If you missed my video chat with the extremely knowledgeable medical herbalist, Katherine Bellchambers, then grab yourself a cuppa and settle in for our very in-depth discussion, as we delve into how kitchen herbs – in particular, mint, turmeric, ginger, garlic, dandelion, marshmallow root and thyme – can be used to great effect as natural healing remedies.
Long before we could pick up over-the-counter medicines, people regularly turned to the plants that were already growing around them to heal their digestive ailments. Today, those same kitchen herbs are still being grown, and are just as effective as remedies for common digestive symptoms, whether it’s a bout of nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness, vomiting, heartburn, dyspepsia, bloating, belching, flatulence, or diarrhoea – to name just a few! Did you know that when archaeologists have dug up bodies in bogs, in Iron Age mounds, or at high altitudes in the mountains, they have often found on them leather or fabric pouches, thousands of years old, still containing healing plants?
Katherine and I talk about these natural wonders – easy-to-grow, economical kitchen herbs – and how their natural anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic properties can be so powerful in improving and eliminating symptoms.
Katherine also talked about the incredible versatility of herbs, how we can make our own gut-soothing and healing herbal remedies by simply chewing the herbs and swallowing them, sprinkling them on food, using them as poultices, or making tinctures, teas and syrups.
We also discussed the contra-indications to the seven herbs in question, whether children and pregnant women can take herbs, and whether there are interactions with the herbs if taking medications.
If you want to connect with Katherine, this is her website.
If you are looking for a qualified herbalist in your area, contact The National Institute of Medical Herbalists. Here is their ‘Find a Herbalist’ page: https://nimh.org.uk/find-a-herbalist.
Or, contact The College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy: https://thecpp.uk/find-your-local-herbalist.
I hope you enjoy the video and all the learning that comes with it! If you have any questions about any of the topics raised in the video, or would like to know more about digestive and gut health, please get in touch.
