Ginny Kemp Medical Herbalist

28/03/2025

This is an amazing statistic! Well done to the BSP team, so many 5 star reviews!
We are a fantastic practice with so much to offer. Have a look at thebroadstreetpractice.co.uk

18/02/2025

Good news...You can add 85% dark chocolate to your beetroot for extra microcirculation benefits!

Eating more dark chocolate was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to an analysis of prospective cohort studies from Harvard University and published in the British Medical Journal.

Among participants across three studies of healthcare workers, those who consumed ≥5 servings per week of dark chocolate had a 21% lower risk of T2D compared with those who never or rarely consumed dark chocolate (P=0.006 for trend).

There was no significant association between consumption of milk chocolate and T2D, instead intake of milk chocolate was positively associated with weight gain, while this was not the case for dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate is high in polyphenols, including flavanols (part of the larger flavonoid group), and studies have shown an association between higher dietary flavonoid consumption and decreased T2D risk.

For this analysis, the authors used data from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and the Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII) (both all female), as well as the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS; all male). Total chocolate consumption baselines for the NHS and HPFS were in 1986, and in 1991 for the NHSII, when comprehensive food frequency questionnaires were first implemented. The second baseline, for chocolate subtype analyses, were in 2006 for the NHS and HPFS and 2007 for the NHSII, when the survey added questions about chocolate types.

Participants' diets were assessed every 4 years, with questions about average consumption of a standard portion size of chocolate in the past year. In total, 192,208 participants were included from the three trials in the total chocolate intake analysis, with 111,654 included in the analysis on chocolate types.
Standard dark chocolate is still very high in sugar and relatively low in flavanols compared to the modern 85% and 90% products. Hence if this connection is robust, the benefits of say 85% chocolate (my favourite) in protecting against diabetes are likely to be much greater.

For more information see:
https://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/diabetes/113215
and
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39631943/

18/02/2025

As a source of nitrate, beetroot has emerged as a potential strategy to prevent and manage conditions such as high blood pressure and dysfunction of blood vessel linings (a contributory factor in cardiovascular disease) . Beetroot is also being considered as a promising therapeutic treatment in a range of conditions associated with oxidative stress and inflammation...ie many of the chronic conditions that affect us as a society. Including it in your diet or the addition of beetroot juice may help to manage blood pressure and reduce inflammation. Get in touch if you feel you would like more in-depth help with these areas. ginny.kemp@theherbclinic.co.uk

20/01/2025

Thank you to the Stamford and Rutland Living Magazine for the lovely write up in January's edition! A great review of us at Life Rituals, our Fika Health Talks, and of personal experience in clinic with me🥰

06/01/2025

A fab herb that I use in lots of hormone balancing mixes. So beautiful too!

06/01/2025

Is 2025 the year to look after your gut? Come
Along to our Gut Health evening on Wednesday 29th January to find out where to begin…

Join us at Fika Talks to learn about how our daily life rituals impact our gut health and discover practical tips for a healthier digestive

09/12/2024

COME ALONG to Life Rituals at Fika Talks: Gut Health! January 29th 2025 - Reset your health !
Join us for an evening of insightful discussions and practical tips on improving gut health at Fika Cafe
10d Mill Street, Oakham.
7pm-9.30pm - lasts 2 hours 30 minutes with drinks & nibbles - £10 Ticket.
Our expert speakers will share their knowledge and answer any questions.
👉Nutritionist, James
👉Wester Medical Herbalist, Ginny,
👉Acupuncturist, Aelish,
👉Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Beth,
👉Counsellor & Breathwork, Nikki.
Learn about the importance of gut health and how it can impact your overall well-being.
You can come along and discover the secrets to a healthier gut. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn how to care for your body from the inside out. Reset for 2025 !
See you there!
…..,
Life Rituals Talks are a relaxed, informative, and enjoyable way to learn about Health issues that affect the whole family. Our practitioners take an integrated care approach, offering a range of experienced therapists' clinical knowledge and understanding. They are ideal for accessing information about different therapies and their offerings!
Eventbrite Link:

Join us at Fika Talks to learn about how our daily life rituals impact our gut health and discover practical tips for a healthier digestive

25/11/2024

Thyme- one of the key herbs in my cough/cold remedy mixes, for patients with chronic respiratory conditions, stubborn sinuses and even digestive issues (it is a carminative and spasmolytic so can be useful for IBS/dysbiosis). And it grows in abundance in the UK!

✨ MONTHLY HERBAL SERIES ✨
November: A respiratory herb
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Cold and flu season is tiring, but using thyme to strengthen the lungs is a fantastic way to treat yourself with a herb which is so easy to grow at home.

Thyme is a powerful anti-septic, anti-viral and anti-bacterial herb, useful for mucus and infections of the respiratory system. It can be gargled for sore throats or inhaled for coughs, breathing difficulties and sinus problems.

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

25/11/2024

An interesting study on a couple of potent herbs for recurrent UTI in patients with a neurogenic urinary tract function . There are lots of other reasons for recurrent UTIs such as the menopause, stress, a persistent infection, prostate issues, lowered immune function. Some of my favourite herbs for breaking the cycle of UTIs include Buchu, Couch grass, Horsetail, Corn silk, Uva ursi and Echinacea- plus extra herbs for hormone balance, stress, prostate health etc. Mixing the most appropriate combination of these herbs for the patient in front of me allows me to address wider health and to target the root cause of the issue.

Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in individuals with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) and greatly affect their quality of life. They are one of the most common morbidities and reasons for rehospitalisation in this cohort. Moreover, UTIs represent the leading cause of death after pneumonia and cardiovascular disease in patients with NLUTD. They are often unable to completely control their bladder function, and thus are frequently dependent on the use of catheters for urine evacuation. However, such use increases the risk of infection.

Furthermore, impaired storage and voiding function are major factors for developing UTIs. In addition, impaired local immune function due to bladder wall ischaemia because of bladder overdistension, and a generally occurring premature immunodeficiency after spinal cord injury or disease also contribute to the increased risk of UTIs.

There is currently no established preventative treatment for such UTIs supported by evidence. Hence Swiss researchers evaluated the effects of a herbal treatment (a product with horseradish root and nasturtium herb) on the frequency of UTIs in a retrospective cohort analysis. For this, the clinical data of patients with chronic NLUTD who were receiving the herbal treatment for at least 12 months were analysed. The frequency of UTIs was categorised as no UTIs, sporadic UTIs (1 to 2/year) and recurrent UTIs (≥3/year). The change in the annual number of patient-reported symptomatic UTIs and antibiotic prescriptions was investigated.
Data from 43 patients (mean age 49 ± 13 years, median NLUTD duration 17.9 years) were analysed. The proportion of individuals with recurrent UTIs decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) from 58.1% to 23.3% during herbal therapy, whereas the proportion of individuals without UTIs increased significantly (p = 0.001) from 14.0% to 39.5%. In addition, there was a significant (p = 0.008) decrease in the number of antibiotic prescriptions.

The herbal product contained powdered nasturtium herb (Tropaeolum majus) (200 mg) and powdered horseradish root (Armoracia rusticana) (80 mg) and is available commercially from Europe. A prophylactic dosing regimen of two tablets three times daily was prescribed. Both herbs contain glucosinolates that convert to strongly antimicrobial isothiocyanates on ingestion.

For more information see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39217981/

01/11/2024

For mild sleep issues, this study backs up the potential for chamomile tea to help getting to sleep quicker and to support sleep quality. Of course some sleep issues will be deeper rooted and require a more bespoke approach to address underlying factors, and the use of a stronger herbal preparation to help optimise sleep. Get in touch if this is you, or someone you know!

A recent analysis of clinical evidence suggests that a cup or two of chamomile tea in the evening can be a simple, safe and effective way to improve sleep quality. The systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials investigated the effects of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) on sleep. It included ten studies (772 participants). In general, the chamomile was given as a concentrated extract (400 to 800 mg/day, probably around 2 to 4 g of original dried flowers). Meta-analysis was conducted for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score and sleep length. A significant reduction in PSQI score was found; meta-analysis was not conducted for the other outcomes. However, sleep onset latency or ease of getting to sleep were improved in three of the four studies. Daytime functioning measures, including fatigue severity index or postpartum fatigue scale, did not change in all three studies. Sleep efficiency did not change in two studies and deteriorated in one. The number of awakenings after sleep or staying asleep was improved in two of the three studies. No adverse events were reported in any of the studies.

For more information see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39106912/

29/10/2024

✨Free 15 minutes with any practitioner at Life Rituals ✨
Did you know that we offer completely free 15 minute consultancy chat with our qualified practitioners to discuss your health needs ?
We know it can be difficult to choose a discipline without experiencing it.Our personalised chats are easy to arrange on a phone, or by Zoom.
These are helpful to discuss any questions you may have and get some personalised advices your health problems.
They're no obligation (of course!) ♥️
Go to www.liferituals..co.uk to read all about our practitioners, call us and we will get back to you 01579 868579 or email the practitioner direct to arrange a good time to speak.
You can also tap into a wealth of knowledge at our health talks at Fika in Oakham where five of our qualified practitioners give an in depth talk on a chosen Health topic like Gut Health and Menopause ♥️🙏

29/10/2024

It's a long one, but some fascinating research on our brain's drainage system........

Researchers have captured the first images of a brain network designed to clear waste, potentially staving off diseases like Alzheimer's. This glymphatic system was imaged in patients undergoing surgery, confirming theories previously only seen in animal models. The study highlights the system's