Saffron has had a lot of attention lately. While it may be hard to know what’s true and what is just the newest health trend when its featured on social media, this little herb does have some impressive research behind it that makes it worth talking about. Clinical studies have demonstrated positive outcomes for saffron when compared with placebo as well as some medications.1,2,3,4,5,6,7 However, herbal medicine is never a

You may have heard that Echinacea is good for keeping colds and infections away, bought some and wondered why it seemed to have little effect.  The more research that is done into herbal medicine, the more it becomes apparent that there can be vast differences in the quality and efficacy of herbal medicine products on the market. Echinacea is a clear case in point, where a large variance in the

Many people make pronouncements about the safety or otherwise of Herbal medicine, but they are not always qualified to do so. When prescribed by qualified naturopaths or herbalists, herbal medicine has good evidence to support its use in a variety of circumstances, but you need to understand herbs to make full use of the research. Recently we posted a blog discussing raspberry leaf and its use in pregnancy, inspired by

Raspberry leaf is one of the most commonly used herbs in pregnancy, often recommended to help prepare the body for birth. But despite how popular it is, there’s still a lot of confusion about what it actually does and how to use it safely. Raspberry leaf has been used traditionally for generations as a uterine tonic which is a herb that supports the strength, tone, and function of the uterus.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by thoughts that seem to race around your mind with no sign of slowing down? This week, let me introduce you to a herb who has a wonderful action that helps to calm those racing thoughts down and gives you a chance to catch up, the beautiful skullcap. Skullcap is known to be a nervine tonic herb, this means that it offers support to the

This week we’re getting to know Eleutherococcus senticosus, a little better. Commonly known as Siberian ginseng, it can sometimes get a little confused with other ginsengs and thought to be stimulating or overly energising. However, Siberian ginseng works quite differently. Rather than pushing the body into action, it supports and nourishes the nervous system, working to improve cognitive function and physical and mental endurance1 while supporting the bodies’ ability to

This week’s herb is Gotu kola, this humble herb carries remarkable therapeutic benefits. Not only in increasing our resilience to stressors, reducing anxiety and supporting mood1all while supporting and improving the function of the nervous system.2  Studies have shown it is able to significantly reduce the startle response3, which could be likened to our bodies alarm system, that can be set off by something sudden or unexpected and can sometimes

A favourite at Herbs on the Hill this week, the beautiful Passiflora incarnata or commonly known as Passionflower (sometimes a herbal medicine as beautiful as this one feels like it needs a formal introduction using its botanical name). While the flower holds its beauty, its stems and leaves that hold its medicinal actions. Passionflower is a favourite for many reasons, it can be a wonderful addition to a herbal mix

The next herb in our series is another one that may be hiding out in your kitchen, turmeric. While turmeric is well known for it benefits when used as a food, when used as a liquid herbal medicine or in tablet form it gives us the ability to get the most from its the active constituent, known as Curcumin.(1) While mainly being known for its anti-inflammatory effects,(2) it also holds