Episode 38: Herbal Medicine Demystified: Natural Support for Everyday Health

30 Jun

Healthily | 06/30/25

In this episode of Healthily, Nicola speaks with medical herbalist Rhian Jones to explore the world of herbal medicine. From teas to tinctures, capsules to creams, they unpack what herbs are, the forms they come in, and how to use them effectively.

Rhian shares common mistakes people make when using herbs, how to avoid them, and which remedies are most helpful for common complaints. Whether you're herbal-curious or looking to deepen your knowledge of natural medicine, this conversation is full of practical advice and grounded insight.

Rhian also shares the story behind her company Botanical Boutique, which offers beautifully curated herbal products and is the sponsor of this episode.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in using nature as a gentle but powerful ally in their health journey.

TAKEAWAYs

✔️ Herbal Medicine Is Accessible — If You Know How to Use It

Rhianne shares her journey from nutritional therapy to herbal medicine after witnessing firsthand how herbs can function as effective therapeutic tools. She emphasises that many medicinal plants grow abundantly around us — but most people don’t know how to identify them or prepare them correctly.

✔️ The Best Way to Use Herbs: It Depends on the Form

Rhianne explains the difference between common herbal preparations:

Infusions/Teas: best for delicate plant parts (leaves, petals). Must be covered while steeping to retain therapeutic volatile oils. Use two teabags for a meaningful therapeutic effect.
Powders: convenient, but rely heavily on strong digestion.
Tinctures: the gold standard. Herbs are extracted in medicinal-grade alcohol, which draws out both water- and fat-soluble compounds and allows them to be absorbed into the bloodstream within minutes.

✔️ Why Herbal Research Is Complicated

Unlike pharmaceuticals, whole herbs don’t behave consistently when you isolate a single compound. Rhianne explains that plants work synergistically — like a football team — and removing one constituent often weakens therapeutic effects or leads to side-effects. This is why research into single chemical extracts doesn’t represent how real herbal medicine works in the human body.

✔️ Oregano Oil & “Natural Antibiotics” — Use With Caution

Rhianne and Nicola discuss the widespread misuse of aggressive antimicrobials like oregano oil. These can act like a “bomb” in the gut, wiping out good and bad bacteria and worsening symptoms, especially for people with low microbiome diversity.

The message: Potent herbs aren’t inherently safer than drugs. They must be used correctly.

✔️ Apps That Make Foraging and Plant ID Easier

For beginners wanting to identify plants safely, Rhianne recommends using plant-recognition apps.

✔️ When in Doubt — Work With a Qualified Herbalist

Herbal medicine is nuanced. Nicola and Rhianne encourage nutrition professionals (and the general public) to seek guidance from trained medical herbalists, especially for: