Ep 5: From Menstruation to Menopause: A Herbalist's Perspective

In this episode, medical herbalist Anita Ralph discusses her journey into herbal medicine, starting with her first experience using herbal remedies for a toothache/sinusitis. Anita talks about the importance of understanding physiology, patient storytelling and the role of diet and simple herbs in healing. She also shares her insights on women's health issues, including menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause, advocating for a more natural and integrated approach to healthcare. She touches on her long standing collaboration with a gynaecologist, showcasing how herbal medicine can play a crucial role in a person's health journey. Lastly, we discuss the need for better education and awareness about herbal medicine amongst both patients and conventional medical practitioners.   Connect with Anita here Anita's Bio Anita Ralph is a consulting medical herbalist, fellow of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and member of the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy. She has seen patients and prescribed plant medicine for over 30 years, and runs a herbal medicine clinic and herbal pharmacy called Medicine Tree, in West Malling in Kent, with two associate medical herbalists. She has collaborated with consultant gynaecologist and now menopause expert, Anne Henderson, and with breast cancer oncologist Russell Burcombe for the last 20 years.  Anita published a scientific paper about herbal treatment of menopause symptoms in the Journal of Herbal Medicine and wrote the herbal medicine chapter for the Natural Menopause book published by Dorling Kindersley.  Anita has written several other courses and is a tutor for herbalists in training, including co-writing the textbook to accompany the Foundation Course in Western Herbal Medicine at Heartwood Education: Native Healers: Foundations in Western Herbal Medicine published by Aeon Books. Anita is passionate about helping people and reconnecting us to our inner nature through plants as medicine and healing foods. She can be contacted via her website: www.medicinetreeherbs.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have a period or pregnancy related story you'd love to share or just want to say hi, you can reach me at [email protected] Book a session with Rosemary: https://beacons.ai/houseofrosemary   Lets connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofrosemary Website: https://houseofrosemary.com/ Explore services: https://houseofrosemary.com/services/   To support my work (Thank you): https://buymeacoffee.com/houseofrosemary   Disclaimer: Information shared here is based on the personal experiences of the guests and the host's experience as a medical herbalist and midwife. The information may not be suitable for you.