15 secrets from a herbalist

Traditional remedies can provide an effective alternative to treat conditions from menopause symptoms to depression

1 When herbs can help
If you’re constantly battling chronic, long-term, niggling health problems, this is when herbs really come into their own, whereas if you’re suddenly struck down with a serious illness that needs emergency treatment, herbs probably wouldn’t be the answer – because they take time to become effective. Headaches, PMT, stress and fatigue are all good examples of conditions that can be treated effectively with herbs and with far fewer side effects than conventional drugs.

2 The herb that deserves to be bigger
Rhodiola is probably one of the most underrated herbs. It’s been used for years in Scandinavian countries and eastern Europe – but never really been popular here. Yet it’s the perfect antidote to our modern lives. It’s a great stress buster, but it also boosts your energy levels. In the UK we tend to use calming herbs such as valerian, passion flower and lemon balm to relieve stress, and they do a great job but don’t rev up your energy reserves. Rhodiola, on the other hand, could help you feel calmer and give you the energy you need to get through your day. Plus, unlike other herbs, which can take time to reveal their benefits, it gets to work in just a few hours – an almost instant stress buster.

3 Best for PMS
So many women put up with PMS without realising that a herb such as agnus castus could really help. Studies have shown that it can help rebalance your hormones, which in turn could help to ease mood swings, breast tenderness and other symptoms. You have to be patient, though, as it can take between two to three months of regular, daily doses before you see the benefits.

4 They can be effective for preventing headaches
If headaches are your health niggle, try feverfew. This herb is excellent for helping to reduce the severity and frequency of migraine-type headaches by reducing the inflammation in blood vessels in your head, which can cause the pain. Taking feverfew regularly could help to reduce how many migraine-type headaches you have to put up with and make them less painful when they do crop up. As with most herbs it needs to be taken over time to be most effective.

5 The mood booster
St John’s wort is another herb that’s had a lot of attention from scientists, and numerous studies have shown that it’s an effective treatment for depression and low mood. While clinical depression is a serious illness that should always be treated by your doctor, many people suffer from low moods which, if left untreated, can lead to depression. St John’s wort is very effective for such people and the herb has very few side effects. However, it does affect the way some medicines work, including the contraceptive Pill, so always check with a healthcare professional before using if you are taking other medicines.

6 The next big thing
A cure for the common cold might be elusive but herbalists believe they’ve found it. Pelargonium is taken from the root of a South African geranium plant, and studies show it can help relieve the symptoms of colds and upper respiratory tract infections such as sore throats and sinusitis. There’s a big drive to move away from using antibiotics to treat minor illnesses in light of problems such as MRSA, so to help us cope with colds, more of us will be searching out an alternative.

7 Herbs can improve your brain
Ginkgo biloba is thought to help enhance your brain power and concentration skills and some studies have even shown that it could help to prevent or slow down the development of Alzheimer’s in older people. It’s also a great circulation booster. Ginkgo is probably one of the most widely researched herbs around, so there is lots of conflicting evidence, but trials are still ongoing, which should help us understand more about the herb in the future.

8 Herbs were once our only option
Before modern medicine, we always used herbs to solve our health problems. Most people grew herbs in their garden or found them in their local hedgerows, and it was the job of the women in the family to know which herbs to use when and which bits of the herbs worked. Many of the medicines we use today have their basis in the herbal remedies we used back then. And many are the same ones we used years ago. In 1653, herbalist and physician Nicholas Culpeper wrote about using feverfew for headaches, and hypericum for ‘hysteria’ – which we still use today.

9 Most of us take herbs every day…
… without realising. If you regularly add the likes of garlic, ginger, thyme, sage, rosemary and turmeric to your cooking, you’re getting a daily dose of herbal medicine. And if you don’t use them, you should. As well as adding flavour to your food, all these culinary herbs contain potent antioxidants, which help to keep your body in good health and improve your wellbeing. Garlic is thought to help lower cholesterol, sage could help with menopausal symptoms and ginger is understood to help with digestive complaints.

10 Daily health giver
If I had to take one herb on a daily basis for my health, it would be turmeric. It’s a potent antioxidant and research has shown that it could be helpful in preventing and treating all sorts of health problems. It’s the compound curcumin, which is the source of turmeric’s bright yellow colour, that provides all the benefits. Studies have shown that curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties could help to ease arthritis and inflammatory bowel conditions such as IBS and Crohn’s disease, and that it could even help to protect the body against some cancers.

11 My top essentials
My medicine box always contains pelargonium for when that cold or sore throat strikes, rhodiola for those stressful moments or when I need an energy boost, artichoke for when I’ve eaten too much or had a bit too much to drink – it’s great for detoxing – and arnica gel or cream, which helps to soothe bumps and bruises and help them heal faster. These are the basics that could help you stay healthy.

12 The different forms explained
Choosing which version to take can be baffling. The simplest is the dried and ground form, such as the herbs we use in cooking – like dried rosemary and thyme. Herbal teas and tinctures work by extracting the benefits of the herbs using a liquid. When it comes to tea you just add hot water to the fresh or dried herb, or use a herbal tea bag. With a tincture, the goodness is usually extracted with alcohol. To make tablets or capsules the dried extract is used. These extracts are often stronger than simple dried herbs. Herbalists usually prescribe combinations in tincture form, while many products in health food stores are higher doses of single herbs only.

13 Take as directed
The way in which you should take your herbs can vary and depends on the individual herb. But as a general rule, I would always advise taking a herb with or after food unless specified because very occasionally herbs, can irritate your stomach. Herbal teas are often very mild so it’s usually safe to sip these throughout the day. Stronger herbal preparations containing extracts, such as tinctures and tablets, should be taken just once or twice a day as directed by a herbalist or detailed on the box.

14 Regulated herbs – good or bad?
One of the difficulties when buying a herbal remedy is that so many of them are unlicensed and their quality and safety has not been independently assessed. Unlike with conventional medicine you don’t get a leaflet to explain when and how to take the product or if you should look out for any side effects. The good news is that there are some new regulations, which mean that some herbal remedies are appearing on the shelves of health food stores and pharmacies and have been independently assessed for quality and safety. They have information leaflets to help you take them safely. However, you might need to look carefully to spot these products. On the back of the outer packaging, look for a number that starts with the letters THR. This stands for Traditional Herbal Registration. Take the best quality product you can afford.

15 You should always see an expert if….
Herbs are generally well tolerated and have few side effects, but in my view, pregnant or breast-feeding women should not take any herbs other than culinary herbs. Be careful when using herbs on children and the elderly; get advice from a qualified herbalist. There are a few situations when it is not suitable to take a herbal remedy so if you’re receiving any treatment from your doctor, and if you’re taking medication for a serious disease such as cancer, you should always talk to your GP.

Expert:
Dr Dick Middleton developed a keen interest in herbal medicine research after undertaking a degree in pharmacy. He is director and past-chairman of the British Herbal Medicine Association.

[Compiled by Rebecca Speechley]