simple herbal […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: herbs

5 natural remedies for perennial allergic rhinitis

December 4, 2017 by nikki hawkes 1 Comment

allergies make you sneeze

Rhinitis is irritation or inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes. A condition often triggered by allergies. It is a worldwide problem that may affect up to 20% of the population.  Some people have allergic rhinitis only in certain seasons of the year. Usually spring or summer. They are usually reacting to plant pollens. This allergy is called […]

Filed Under: allergy, herbal medicine Tagged With: allergies, herbs, immunity

Nigella sativa and osteoarthritis of the knee

November 27, 2017 by nikki hawkes 2 Comments

Nigella sativa also known as black cumin

Osteoarthritis is a painful degenerative disorder of the joints. It often affects the knees since these joints are weight-bearing and prone to wear and tear. As an acupuncturist and herbalist, people ask me about arthritic pain, especially osteoarthritis of the knee. I know that the pain of arthritic knees or other joint pain can be […]

Filed Under: Arthritis and gout, healthy ageing, herbal medicine, pain and pain management Tagged With: arthritis, herbs, osteoarthritis, pain

How to fight depression with herbal remedies

September 11, 2017 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

saffron is one of several herbal remedies for depression

Why might you choose to use herbal remedies for depression? After all, don’t we have antidepressants for that? In fact, modern medicine has an over-simplistic approach to depression. Treating depression symptoms by altering levels of chemicals in the brain. While depression is a mental health condition with many underlying causes. And, treating depressive symptoms with […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine, mind and mood

The evidence for the effectiveness of herbal medicines

May 29, 2017 by nikki hawkes 2 Comments

evidence for the benefit of herbal medicines

A recent survey shows that over a third of people in the UK use herbal medicine. This might be surprising in a country where people have access to free healthcare. Even so, herbal medicines remain popular. Whether they are supplied by herbalists or over-the-counter. Herbal remedies are generally seen as being safe, natural and gentle treatments. […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: herbal medicine

Valerian and the benefits of synergy

May 15, 2017 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

herbal medicine plant Valeriana officinalis

Valerian is a medicinal herb with a long tradition of use for calming the nerves and aiding sleep. Both the ancient Greeks and Chinese documented its use long ago. Remaining popular for this purpose until more potent pharmaceutical medicines became available. Yet, it is still found as an ingredient in over the counter herbal preparations for insomnia. It […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: synergy

The most important herb in my kitchen – Aloe vera

April 10, 2017 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

Aloe vera my favourite herbal remedy for skin

I like to cook and I use lots of herbs in my family’s meals. Culinary herbs offer so much flavour and are a valuable source of micronutrients. Yet although I grow plenty of herbs outside in the garden, there is only one herb growing in my kitchen. In fact, the most important herb in my […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine

5 herbal remedies for urinary tract infections

March 6, 2017 by nikki hawkes 5 Comments

juniper is one of a number of herbal remedies used for UTIs

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common, especially in women. In fact, 50 times more women than men have UTIs. And about half of UK women will have at least one urinary tract infection in their lifetime. Here I discuss five traditional herbal remedies for urethritis and UTIs. Symptoms of a urinary tract infection The […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: herbal medicine, urinary tract infection

Is St Johns Wort a potential migraine treatment?

February 27, 2017 by nikki hawkes 2 Comments

St. John's wort may help to reduce migraines

Migraine is a common and debilitating condition. Many different prescription drugs and over the counter medications are available. Yet, migraineurs are often not satisfied with their efficacy. Which is understandable since they are sometimes not effective. At the same time, these drugs may have undesirable side effects. So are there other options for migraine treatment? […]

Filed Under: headaches and migraine, herbal medicine

Natural remedies to reduce high blood pressure

February 6, 2017 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

hawthorn is a traditional remedy for high blood pressure

It is well known that high blood pressure or hypertension is an important risk factor for heart disease. It increases the risk of other conditions too. Such as stroke, vascular dementia and chronic kidney disease. If you know that your blood pressure is high you can do something about it. Having your blood pressure checked […]

Filed Under: healthy ageing, herbal medicine Tagged With: green tea, hawthorn

Could turmeric reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms?

January 23, 2017 by nikki hawkes 8 Comments

turmeric for allergic rhinitis

Hayfever, known medically as allergic rhinitis, is a very common allergic condition that causes misery for millions of people. But, recent research found that a common spice might provide some allergy relief. Read on to find out how to use turmeric for allergic rhinitis. What is hayfever? Hayfever, is an allergic reaction that affects the […]

Filed Under: allergy, herbal medicine Tagged With: turmeric

Functional herbal therapy – because prevention is better than cure

January 9, 2017 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

get fit and eat well

For thousands of years, humans have used plants for medicine. A tradition passed down through families and folklore. Though herbal remedies are still the sole source of medication in part of the world. Some might believe that in a first world country we don’t need such simple remedies anymore. But the truth is that herbal remedies […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: functional medicine

Effective natural remedies for glaucoma

January 2, 2017 by nikki hawkes 2 Comments

ginkgo is a herbal remedy

Glaucoma is an eye disease in which there is damage to the optic nerve and a gradual loss of vision. It affects millions of people worldwide. Without treatment, it is a leading cause of blindness. Yet even with treatment many people still go blind. So, many people ask if there are natural remedies for glaucoma […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: ginkgo biloba

Pomegranate – the super fruit with amazing health benefits

December 26, 2016 by nikki hawkes 2 Comments

pomegranate fruit is a herbal remedy

My favourite herbal medicines are those that are both food and medicine. And pomegranate is just that. So, during this week of Christmas, I want to talk about this most Christmassy of fruits. Pomegranate is an exotic fruit. Well known for its gorgeous deep red seeds and delicious flavour. But did you know it has incredible health benefits too?

Filed Under: herbal medicine

How to boost your immune system with shiitake mushrooms

November 28, 2016 by nikki hawkes 1 Comment

medicinal mushrooms

Did you know that eating shiitake mushrooms is a delicious way to boost your immune system? These medicinal mushrooms are part of the traditional cuisine of China, Japan and Korea. And, their use for boosting immunity recorded for over two thousand years.

Filed Under: herbal medicine Tagged With: colds and flu, immunity, shiitake mushrooms

Do herbal medicine remedies actually work?

October 7, 2016 by nikki hawkes Leave a Comment

a collection of herbal remedies

Many people ask this question. And it saddens me because not so long ago everyone KNEW that herbal medicine remedies work. Using herbal preparations, day in and day out for everyday ailments. People knew herbs were mild, gentle and low-cost remedies for easing pain and discomfort. That is until the discovery of antibiotics. Though I […]

Filed Under: herbal medicine

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