Last Updated on 5 November 2024 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Natural Medicine Week helps to raise awareness about the vital role that natural healthcare practitioners contribute to society. Part of this role is ensuring that people are well informed for daily decision making about their health. What starts as professional advice continues into home life for the foreseeable future and in the context of Natural Medicine and Medicinal foods, can become lifelong knowledge for safe and effective home remedies.
The concept of Food as Natural Medicine and Herbal Medicine as Food explores the power of diet alongside the potency of herbs for greater health and wellbeing. Start writing your shopping list as we come up with some kitchen staples, fresh ideas, and classic ways to use common garden variety foods as Natural Medicine.
To put it in modern terms “Food is a complex array of macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that upgrade or downgrade our biological software with every bite.” (1) This reminds us of the power of diet change – we can improve or disadvantage our health through our diet choices. In present day, more people are aiming towards the concept of self-care, with the belief that natural foods are associated with fewer side effects and consequently safer for use. (2) Despite their recognised health giving properties, there are no recommendations for intakes of herbs and spices in the Australian guide to healthy eating. (3) Natural healthcare fills this gap, and is ahead of the curve when it comes to emphasising plant power.
Simple habits can add up – cooking with herbs and spices and drinking herbal teas all increases antioxidant content of the diet. Herbs and spices can also be used to partially or wholly replace less desirable ingredients such as salt, sugar and added saturated fat in recipes. (3)
- Clove – is found to have the highest mean antioxidant value, followed by peppermint, allspice, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary, and saffron. (4) Looking closer at peppermint, thyme and sage as medicinal foods, these plants are frequently found in household kitchens and can impart several therapeutic effects: (2) (5) (6)
- Peppermint (Mentha piperita) – its long use as a digestive herb makes it a popular choice for relieving symptoms like bloating, abdominal distension, and difficulty passing stool, due to its smooth muscle relaxant effect.
- Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) – used to cure spasmodic gastric-intestinal complaints, cough, bronchitis, laryngitis, and tonsillitis, this strong tasting herb was also used as a vermifuge to expel intestinal worms in ancient Egypt.
- Sage (Salvia officinalis) – similar to Thyme in its medicinal actions, the Latin name of sage originates from the translation “salvation plant”, meaning “save, cure”. Even today sage is a mandatory plant in all Catholic monasteries. Its use for respiratory complaints is rivalled by its role in menopause, with fresh sage preparation demonstrating clinical value in the treatment of hot flushes and associated menopausal symptoms.
There are many ways to maximise nutrition and gain therapeutic benefits from medicinal foods. A few suggestions include:
- Medicinal Mushrooms – Mushrooms are having a moment in the sun, with varieties like Reishi, Shiitake and Lions Mane presently popular food products. You can read more about this topic in one of our recent blog posts here
- Edible flowers – a novel addition to salads, mocktails, cocktails and desserts, varieties like calendula, nasturtium and of course zucchini flowers can impress guests and kids alike. Fresh or freeze dried, edible flowers provide biologically active substances to the diet, including vitamin A, C, riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3) and minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, iron and potassium. (7) Sourcing organic, from a reputable source and ensuring the flower type is actually edible is of course advice on the tip of any herbalists lips.
- Herbal infusions – can be equally effective to calm and soothe frazzled nerves, settle digestive disturbances or promote sleep. In addition to peppermint, thyme and sage, other favourites which can be frequently taken as tea include licorice, chamomile, ginger and dandelion.
- Home Grown – The pleasant scent of a sprig of Rosemary, the potent flavour of a freshly made Basil pesto, the cleansing effect on the palate when Parsley is used as a garnish – food is the perfect way to showcase herbs for their lasting impact on our wellbeing.
Here at Brisbane Livewell Clinic, we are all about sustainable change for our patients, and potentising the diet is a sure-fire way to feel a difference on a daily basis.
We have these Wellness Blogs that may interest you. Click HERE or HERE or HERE
You may enjoy THIS Wellness Recipe
Our Amazing Naturopaths at Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Shella Hall (Sunshine Coast and online)
Amy Angus (Wavell Heights and online)
Jen Strachan (Cannon Hill and online)
Nicole Odlum (Wavell Heights and online)
Dominique Johanson (Wavell Heights and online)
Locations We Service – Naturopathy
Naturopath Caloundra
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Naturopath Brisbane
Naturopaths Brisbane
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Best Naturopaths Near Me
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Relevant Naturopath links
Why You May Wish to Consult a Naturopath
Gut Health
- Gut Health
- Solving Gut Issues by Treating SIBO
- Daily Ritual Gut Health
- 6 Digestive Problems that Cause Weight Gain
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 1: Digestive Markers
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 2: Microbial Markers
- Gut Health with Parasite Cleanse
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Controlling Constipation and Bloating
- How Stool Testing Helps Find the Causes of IBS and Other Digestive Health Problems
- Gut Health Brisbane
- Gut Health Specialist Brisbane
Hormone Health and Thyroid Issues
- Hormonal Health and Thyroid Issues
- PCOS and the Insulin Connection
- Identifying Insulin Resistance
- Looking at Luteal Phase Deficiency
- Experiencing Painful Periods? Here’s What Might Be Causing It
- When You Suspect You Have Thyroid Issues
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism: When You Suspect You Have a Thyroid Issue
- Thyroid Disorders from a Naturopathic Aspect
- Thyroid Health for the Winter Months
- Thyroid Disease: A Brief Guide to Common Disorders
- Naturopathic Thyroid Specialist Near Me
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s
- Thyroid
- Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease
Detox and Cleansing
- Heavy Metal Toxicity: Strategies for Detoxing
- Detoxing Your Lifestyle, Not Just Your Body
- Heavy Metal Detox for Kids
- Naturopathic Detox Cleanse
- Naturopath Detox
- Do I Need a Heavy Metal Detox?
- Heavy Metal Detox Australia
Insomnia and Sleep Health
- Save Your Sleep with What You Eat
- Insomnia Linked to Mineral Deficiency
- Solving Insomnia: Naturopathy’s Five-Step Solution
- 5 Ways Insomnia Can Affect Your Life and What You Can Do About It
- Natural Treatment for Insomnia
- Naturopathic Remedies for Insomnia
Autoimmune Conditions
Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Treating Depression with Naturopathy: What You Should Consider
- A Naturopath’s Guide to Improving Mental Health
- Naturopathic Anxiety Medication
- Naturopath Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): How a Naturopath Helps
Women’s Health
- Women’s Health
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Naturopath Women’s Health
- Women’s Health Week: It’s All About Women’s Wellness and Wellbeing
- Treating Vaginal Thrush the Natural Way
- The Lowdown on Low Libido
- Regulating Menstrual Cycles with Chaste Tree
- Painful Periods and Naturopathy
- Preventing Post-Pill Acne
Fertility and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy
- Pre-Pregnancy Fertility Care with Naturopathic Nutrition
- Fertility Naturopath Brisbane
- Acupuncture and Naturopathy for Pre-Conception Care
- Pregnancy Care and Naturopathy
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Getting Quality Sleep in the 3rd Trimester of Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Wellbeing and Naturopathy are Great Partners
- Naturopathy for the Management of Constipation During Pregnancy
- Prenatal Naturopath
- Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
- Keeping Calm About Colic
Men’s Health
- Men’s Health
- The Sperm Health Decline
- Better Prostate Health with Natural Medicine
- Naturopathy and Men’s Health
- Support Your Thyroid Health Naturally
DNA Testing
- DNA Testing & Personalised Medicine
- DNA Testing Brisbane
- DNA Testing Brisbane, Australia
- Methylation Test Near Me
- Testing Functional Medicine
- Genetic Methylation Test Brisbane
- DUTCH Test Providers Near Me
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Food Intolerances and Allergies
- 7 Useful Strategies for Overcoming Food Intolerance
- Hayfever and the Gastrointestinal Immune System
- Food Intolerance, Hypersensitivity, and Allergies Explained
- Everything You Need to Know About Food Intolerance
- Food Allergy Testing Near Me
- Food Intolerance Testing Brisbane
- Food Allergy Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing Package
Weight Loss
- Naturopathy for Weight Loss
- Natural Weight Loss for Summer
- A Naturopathic Approach to Achieving an Ideal and Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Weight Loss Naturopath
- Kick-Start Weight Loss: 5 Science-Backed Tips
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Naturopath’s Weight Loss Programme
Nutrition and Mineral Deficiencies
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Optimising Nutrition for Skin Health
- The Seriousness of Sugar
- The Importance of Mindfulness and Meditation in Natural Medicine
- Nutrition Deficiency: Visible Body Look Signs
- Helping Cardiovascular Disease in Women
- Sports Nutrition and Your Ideal Protein Requirements
- Creating a Healthy Diet for Good Health and Wellbeing
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Iron Deficiency and Anaemia: When Things Go from Bad to Worse
- Naturopathic Medicine: What You Need to Know
- National Herbal Medicine Week
- The Role of Nutrition and Naturopathy in Wellbeing
Parasites
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- Parasites from Traveling
- Natural Treatments for Those Pesky Parasites
- Clean Your Body of Parasites
- Parasite Cleanse
External References
Naturopathic Care for Anxiety: A Randomised Controlled Trial PLOS ONE
Global Naturopathy Research as Reflected by Scopus (2000–2019) – Emerald Insight
Selenium and Naturopathic Treatment of Hashimoto’s Disease – PubMed
Global Strategy for Traditional and Complementary Medicine – World Health Organization (WHO)
Naturopathy for Mental Health: Approaches to Anxiety and Depression – Journal of Integrative Medicine
Naturopathic Research Resources – World Naturopathic Federation
World Naturopathic Federation – Naturopathic Research Resources
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies – Overview of International Naturopathic Practice and Patient Characteristics
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) – Evidence-Based Naturopathy for Chronic Disease Management
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine – Naturopathic Research Capacity in Clinical Practice
PubMed – Clinical Evidence for Selenium and Naturopathic Treatment of Hashimoto’s Disease
World Health Organization (WHO) – Traditional and Complementary Medicine Strategy
Journal of Integrative Medicine – Naturopathic Approaches to Anxiety and Depression
National University of Health Sciences – Resources for Naturopathic Research
Cambridge Media Journals – Naturopathy in Clinical Practice Guidelines
The American Journal of Medicine – The Integration of Naturopathy in Chronic Disease Management
External Resources
– National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
– Australian Government: Department of Health
– World Health Organization (WHO) – Traditional Medicine
– National Institutes of Health (NIH) – MedlinePlus: Complementary and Integrative Medicine
– Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM)
– British Medical Journal (BMJ) Complementary Medicine
– Australian Traditional-Medicine Society (ATMS)
– University of Sydney – Complementary Medicine Research
– Australian College of Natural Medicine
– Natural and Traditional Medicine Program at the Australian National University