ReHerbal

12/11/2025

Don't forget to book in, limited spaces only!
Last Aromatherapy workshop in in 2025, the new series will start in January 2026!

02/11/2025

09/10/2025

Given new clinical research suggesting calming and sleep-promoting effects for Aloysia citriodora (lemon verbena), a new study aimed to assess its behavioural, cognitive, psychological and physiological effects in children exhibiting symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at the sub-clinical level.

This exploratory study followed a randomised, double blind, parallel group design, wherein 120 healthy participants aged 8 to 17 years received either 15 mg/kg of lemon verbena extract (LVE) or a matched placebo for 56 days.

Participants who received LVE reported greater subjective fatigue, defined as reduced energy levels according to the Profile of Mood States subscale, without impairment in cognitive performance (p=0.001), compared to placebo. The authors interpreted this as a “calming/de-energising” effect.

Parent-rated Conners-3 H/I (hyperactivity/impulsivity) showed a near-significant advantage for LVE (p=0.052). At Day 56 (exploratory pairwise), parent assessed H/I was significantly lower for LVE (p=0.045); child self-reports showed a similar trend (p=0.080).

Main limitations of the trial were that it was underpowered (not enough participants) and had a baseline imbalance: the LVE group had worse mood/behaviour at baseline. Also, the chosen population only exhibited sub-clinical symptoms (not diagnosed ADHD).

No details were provided as to how the lemon verbena dry extract correlated to original starting herb, but it was probably around a 5:1 concentrate. So, the dose for a 30 Kg child would be equivalent to around 2.5 g of leaf.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40251851/

09/10/2025

A recent study aimed at investigating the effects of pomegranate juice (POMJ) consumption on inflammatory biomarkers and gene expression in patients with IBD in clinical remission, but at high risk for relapse (baseline faecal calprotectin ≥100 µg/g). In this randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel trial, 16 people with IBD (CD 6 (38%) UC 10 (62%)) consumed POMJ or placebo for 12 weeks. The active to placebo allocation was 2:1, given the low number of participants.

POMJ consumption significantly reduced faecal calprotectin (by around 2.4 times) and plasma endotoxin levels. Transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed upregulation of genes involved in mucosal immunity, including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), neutrophil cytosolic factor 4 (NCF4) and nuclear factor, interleukin 3 regulated (NFIL3).

Urolithin metabotypes are classifications of individuals based on their gut microbiota’s ability to metabolise the phytochemicals ellagitannins and ellagic acid (found in pomegranate, berries and walnuts) into urolithins, bioactive metabolites with anti-inflammatory and mitochondrial benefits. Urolithin metabotypes in the trial participants were predominantly of the B type, associated with intestinal dysbiosis.

The dose of the 100% pomegranate juice was 125 mL twice daily (~>700 mg/day ellagitannins). This is a therapeutically significant amount of actives that can be readily replicated by using an extract of pericarp in tablet or liquid form.
The significance of the finding is limited by the very small sample (n = 16) and the 2:1 randomisation, conferring limited power, especially for between-group comparisons and subgroup (UC vs CD) inferences. Also, it was a short trial (12 weeks) with no assessment of clinical endpoints or histological healing; endoscopic and mucosal cytokine panels did not change. But there is mechanistic plausibility: the upregulation of AHR/NCF4/NFIL3 and pathway modelling align with improved barrier/immune homeostasis, and are biologically consistent with the faecal calprotectin/endotoxin findings. It is, as the authors noted, a proof-of-principle study, with the observed benefits likely due to a modulation of the gut microbiome.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40255128/

01/10/2025

01/10/2025

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is widely recognised for its clinical applications in conditions such as cognitive decline, dementia, peripheral arterial disease, tinnitus and anxiety, yet its potential hepatic actions are rarely emphasised in Western herbal practice. There are two early small clinical trials showing some benefit in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. A recent study suggests that Ginkgo might also have value in MASLD.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a growing global health concern linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and premature mortality. Since, Ginkgo biloba has shown potential therapeutic benefits in conditions characterised by metabolic dysfunction, an observational study was initiated to evaluate the potential protective effects of Ginkgo on overall survival (OS) and incidence of cardiovascular and renal outcomes in MASLD patients.

This cohort study included 402,476 participants from the UK Biobank, categorised into MASLD and “No steatotic liver disease (SLD)” cohorts. Ginkgo users and non-users were compared using inverse probability of treatment weighting to balance baseline characteristics. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models, with subgroup analyses.

Ginkgo use was associated with significantly improved OS [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.79, p = 0.034) and reduced risks of cardiovascular events (HR = 0.82, 95 % CI: 0.66-1.00, p = 0.012) and CKD (HR = 0.73, 95 % CI: 0.56-0.96, p = 0.012) in the MASLD cohort, while no significant benefits were observed in the “No SLD” cohort. Subgroup analyses indicated enhanced benefits in older adults, males, individuals with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² and diabetic patients. The beneficial effects were pronounced in patients with advanced fibrosis.

This study is limited by its non-randomised design, potential lifestyle and selection biases, lack of liver-specific endpoints and unmeasured confounding, making its findings hypothesis-generating rather than conclusive. What is needed next is a prospective randomised, controlled trial in MASLD using a defined, high-quality Ginkgo extract at an appropriate dose.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40435579/

24/09/2025

🌿 In a herbal medicine consultation, we don’t just look at the physical body - we also explore the emotional state of the person.

This is where Bach Flower Remedies come in. 💧
They’re gentle vibrational drops that work on subtle levels, helping to bring balance when emotions feel out of tune.

They can support with:
🌸 Fear or worry
🌸 Overthinking + busy mind
🌸 Lack of confidence
🌸 Indecision or doubt
🌸 Feeling overwhelmed by change
🌸 Loneliness or discouragement, anxiety & hopelessness, hatred, envy or jealousy, over-attachment, irritation, grief, guilt and much more!

Together with herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle support, Bach Flowers form part of a holistic approach - caring for body, mind & spirit✨

24/09/2025

What does your medicine cabinet look like?
Your health, your journey, your choice...

25/08/2025

Thyroid nodules are common and affect half of the general population by the age of 60 years. The causes are believed to be due to hypothyroidism, mutational changes or autoimmunity. They can be associated with over- or underactivity of the gland and may sometimes be malignant.

Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) has been used in Turkey to self-treat thyroid dysfunction such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Now a controlled clinical study has evaluated the impact of dill on patients with thyroiditis and benign thyroid nodules. They were divided into two groups: placebo (n =35) and dill group (n = 33). Dried and ground dill (300 mg) was put into capsules and patients on active treatment were given three capsules per day for 90 days. Various tests were conducted at the beginning and end of the study, including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg), and C-reactive protein (CRP), and thyroid nodule dimensions were measured by ultrasound.

After 90 days, compared to the control group, the dill group exhibited significantly decreased TSH (by an average of 19% from a mean starting value of 2.69 compared to a 16% increase in the control group, P = 0.009), fT4 (P < 0.001), anti-TPO (P = 0.001), CRP (P < 0.001) and nodule size (by an average of 7.3% compared to a 4.5% increase in the control group, P < 0.001).

The authors concluded that dill suppressed inflammation of the thyroid gland, reduced nodule size, and lowered TSH levels in patients with thyroiditis and nodular goitre. The daily dose used was relatively low and higher doses might deliver a greater magnitude of clinical effects.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40329862/

25/07/2025