While scientific interest in beetroot has only gained momentum in the past few decades, reports of its use as a natural medicine date back to Roman times (1).

Beets are an ancient and prehistoric food that grew wild along the coastlines of North Africa, Asia, and Europe and was part of the human diet. Our prehistoric ancestors consumed the green part of the beets, in fact the sweet beet “root” we eat today and consider “beet” was only first cultivated in the era of ancient Rome. Then, in the 19th century beets began to be used for the production of sugar and still are today (these beets are unfortunately often genetically modified) (2).

Take prophylactic herbal medicines that enhance immune function during the cold and flu season (generally the winter months). The herbal medicines I use most prevalent here are Hydrastis, Astragalus, Sambucus, Fucus vesiculosus and Verbascum

Use of Herbal Medicine improved pregnancy rates as much as 2-fold in just a 4-month period in comparison with fertility drug therapy or IVF (1)

The following are herbal medicines I use to treat male infertility which are invaluable tools for men to use in our current day epidemic of infertility. Using a blend/formula of all herbs together for best results. Can be used safely where no infertility is established, just to enhance fertility during the conception process

An enlarged prostate gland, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), can interfere with urination, increasing the frequency and urge, or cause problems emptying the bladder. Surgery and drugs can be used to try to treat BPH. However, using herbal medicines to try to relieve BPH symptoms is common. Serenoa repens is a popular herbal medicine for BPH. A systemic review found that serenoa repens was well tolerated, providing mild to moderate improvement in urinary symptoms and flow measures. These improvements were comparable to those seen in men taking a prescription drug, finasteride, for BPH.

Herbal medicine in Ireland is a thread that refuses to be broken and is currently being invigorated with new knowledge, learning and research. Any of the myriad illnesses to which the human being is heir to, respond to the healing powers of the plants that grow in the fields, bogs and meadows. This botanical based medicine is the traditional medicine of the Irish. It is a knotted, tangled, almost broken thread of a system that cared well for Irish society until its displacement and dislodgement in the political turmoil of our history.