Lyn Blythe Medical Herbalist

02/02/2026

Words on dementia, from a very respected herbalist.

Even with unprecedented investment, the dementia drug pipeline continues to deliver modest and uncertain gains at best. Despite the media fanfare, recent agents largely target late-stage amyloid pathology, offering small statistical benefits that translate into limited real-world clinical impact, while carrying substantial costs and safety concerns. There is little in the current pipeline that convincingly alters disease trajectory once neurodegeneration is established. This sobering reality underlines a critical truth: dementia is unlikely to be “cured” pharmacologically after onset. The greatest opportunity lies earlier—shifting focus toward prevention and delay through vascular health, metabolic resilience, inflammation control, and lifelong neuroprotection—where the biological leverage, population impact, and cost-effectiveness are far greater.

A recent umbrella review underlines that we already know a good deal about what to do. A total of 45 reviews covering 212 meta-analyses (including around 10,000 individual studies in total) were synthesised. From this the authors identified 14 broadly defined modifiable risk factors that were significantly associated with dementia disorders.

They were: alcohol consumption, body weight, depression, diabetes mellitus, diet, hypertension, less education, physical inactivity, sensory loss, sleep disturbance, smoking, social isolation, traumatic brain injury and vitamin D deficiency. All 14 factors were associated with the risk of major neurocognitive disorders (NCD), and five were associated with mild NCD. Of note, the scientists found considerably less research for vascular dementia and mild NCD.

The study highlighted the role of a key nutrient in prevention, namely vitamin D. Beyond vitamin D, several B vitamins and selected herbs may contribute meaningfully to dementia prevention. Folate and vitamin B12 are central to homocysteine metabolism; elevated homocysteine is strongly linked to brain atrophy, white-matter damage and faster cognitive decline, with trials suggesting benefit when deficiencies or low-normal levels are corrected. Among herbs, Ginkgo biloba has the most consistent human evidence, supporting cerebral microcirculation and endothelial function and mitochondrial activity. Turmeric (particularly bioavailable curcumin) targets neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and amyloid pathology. Low-dose lithium, even at trace nutritional levels, has emerging epidemiological and clinical support for neuroprotection, possibly reduced tau phosphorylation and enhanced neuronal resilience.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38346414/

20/01/2026

A prospective, double-blind, RCT enrolled adult patients scheduled for elective neuro-oncologic craniotomy. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a carbohydrate drink containing standardised ginger extract (ginger group) or an identical carbohydrate drink without it (control group) 2 hours before anaesthesia induction. All patients received co-treatment following the institutional Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. The primary outcomes included the incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), nausea severity, vomiting episodes, and rescue antiemetic use within 48 hours. Secondary outcomes assessed patient well-being and metabolic and inflammatory responses.

In total, 48 patients were enrolled. The incidence of PONV did not significantly decrease (25% vs 37.5%; p = 0.534), but vomiting episodes were significantly reduced by ginger (6 vs 23 episodes; p = 0.003). Moreover, Poisson regression confirmed a lower incidence rate of vomiting in the ginger group than on the control group [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 0.32, p = 0.017]. No significant differences were found in metabolic markers, inflammatory responses or well-being scores.

The anti-nausea and anti-emetic properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale) are supported by a substantial body of clinical evidence across multiple settings, including PONV, pregnancy-related nausea, chemotherapy-induced nausea and motion sickness. Randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses consistently show that ginger, typically administered orally at doses equivalent to 1–2 g of dried rhizome, reduces nausea severity and the frequency of vomiting, with a favourable safety profile.

What distinguishes the present trial from earlier studies is not the demonstration of ginger’s anti-nausea activity per se, but how and when the intervention was delivered. Rather than administering ginger as a capsule or tablet around the time of surgery, this study incorporated a precisely standardised dose of ginger extract (10 mg 6-gingerol, about 1–2 g of dried rhizome) into a preoperative carbohydrate drink given two hours before anaesthesia, within an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) framework. This represents a novel integration of a phytochemical intervention into peri-operative metabolic and anaesthetic preparation, rather than its use as a stand-alone antiemetic.

In addition, the study focused on neuro-oncologic craniotomy, a surgical context in which vomiting carries particular clinical significance due to the risk of raised intracranial pressure. The finding that ginger reduced the frequency of postoperative vomiting events, even without a statistically significant reduction in overall PONV incidence, highlights a clinically meaningful effect that has been largely overlooked in prior ginger trials.

Together, these features position the trial as an important proof-of-concept: not that ginger works as an antiemetic—which is already well established—but that low-dose, standardised ginger can be safely and effectively embedded into pre-anaesthetic ERAS protocols, opening the door to more process-integrated uses of herbal medicines in surgical care.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41112738/

21/12/2025

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) is a flowering plant native to western Asia and eastern Europe. The seeds are commonly used as a spice in curries and on bread and vegetables. There is an impressive body of accumulated clinical evidence for this herb, mostly from the Middle East, for a variety of uses.

Now research combining laboratory experiments and a human trial reveals that black cumin seed not only downregulates in vitro the genes that drive fat cell formation but also improves cholesterol levels, highlighting further its potential as a natural approach to supporting healthier metabolic outcomes.

This clinical trial was led by scientists at Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan: 22 participants who consumed 5 g of black cumin seed powder each day showed a decrease in LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and an increase in HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) after just 8 weeks. The 20 people in the control group showed no such changes.
This was a reasonably designed, short, single blind RCT showing 7 to 10% reductions in total cholesterol and LDL-C, with a 5% improvement in HDL-C. No appetite suppression was observed and there was no overt toxicity. With its limitations (no placebo, small number, short duration, per-protocol analysis, no body-weight data), this is good supportive clinical evidence, but is not definitive.
Of particular interest are the combined effects of lowering LDL-C while boosting HDL-C.

For more information see: https://www.sciencealert.com/a-daily-sprinkle-of-cumin-seeds-can-help-lower-cholestrol-study-finds
and
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40905014/

18/12/2025

Medicinal mushrooms: Cordyceps and Coriolus (turkey tail)

There's a rollercoaster of emotions going on at present as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have classified Cordyceps and Coriolus as "novel foods", meaning companies can no longer sell these over the counter or via online shops to the public in the UK. This has obviously caused great upset to people who feel their health benefits from taking these mushrooms.

They have been classed as novel foods because they have not been consumed as food supplements in the UK or EU to a significant degree before 15th May 1997. However, they have been consumed in Asia for millennia. For this reason it is likely companies will be able to fast track an application for a novel food licence (as a Traditional Food). Until that time (assuming the applications are successful) it remains the case that companies cannot sell Cordyceps or Coriolus products in the UK.

Medical herbalists though are unaffected by this change as we prescribe according to medicine law, not food law. Consequently, we are still able to access, prescribe and dispense these mushrooms in the usual way, following a consultation.

28/11/2025

Alzheimer's disease and cognitive function.

Sage definition: "Profoundly wise".

Ongoing research suggests that sage (Salvia officinalis) enhances neuroprotective effects in Alzheimer's disease and cognitive function via a variety of mechanisms.

Similar to the medication donepezil, constituents in sage (such as rosmarinic acid) are able to increase the transmitter substance acetylcholine at nerve synapses by inhibiting the enzyme beta-secretase 1 (BACE1).

Inhibition of this enzyme also reduces synthesis of amyloid-beta plaques seen in Alzheimer's disease.

Furthermore, various constituents in sage reduce oxidative damage in neurons by up-regulating antioxidant genes.

This supports one of the many age-old traditional uses of sage. As far back as 1826, Culpeper described sage as ".... of excellent use to help the memory, warming and quickening the senses".

Herbalists rarely give single herbs, however. Instead, we follow the traditional practice of combining appropriate herbs, tailored to the individual; not all herbs are effective, or indeed safe, for all people. In addition, frequently herbs must be combined in a way which will not affect orthodox medications already being taken. It is this combining of relevant herbs which increases efficacy in that individual, for example, by one herb facilitating the sufficient absorption of another.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464625001859

17/11/2025

I couldn't have put this better!

Medical herbalists have trained for years (usually 4-6) in orthodox medicines as well as herbs, know our limits and would not make false claims. We use scientific journals to inform our studies as well as traditional knowledge. Herbs can work amazingly well if you know what you are doing and have realistic expectations. Qualified medical herbalists do a full consultation, have the right to formally diagnose and are being found in increasingly more NHS health settings. There are many healthcare gaps we can plug such as gynaecology, where herbs truly excel when used correctly. We may not be able to cure all, but we can make your quality of life much better. I trained while having ME/CFS myself, I can't cure it, but I can help myself manage my symptoms a lot better than using prescribed (to me) medications which caused lots of side effects. BUT If needed I'll still use them aswell. It's not an either/or situation. A directory of medical herbalists can be found here www.nimh.org.uk/find-a-herbalist and here: https://www.urhp.com/find_herbalist.php

11/08/2025

Simon Mills, respected herbalist and member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, speaks to Steven Bartlett about the many benefits of herbal medicine.

Here's an excerpt:

Is the root of every illness your gut? Could 5 simple herbs replace your medicine cabinet? Natural remedy expert Simon Mills reveals the herbal medicines that doctors overlook, and the herbs, spices, and daily habits to use instead!

Simon Mills is one of the most respected herbal practitioners of our time, with nearly 5 decades of clinical experience treating patients. He created the term ‘complementary medicine’ in the 1970s, has served as a special advisor to the UK House of Lords, and currently works as an Advisor and Author at Herbal Reality.

He explains:
▪️ How antibiotic resistance could kill millions and what natural remedies can do instead
▪️ The #1 hidden cause of chronic illness (that no one’s talking about)
▪️ How a common kitchen spice could kill 99% of cold viruses
▪️ The 8 plants that are threatening Big Pharma’s bottom line
▪️ The ancient medicinal plants we’ve been lied to about, and how to use them

Find the conversation here (from The Diary of a CEO, by Steven Bartlett, of Dragon's Den):

Is the root of every illness your gut? Could 5 simple herbs replace your medicine cabinet? Natural remedy expert Simon Mills reveals the herbal medicines tha...

31/07/2025

🌿 Wayside Herb of the Month: Rosebay Willowherb - Chamaenerion angustifolium 🌿

Also commonly known as fireweed, due to its propensity to reclaim scorched earth, where it often aids the regeneration process of scorched land. After World War II, it was one of the first plants to bloom among the ruins in blitzed areas of London, earning it the name Bombweed, too. It has been used worldwide as a medicinal herb for centuries before this however, with the fermented version Ivan Chai/Koporye tea documented as far back as the 13thC in Russia.

Still usually brewed into a soothing tea for relief from everyday ailments like headaches, infections, flu and even delirium tremens during severe alcohol withdrawal, Rosebay willowherb extracts have also shown effectiveness in easing various digestive issues, including ulcers, gastritis and colitis, whilst being gentle enough in it's action for children in appropriate doses. The astringent and antimicrobial effects have also been used topically applied to help with burns, rashes, and skin infections.

To read the full blog written by Jenny Carden-Porrett, visit our website: https://buff.ly/7vN7MsH

Note: When taking herbs, we recommend seeking the advice of a qualified medical herbalist.

23/07/2025

Here's an interesting study (published in May, 2025) trialling rosemary and monitoring its effect on high blood pressure.

The study lasted 45 days and resulted in a significant drop in blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic), and with no adverse effects, supporting both safety and efficacy of rosemary infusion.

There are many herbs which have a long history of use for hypertension. This allows herbalists to tailor a specific combination of herbs to each individual. Such an approach often allows several health issues to be addressed at the same time.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031325000569

13/03/2025

David Winston is a very experienced herbalist in the US, so this is worth reading.

I use agrimony a lot in my practice, not least as it’s one of our native herbs, here in the UK.

As herbalists, we rarely use herbs singly though, but instead combine them with other herbs to make a balanced “prescription”, tailored to the individual; it would be very rare for two people with the same condition to be given the same combination of herbs 🌿

Facebook Herb Walk

Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) is native to Europe, North America and Asia. It grows in waste places and in dry thickets in partial shade. It should be gathered when it is starting to flower, June through July. The part used is the leaf and herb.

Agrimony shows specidic activity for the urinary tract, especially the bladder, urethra and ureters. It is used for inflammation, irritation and burning/scalding urine associated with cystitis, urethritis, and interstitial cystitis. I use it with schisandra for bedwetting due to urinary irritation in children, as well as for treating urinary frequency in adults. It is also soothing to inflamed bile ducts, is a mild liver tonic and has significant antioxidant/anti-inflammatory activity.

The herb can be used to make a yellow dye.

This blog is intended as an informational guide. The remedies, approaches and techniques described herein are meant to supplement, and not be a substitute for professional medical care or treatment. They should not be used to treat a serious ailment without prior consultation with a qualified health care professional. Photo: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova own work.

12/12/2023

For many of us, it's an incredibly busy time of year! 😯

With the in full swing, shorter days and fluctuating temperatures, it's important to focus on our 🩺

Over the next few days, we'll be highlighting some wonderful , often used during the months.

First up, there's Echinacea! 🌸

A very attractive garden , can help to boost the immune system and provide support with sore throats and the common cold. There is even evidence to suggest that Indigenous American people used echinacea more than 400 years ago to help treat infections and wounds!

Then there's garlic! 🧄

A familiar kitchen staple, has long been associated with protection. This perennial bulb is an anti-viral herb and allicin (an amino acid) is released when fresh garlic is crushed. This warming herb may help to lower blood pressure and prevent the common cold!



IMPORTANT: Always seek professional advice and consult a medical herbalist for a full consultation if you'd like to use herbs to help manage your health/a medical condition. To find out more and locate your nearest herbalist, head to our website (https://buff.ly/3EuY8bj) 🌿