Hawthorn Medical Herbalist

28/07/2025

At last 🥰

24/07/2025

After thyroid hormone replacement therapy, approximately 15% of patients remain symptomatic despite achieving normal serum TSH levels. The pathophysiology of persistent hypothyroid symptoms despite adequate hormone replacement therapy is not well understood. Ginger has long been used in traditional medicines as a hot remedy for the treatment of cold temperament symptoms and signs such as tiredness, constipation, obesity and menstrual irregularities. Since these are quite like hypothyroid symptoms, scientists in Iran aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ginger in relieving such persistent symptoms in treated hypothyroid patients.

In this randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 60 overt hypothyroid patients on hormone replacement therapy aged 20 to 60 years and with normal serum TSH concentrations were randomly allocated to ginger (500 mg twice a day of dried powder) or placebo for 30 days. Hypothyroid symptoms were evaluated as the primary outcome using the Thyroid Symptom Rating Questionnaire (ThySRQ) before and after the intervention. Anthropometric measures and laboratory indices including TSH, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TChol), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were assessed as secondary outcomes.

A significant lower mean total ThySRQ score (8.63 ± 5.47 vs. 15.76 ± 6.09, P < 0.001) was observed in the ginger group compared to the control group. Ginger led to significant improvements in the mean scores of the weight gain, cold intolerance, constipation, dry skin, appetite, memory loss, concentration disturbance and feeling giddy or dizzy domains (P < 0.001). However, no significant improvements were observed for hair loss, nail fragility, hearing, hoarseness, speech, and depression or feeling down (P > 0.05).

Ginger also led to a significant decreases in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, serum TSH, FBS, TG, and TChol levels compared to the placebo. Generally, these changes were of a magnitude that is clinically relevant. For example, TSH fell by an average of 0.89 in the ginger group versus an increase of 0.95 in the placebo group. Similarly, body weight fell by an average of 2.43 Kg for ginger versus an increase of 1.12 Kg for placebo.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35096113/

24/07/2025

24/07/2025

❤️️

22/07/2025

Almost ready, I can almost taste them 😊💚

15/07/2025

🤍

11/06/2025

29/05/2025

05/04/2025

Iridology for horses, I use iridology as an assessment tool when treating people and horses, it’s amazing to see deeper into the person or horse and identify systems/organs that are in need of help and or support, while a person can explain to me in consultation exactly how he/she feels our horses cannot and here is where equine iridology shines, identifying digestion/kidney/liver/lymph behaviour or circulation issues and then treating with a correct and personal herbal treatment, it’s such a pleasure to see these horse turn inside out after their herbal treatments,eventually free from discomfort and pain💚

05/04/2025

Herbal powders , one for gut issues another for blood cleansing ( horses) I love mixing powders, a very simple but powerful way to add herbal medicines into the diet 💚

19/03/2025

🌿 Wayside Herb of the Month: Sorrel - Rumex acetosa 🌿

Known as souries, field sorrel, and narrow-leaved dock among many other names. A clue to its sour, tangy taste is in the botanical name; acetosa comes from the Latin word "acetum," meaning vinegar! Part of this flavour comes from oxalic acid, which is why caution is advised for excessive consumption, or anyone with gout or kidney stones, however cooking does lessen the amount present.

Visit our website to read the full blog written by Jenny Carden-Porrett: https://nimh.org.uk/herbal-resources/

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