No.1 Herbal Medicine Expert: This Over The Counter Drug Is Quietly Killing You & They’re Lying About Medicinal Plants!

The use and knowledge of plants and herbs for medicinal purposes have a rich history and a breadth of applications for conditions like circulatory and digestive health, inflammation, and even cognitive functions.

Plants: A Traditional and Non-western Medicinal History

Plants, Spices, and Herbs With Powerful Therapeutic Properties Have Been Used For Centuries

Simon Mills highlights that herbal medicine is prominent in almost every country, with the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand being exceptions. In contrast, countries like France and Germany routinely incorporate herbal medicines into pharmacies, and some parts of Germany even require a herbal exam for pharmacological licensing. In Asia, particularly China, the use of plants and traditional practices such as acupuncture in medicine is integrated and commonplace.

Historically, every community typically had an individual knowledgeable in plant-based remedies for illnesses. Mills reflects on how people who lived closer to nature relied on plants for health, but with urbanization and new illnesses, stronger substances replaced gentler herbal medicines. Modern medicines in the form of pills have largely discarded the traditional knowledge of therapeutic plants.

Plants: Applications for Respiratory Health and Brain Function

Ginger, Cinnamon, Turmeric: Remedies For Circulation, Digestion, Inflammation

Mills discusses the historical significance of ginger and recommends a thumb-sized piece of grated fresh ginger as a good dose for health benefits. He suggests personalizing the dose using one's own thumb for measurement. To bolster ginger's effects, Mills introduces cinnamon, recommending the use of a more aromatic type. He briefly touches on turmeric as part of a warming group of remedies known for aiding inflammation, among other benefits.

Ginger's ability to stimulate pain fibers helps to open up blood vessels, improving blood flow and potentially clearing mucus from the lungs. A blend of cinnamon and ginger is highly recommended for ailments that respond to heat, such as headaches and joint pains. For some, ginger can also aid sleep, but Mills warns that it may be too heating or stimulating for others. He suggests ginger tea as a starting point to determine suitability, and mentions other warming spices like cinnamon and cardamom.

Bitters, such as those found in coffee, aid digestion by stimulating appetite and can have a cooling effect by possibly lowering body temperature, which is especially important after illness. Turmeric, an extraordinary remedy, contains curcumin, which Mills prefers to describe not just as anti-inflammatory but as modulating inf ...

The gut microbiome has emerged as a crucial player in how the body processes and benefits from plant-based remedies, as described by expert Simon Mills.

Gut Microbiome Activates Plant-Based Compounds

Curcumin Is Poorly Absorbed Alone, but the Gut Microbiome Increases Its Bioavailability

Curcumin, the active component in turmeric, is notoriously difficult for the body to absorb when ingested, with maybe only one or two percent being absorbed. Mills emphasizes that the rest of the curcumin stays in the gut, which is beneficial because in high doses, curcumin is toxic. The gut microbiome then works on curcumin, breaking it down into materials that are more readily available and active. This process results in inflammatory modulating effects that come mostly from the products of the microbiome working on curcumin. Mills points out that while people often mistakenly think that curcumin's benefits stem from its absorption into the bloodstream, it actually becomes useful through its interaction with the microbiome.

Healthy, Diverse Gut Microbiome Enhances Plant Medicine Benefits

Simon Mills advocates for the consumption of a wide range of plants to ensure a diverse intake of different types of plant compounds, which support a thriving gut and microbiome. He advises aiming for 30 different types of plants per week for this diversity, as it is not entirely clear which specific plants are essential. Mills notes that eating as many natural colors as possible is beneficial, with each color coming from a different plant constituent. Many of these plant constituents are polyphenols, which aid in the prosperity of beneficial bacteria within the microbiome.

Plant-Based Foods Support a Thriving Gut Microbiome

Simon Mills discusses how plant-based foods, particularly those rich in polyphenols and prebiotic fibers, support a healthy microbiome. Mills mentions that foods like raw garlic act as powerful prebiotics, supporting the good bacteria within the gut flora. He also highlights the importance of root vegetables, such as carrots, beets, and parsnips, which contain ...

Discussions with Simon Mills and Steven Bartlett reveal the limitations of pharmaceuticals and explore the potential of herbal alternatives to address health concerns more naturally.

Antibiotic Overuse and Misuse: A Global Concern

Antibiotics Disrupt Microbiome, Contribute to Resistance

Mills criticizes the overuse of antibiotics, highlighting the World Health Organization’s concern about antimicrobial resistance becoming a significant health threat. He illustrates this with the term “Russian [restricted term]," referencing garlic's historical usage as an antibiotic, particularly when consumed raw, during times when [restricted term] was scarce. Mills emphasizes the damaging impact of antibiotics on the gut microbiome, even though this reduced and affected flora still plays a crucial role in bodily functions.

Mills warns of a frightening rise in deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections, partly due to the unnecessary prescription of antibiotics by doctors under pressure. Antibiotics have been shown to decrease the biodiversity of the microbiome, which has important implications for overall health. There's also an economic challenge, as there is little financial incentive to develop new antibiotics. Responsible doctors, Mills argues, should not be too quick to prescribe antibiotics and should use them carefully.

Bartlett and Mills both acknowledge the connection between microbiome health and illnesses like colorectal cancers, Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, and bowel cancer. They agree that antibiotic overuse can increase susceptibility to long-term diseases and discuss natural immune-boosting alternatives to antibiotics, such as vitamins D and C, and zinc. Mills suggests these supplements as additional support to enhance resilience against infections.

PPIs for Acid Reflux Can Have Serious Long-Term Side Effects

Plant-based Remedies Offer Safer, Gentler Management Alternatives

Mills discusses the problems associated with the prolonged use of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) for acid reflux, such as omeprazole. While they are effective at reducing acid production, they can lead to serious long ...

Plant-based medicines are finding resurgence in the treatment of various health conditions, leveraging nature's pharmacy to address concerns from chronic inflammation to women's reproductive health.

Diet and Herbal Interventions For Managing Chronic Inflammation Like Arthritis

Simon Mills mentions the usefulness of plant-based remedies in managing chronic inflammation.

Turmeric, Ginger, and Other Herbs May Modulate Inflammation Without Suppressing It

Mills touches on the concept that many medical issues can potentially be aided by plant-based treatments rather than suppressing symptoms. He emphasizes the importance of addressing the root cause of chronic inflammation by focusing on gut health, which is a major site for foreign material handling and immune response. Mills advocates for using spices like ginger and cinnamon for their vascular benefits and cites the effectiveness of curcumin, found in turmeric, which has been compared to ibuprofen for pain relief and is effective for arthritis and joint pains. Curcumin works with the microbiome and does not need to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Furthermore, Mills discusses traditional tactics like mustard plasters or capsicum plasters, to manage joint pain by attracting blood flow to the affected area, which minimizes the need for inflammatory responses, thereby reducing pain. He also advises not suppressing acute inflammation outright, as it is part of the body's healing process, but to seek help if it becomes chronic.

Plant Medicines May Support Women's Health, Regulating Menstrual Cycles and Fertility

Herbs for Hormonal Balance and Reproductive Health

Simon Mills discusses the successful use of herbs to stabilize menstrual cycles and enhance fertility, claiming roughly 13 'herb babies' have resulted from his work with women facing conception difficulties. According to Mills, women facing fertility challenges often benefit from a tailored mix of herbs, which are traditionally developed with regard to women's health.

Steven Bartlett presents a personal instance wher ...