Bespoke Botanicals

16/02/2026

Hay fever already? Yes, because hazel, cypress, alder and poplar trees are begining to flower in Cornwall. So if your hayfever is triggered by those pollens, you will begin to notice the itchy, sneezy symptoms, watery eyes and general feeling of irritation. As herbalists we treat hayfever with a comprehensive plan; working to improve the immune system by modulating its response; strengthening the nasal and sinus mucus membranes - their role is to act as a barrier to irritants; working on gut health, because most of the body's immune cells reside there and gut health is fundamental to good immunity. Hydration is important too because plump, well hydrated mucus membranes can resist pollen better than dry ones. Ideally, treatment should start before the pollen is released, but sooner is better than later.

15/02/2026

https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/2024/10/16/the-ginkgo-myth/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=email+blog&utm_campaign=2024-10-17+ginkgo+myth

Ginkgo is famous for its ability to boost your memory, focus, and concentration . . . but if that’s true, why didn’t I feel any of these results when taking some Ginkgo tincture? The truth is, there’s a big misunderstanding about Ginkgo and the way it works. Understanding the Ginkgo myth makes...

14/02/2026

A great explanation and exactly how I work. Whilst my prescriptions are bespoke to the individual and grounded in science I know lots of my patients refer to it as ‘their magic potion’, ‘gloop’ or (in one case) her ‘Go-Go juice’!

“Potion, Pond Water & Nutty Juice”

What My Patients Call Their Bespoke Herbal Tinctures
(And Why That’s Perfectly OK)
One of the unexpected joys of clinical practice is discovering what my patients lovingly (and sometimes dramatically!) rename their herbal mixtures.
Over the years I’ve heard them all:

“Potion” – usually said with a raised eyebrow and a smile.
“Pond water” – honest, if not exactly flattering.
And my personal favourite: “Nutty juice.”
The “Nutty juice” in question belonged to a wonderful peri-menopause patient who insisted that while it may not taste like a tropical smoothie, it stopped her from becoming “nutts.” And really, when you put it like that… job done.
Let’s be real for a moment. Herbal medicine does not taste amazing. It’s not meant to.

It’s medicine.

What Is a Tincture — Scientifically Speaking?
Scientifically, a tincture is:
An alcoholic or hydroalcoholic extract of plant material, prepared by macerating fresh or dried herbs in ethanol to extract and preserve their active constituents.
In simpler terms:
The plant is soaked in alcohol (sometimes with water).
The alcohol extracts the plant’s medicinal compounds.
The liquid is strained.
What remains is a concentrated herbal extract — your bespoke remedy.
Alcohol isn’t there for drama. It acts as:
A solvent (pulling out active constituents),
A preservative (extending shelf life),
And a delivery system (helping absorption).
That distinctive strong taste? That’s the plant chemistry doing its work.
Why It Doesn’t Taste “Nice”
Many medicinal plants are naturally:
Bitter (like gentian or dandelion)
Aromatic
Earthy
Resinous
Bitterness in particular is often therapeutic. Bitter compounds stimulate digestion, liver function, and metabolic processes. So when someone tells me their mixture tastes “intense,” I often smile quietly — because I know those bitter receptors are doing exactly what they are designed to do.
Herbal medicine isn’t a sweet. It’s not a cordial.
It’s functional.

Bespoke Means Truly Individual
When I formulate a tincture, it is never “off the shelf.”
It is:

Designed specifically for that patient
Based on their constitution
Tailored to their symptoms
Adjusted for their stage of life
Two peri-menopause patients may both have hot flushes — but one may also have anxiety, another joint stiffness, another sleep disturbance. Their remedies will reflect that.
Your tincture is yours alone.

That’s why it earns a nickname. It’s personal.

Why Your Mixture May Change
Here’s something important: your tincture today may not be your tincture in three months.
Symptoms evolve.
Stress changes.
Hormones shift.
Digestion improves.
Sleep stabilises.

As the body moves, the prescription moves with it.

Herbal medicine is dynamic. It follows the person, not the diagnosis.

The Real Aim: Not to Need It Forever
This surprises people sometimes.
The goal of herbal medicine is not lifelong dependency on a bottle of drops.

The aim is:
To address underlying imbalance
To support the body’s natural regulation
To identify and work with root causes
To restore resilience
In an ideal scenario, the daily tincture becomes:
Less frequent
Lower in dose
Or no longer needed
Because the body is functioning well without it.
That’s success.
So Call It What You Like!
Potion.
Pond water.
Nutty juice.
If it helps you take it consistently and with a sense of humour, I am entirely on board.

Because behind that slightly sharp, earthy taste is a carefully considered, scientifically grounded, individually formulated herbal extract designed for one purpose:

To help your body do what it was always designed to do — heal.

And if it prevents you from going “nutts” in the process, even better.
www.buddsherbalmedicine.com

13/02/2026

This is worth a watch. I’ve now spent around 18 months managing/ battling frozen shoulder. I find it REALLY frustrating when my body lets me down even if I’m doing all the right things. It’s part of the reason ‘I get it’ if patients have the same frustration. There are tips here. I’ve personally found regular (as in, every damn day) mobilisation exercises, gentle stretches, pushing to my limits stretches (whilst swearing at my shoulder “you will get better”) * disclaimer not sure this one should be recommended * and strength training (pushing myself when I can, not pushing myself if it hurts) have been my way through it. There are herbs that can help, and it’s definitely worth getting advice from a physio https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTxJpiciDcR/?igsh=cWN1cmdkYTY4dDJ3

11/02/2026

I’m someone who likes to understand how things work. I’m curious why things work, and question why we do things a certain way.

Perhaps it’s because whilst I was good at maths growing up, I had it absolutely drilled into me I had to show my ‘working out’, rather than just writing the answer.

Perhaps it’s because when I started studying science I became fascinated by patterns and predictability (and unpredictability!) and the buzz of exploring and asking “But, what if...?”

It probably explains why I’ve spent most of my working life self- employed 🙄

It is also what makes me a good herbalist.

If you approach herbal medicine by simply asking “what herb is good for a certain health condition?” you will rarely get good results. A cough that is cold, damp and phlegmy needs entirely different herbs to one that is hot, dry and unproductive; a tension headache needs different herbs to a headache driven my exhaustion, fever, hormones or high blood pressure. A herbal supplement that work wonders for your friend’s menopause symptoms may do nothing for yours.

Herbal medicine is an effective treatment when it addresses underlying causes. Yes there are great herbal painkillers, anti-inflammatorys, stimulants, sedatives BUT that is missing the point! Herbal medicine isn’t meant to be used in the same way as pharmaceutical drugs, matching symptoms to substance, one for one. Take this for that. Effective treatment happens when we understand what is causing the symptoms, what are the specific drivers and characteristics, what underlying pattern is going on under the surface, what is this persons individual constitution?

The allopathic approach (which some people mistakenly try to follow with herbal treatment) treats the body as if its passive, broken, requiring external intervention to force it back to function. If you have inflammation you need to suppress inflammation; if you have an infection you need to kill the pathogens; if you have pain you need to block pain signals. The body is the problem – the medicine is the solution.

A Herbalists approach is to consider the ‘workings out’ of the solution, and recognises our bodies want to maintain equilibrium; your fever isn’t an enemy it’s your immune system working; your inflammation isn’t a malfunction, it’s a response to irritation. Your symptoms are your body’s response to underlying problems and effective herbal treatment supports the bodies attempt to restore balance, rather than suppressing its adaptive responses. A medical herbalists approach is to remove obstacles to getting better (which also includes ensuring the 4 fundamental pillars of health are in place– good nutrition, regular physical activity, enough good quality sleep, adequate mental and emotional support) alongside herbs to support the body, rather than treating your body as something broken that needs a magic pill to fix it.

It’s my mission this year to help share this message. Herbal Medicine can transform so many health problems, I’ve witnessed it personally and professionally over many years. It’s frustrating when I hear “I tried herbal medicine and it didn’t work for me” from someone who means they (probably) tried an off the shelf remedy that their friend recommended, which wasn’t the most appropriate treatment for them as an individual. Or those who have spent a fortune on private tests, before being recommended more expensive herbal supplements packed with the latest herbal heros of the moment that actually weren’t appropriate for their individual needs.

When someone asks me what herb would I recommend for their *insert condition* I don’t hesitate to answer because I’m gate-keeping the magic cure that I’ll only reveal once you pay me, I don’t hesitate because I don’t have a number of options that are possibilities, I hesitate because I’ll only genuinely be able to tell you that after asking a lot of questions to understand exactly what is going on for you as an individual. This is why I always offer a free (no obligation) call before booking anyone in for a consultation. It gives time for you to ask me any questions you may have and to gain an understanding of the support I offer, it also gives me chance to find out a little more about what is going on for you in order to assess whether I think I can offer you the most appropriate treatment or if I should refer you to someone else.

If you want to book in a chat send me an email to info@bespokebotanicals.co.uk

or text 07801 071641 and we can get a time booked in that works for you

10/02/2026

04/02/2026

It's always lovely to get recommendations. As a Medical Herbalist I'm not particularly comfortable with either of the titles of
'Alternative Medicine Practitioner' or 'Complementary Medicine Practitioner' because both are huge umbrella terms that include a huge variety of therapies with huge variety in quality of training and qualifications. I offer evidence based medicine that aims to treat the root course of your illhealth. Im proud to offer the integrated evidence based healthcare described in this review

30/01/2026

28/01/2026

Dementia is a cruel disease, and we do need more research into its multiple cause in order to improve treatment options. Even with new medications there is little we can do to alter disease trajectory once neurodegeneration is established, Dementia is unlikely to be 'cured' pharmacologically after onset. We do need to focus on prevention and delay

However, 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:

Our review quantifies the risk associated with 14 potentially modifiable risk factors for mild and major NCDs, including several factors infrequently included in dementia action plans. Prevention strategies should consider approaches that reduce the incidence and severity of these risk factors throu...