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).

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.

A 2012 study conducted by the University of Missouri found a possible non-toxic treatment for breast cancer which works even on deadly, fast growing tumors, inhibiting cell proliferation and reducing expression of a gene associated with cancer malignancy.

This treatment is based on Apigenin, a naturally occurring flavonoid found in celery, parsley and many other vegetables and herbs.

75% of people with rosacea feel the condition has affected their self-esteem. Rosacea is a disorder of your facial skin. While it is similar to acne, it is distinctly different and is characterized by some or all of the following indicators:

Raspberry leaf, especially in tea form, has long been used in traditional herbal medicine and midwifery as an herbal tonic during pregnancy. Used in the correct way it is both a safe and effective medicine

Anecdotal reports have suggested that uterine contractions may be more coordinated during labor after ingestion of raspberry leaf during the last three months of pregnancy(1,2)

The first recorded therapeutic use of red raspberry leaf ( Rubus idaeus L., ssp. idaeus, Rosaceae) extract dates back to 1597.

I generally recommend taking raspberry leaf tea in the 3^rd trimester when women reach 32 weeks during their pregnancy to allow their bodies to assimilate the benefits before giving birth.