Some facts to get the nay sayers thinking again ….

I love the idea of a natural remedy, but …. does it really work? Where’s the evidence? Isn’t it just for hippies?

Does this ring true for you?

I hear these questions quite a lot. And whilst I am a herbalist, and I have used these wonderful remedies for years, I do get it.

You can be drawn to using herbs and natural remedies, because that sounds much gentler and doesn’t involve more dealings with the GP surgery, but still have that niggling worry that you might not see results.

The media hasn’t been kind to herbal medicine either, doubting whether it can really help, which can leave you questioning whether it’s worth giving it a go.

Some people have questioned whether it is safe to use or that it is all quackery and best kept well away from. Perhaps your friends and family have raised an eyebrow and told you “it’s all a bunch of airy fairy nonsense and you’ll be wasting your money”

You are left feeling a bit stuck and perhaps confused as you don’t know what to believe anymore.

This just drags you down even further and you feel even more tired.

You want help but you need it to work. You feel you don’t have the energy to try something that won’t work.

It’s completely understandable, your overriding wish is that you want to get better.

Herbs were the key to my recovery when I was experiencing debilitating fatigue. They felt like a life saver.

In this blog article I will explore some of the myths surrounding herbal medicine and show you how herbal medicine could help you to recover your energy and vitality.

3 of the most common myths busted

Herbal medicine appears to have been pushed towards the fringes, being very popular at festivals and hippy events so it seems to have a bit of an image problem and a few myths and preconceptions seem to surround herbal medicine. Whilst that seems to be slowly changing, these are some of the myths I have come across when I tell people I am a herbalist.

Do any of these sound familiar to you?

Myth 1 - Herbal medicine is just for “cranks” and “hippies”

Herbal medicine always seems to be portrayed being used by hippies and people who are ‘a bit alternative’. Yet, some pretty normal people use it too.

I don’t know any “cranks”, all of my clients are professional and business owners, who prefer a natural approach to pharmaceutical medication to manage their health.

How it has helped them

Using a herbal medicine, tailored to their specific needs alongside some dietary and lifestyle changes, they have seen their energy levels improve as their stress levels reduced. Their digestion has improved too and most are getting less coughs and colds as the herbs appear to have supported their immune systems.

And the ladies have not only seen a reduction in the fatigue of PMS or the menopause, but the distressing symptoms have been considerably eased too.

What the client says

One of my clients who runs a successful local business. has found herbal medicine so supportive in helping her manage the some of the symptoms that sadly accompany stress and fatigue has said:

“WORKING WITH MELISA HAS HELPED ME TO IMPROVE MY DIGESTION, MY SLEEP AND TO REDUCE FEELINGS OF STRESS. AS A BUSY BUSINESS WOMAN, FEELING SO MUCH BETTER HAS MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO MY DAILY LIFE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN NATURAL REMEDIES, AND THE HERBS HAVE BEEN A BIG HELP TO HOW I FEEL ON A DAILY BASIS.”

As my client has witnessed, the herbal medicine combination that is right for you, can make a real difference to how you feel and help you to start living your life again with confidence in the support the herbal medicine can give you.

It’s increasing in popularity ….

The herbal medicine market alone was worth $83 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow to $550 by 2030. Staggering isn’t it. Most of this is down to herbal supplements, and not herbalists but it shows there is growing belief in herbal medicine and the results it can give.

Myth 2 – Herbal medicine doesn’t work - it’s a bunch of airy fairy nonsense

Where’s the evidence?

I am sure you have heard this one and a GP said this to me once too. The truth is, no one can promise you that any herb, supplement or conventional medication will work for you. We are all different and our bodies respond in different ways.

To be honest some people come to see me with a degree of scepticism, but as they have often come on recommendation, they are willing to give it a go.

And they are often delighted with the results. They are even more pleased when they have turned to natural remedies when conventional medicine didn’t work for them or made them unwell.

How it has helped one of my clients

This is the case of a client of mine who had Ulcerative Colitis and conventional medicine just weren’t working for him. He was told there weren’t any other medication options and naturally he wanted to feel better, so he turned to herbal medicine to see how this could support him. This is what he had to say:

“HAVING HAD A SEVERE REATION TO CONVENTIONAL MEDICATIONS FOR ULCERATIVE COLITIS, I WAS INTRODUCED TO NATURAL REMEDIES DESIGNED BY MELISA TO REDUCE THE INFLAMMATION, WITH SUGGESTIONS ABOUT MY DIETARY NEEDS AND AN IN DEPTH ASSESSMENT.
I AM TRULY IMPRESSED WITH THE RESULTS AND MELISA'S SUGGESTIONS, PRESCRIBING AND ONGOING EVALUATION HAS BROUGHT A WONDERFUL BALANCE BACK TO MY LIFE.”

This client, who is one of many, highlights how helpful herbal medicine has been to their health and wellbeing it really isn’t ‘airy fairy nonsense’.

there is now more science than ever

As scientists look to produce more drugs to help overcome common health challenges, scientists have been looking into herbs with a long tradition of helping people with anxiety, sleep problems, tiredness etc. to see if they do indeed help.

More research than ever is being undertaken on herbal medicines and often compared to pharmaceutical medication and the results are often positive.

Scientific research on popular herbs like lemon balm, ashwagandha and Siberian ginseng has shown that they can help to relieve stress and anxiety, which can lead to fatigue.

If you want to check out the research on Lemon balm, ashwaganda, you can find the links at the bottom of this article, or check out Herbal Reality, who regularly publish the latest herbal medicine research.

Myth 3 – is it safe?

There’s been concerns over the safety of herbal medicine in the press over the years that has led people to question whether it is safe to use.

It’s certainly true that some herbs can have side effects, although these are generally far fewer than some more conventional medications. Herbs can also interfere with conventional medicine, but a fully qualified and registered herbalist like me will work with you to ensure the herbs you are prescribed are right for you and checked against any medication you are taking.

My training covered this area thoroughly and having worked with people on medication, there is usually a solution as there are so many different herbs available to medical herbalists and herbal research has identified the herbs that a herbalist needs to work with cautiously if certain medications are being taken.

Taking the right herb for your condition and your constitution is vital too.

Before any herbal medication is dispensed, I sit down with my client for a consultation of around 1 – 1.25 hours in which we cover all aspects of your current and past health, your concerns, any medication you are taking plus you current diet and lifestyle. This gives me a clear understanding of you and your needs and allows me to identify the herbs that may be right for you.

You will be fully supported too and get the advice you need.

This is what a client who worked with me to help reduce her perimenopause and fatigue symptoms said:

“I was very impressed with the thoroughness of the consultation I had with Melisa, it covered every aspect of my health and the medications and supplements I was taking, so I felt comfortable with the herbal medicine I was prescribed.”

Avoiding unpleasant side effects

According to recent research, one of the reasons for the increasing popularity of herbal medicine is people’s desire for medicines with fewer side effects and some scepticism with pharmaceuticals.

Are you ready to join in with the increasing trend?

I hope this article has encouraged you to think a little differently about herbal medicine. Whilst at one time it may have been considered as ‘alternative and ‘weird’ the research is showing that by opting to support your energy, health and well being by using herbal medicines you may not be the outlier you once may have been.

I’ve grown up using herbs and supplements, as my mother reacted badly to conventional medication and I saw how they helped to improve her health and wellbeing. I was confident they could help me, and as you have just seen, due to the increasing popularity and use of herbs and supplements, there’s lots of research being undertaken on their effectiveness, even compared to some medications.

find out if herbs are right for you

Your top 5 takeaways

Herbs have had a bad rap in general over the last few decades, but increasing amounts of research are showing the effectiveness of herbal medicine, even when compared to conventional medications.
Herbal remedies are no longer the preserve of hippies as more people are seeking a gentler and more natural way to regain their energy levels and recover from illness.
Herbal medicine often has fewer side effects than conventional medicines and is one of the reasons for the increase in the use of herbal medicines.
Some herbal medicine can interact with conventional medications, and a fully qualified and registered herbalist like me will work with you to ensure the herbs you are prescribed are right for you and checked against any medication you are taking.
Herbal medicine can be a safe form of health care and a qualified herbalist will blend a prescription of herbs tailored to your health needs, lifestyle and any medications you are taking and will recommend the dosage amounts that are safe for you.

how you could feel your energised self again

Are you willing to give herbal medicine a go?

But when I was experiencing debilitating fatigue, herbs were my life saver.

I now help people like you on a one to one basis, to recover your natural energy levels and feel you are able to live life to the full once again. I offer a safe space where you will be treated with care and empathy whist we discuss how you are feeling and explore what we can do together to help you to feel more like you again. If you’d like to discuss how working together could help you to kick start your journey back from persistent tiredness, do get in touch.

If offer a free 30 minute wellbeing consultation for us to chat about the help you are looking for, some quick win suggestions and how working with me may be able to help you to feel like yourself again.

Discover how you could feel energised again