Herbcast

Foraging for the truth: How is research changing the face of herbal medicine?
Sebastian Pole welcomes Dr. Merlin Wilcox, a primary research fellow at the Primary Care Research Centre at Southampton University, to discuss the intersection of herbal medicine and modern healthcare. With a rich background in medicine and a passion for herbal research, Merlin shares his journey from growing up with herbal remedies in his mother's garden to conducting pivotal research on traditional medicines in various countries.
The conversation delves into Merlin's experiences in Uganda and Madagascar, where he explored the efficacy of herbal treatments for malaria, and highlights the challenges faced in conducting clinical trials of herbal medicines in the UK due to stringent regulations.
Sebastian and Merline discuss the potential of herbs like Andrographis and Pelargonium in treating upper respiratory infections and the pressing issue of antibiotic resistance.
Merlin emphasises the importance of bridging the gap between traditional herbal practices and modern medical research, advocating for a collaborative approach that acknowledges the value of both systems.
As they explore the future of herbal medicine research, they touch on the need for patient advocacy and the role of the community in demanding more research and acceptance of herbal treatments.
In this episode:
The significance of traditional herbal knowledge and its integration with modern medicine.
Merlin's experiences in herbal medicine research across Africa.
The challenges and potential of conducting herbal clinical trials in the UK.
The role of herbal remedies in addressing antibiotic resistance.
How patient advocacy can drive future research and acceptance of herbal medicine.

About Dr. Merlin Wilcox:
Dr. Merlin Wilcox is a primary research fellow at the Primary Care Research Centre at Southampton University, where he focuses on the intersection of herbal medicine and conventional healthcare. With a rich background in both clinical practice and research, he has dedicated his career to exploring the efficacy of herbal treatments and advocating for their integration into modern medical practices.
Follow & Connect
Follow / connect with 7Song: https://7song.com/ / @7songsevensong / https://www.facebook.com/sevensong.sevensong
Explore a world of plant-powered knowledge at herbalreality.com or connect with us on Instagram @herbal.reality.
We are fundraising to continue our work! These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications.
We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/
Herbcast is proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative
Mentioned in this episode:
Support our cause - Donate to Herbal Reality
We are fundraising to continue our work!
These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/

The cure in your kitchen cupboard: The top 10 healing spices everyone needs to know with Dr Rupy Aujla
Simon Mills welcomes Dr. Rupy Aujla, founder of The Doctor’s Kitchen to discuss the profound connection between food, herbs, and health. With an extensive background in conventional medicine, Dr. Rupy shares how his own experience with paroxysmal ​atrial ​fibrillation led him to explore the transformative power of nutrition and discover a passion for food as medicine.
This conversation explores the importance of a plant-forward diet, with a particular focus on protein, herbs and spices, discussing their roles in traditional cuisines and their health benefits.
In this episode:
The impact of dietary choices on chronic health conditions.
How traditional wisdom informs modern nutritional practices.
The significance of cooking methods and ingredient combinations for optimal health (and a gift to pass down through generations)
The role of the microbiome in processing nutrients and supporting overall wellness.
Practical tips for incorporating more plants into your daily meals.

About Dr Rupy Aujla
Dr Rupy, MBBS, BSc, MRCGP, MSc is a London-based doctor, specialising in General
Practice and Emergency Medicine, a nutritionist and founder of The Doctor’s Kitchen.
He hosts The Doctor’s Kitchen podcast with over 20m downloads, YouTube channel
and Doctor’s Kitchen recipe app that helps over 10,000 people each week use
evidence-based food and lifestyle medicine to live healthier happier lives.
Dr Rupy’s life was changed after suffering a significant heart condition in 2009. After learning about nutritional medicine he was able to reverse his condition using a food and lifestyle approach. Influenced by the teachings of both ancient and modern medicine, underpinned by his own clinical experience, Dr Rupy creates recipes that optimise health. He is a Sunday Times bestselling author and has 5 cookbooks to his name as well as a Masters in Nutritional Medicine.
Dr Rupy founded Europe’s first non-profit Culinary Medicine programme for medical schools in 2017 that teaches undergraduates the foundations of nutritional medicine and how to cook.
Known for his BBC shows “Cooking in the Doctor’s Kitchen” as well as Channel 4’s Secrets of the Glucose Goddess with Jessie Inchauspé and Cook Clever Waste Less with Dame Prue Leith, Dr Rupy inspires audiences with easy, budget-friendly recipes that promote wellbeing. Regularly appearing on programs like This Morning and Saturday Kitchen, Dr. Rupy is on a mission to make healthy cooking accessible and enjoyable for all.

Follow & Connect
Follow / connect with Dr Rupy
Explore a world of plant-powered knowledge at herbalreality.com or connect with us on Instagram @herbal.reality.
We are fundraising to continue our work! These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications.
We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/
Herbcast is proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative
Mentioned in this episode:
Support our cause - Donate to Herbal Reality
We are fundraising to continue our work!
These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/

Power to the people with community based health
In this episode of Herbcast, Simon Mills welcomes herbalist and educator 7Song for a chat about the intricacies of herbal medicine and the personal journey that shaped his path. From his early experiments with plants to his rich experiences in diverse ecosystems across North America, 7Song shares the lessons he has learned throughout his extensive career in herbalism.
The conversation delves into 7Song’s initial fascination with nature, the various herbal schools that influenced his practice, and the importance of community engagement in herbal medicine. Listen for insights into the practical applications of herbs in clinical settings, the significance of social justice in healthcare, and the evolving role of herbalists in society today.
In this episode:
The pivotal moments that led 7Song to embrace herbalism as a lifelong vocation.
Reflections on the differences in plant materia medica across various regions, including the deserts of New Mexico and the Appalachian Mountains.
The importance of integrating herbal medicine with conventional healthcare and collaborating with other medical practitioners
Insights into the Ithaca Free Clinic and the role of herbalists in providing accessible healthcare.
7Song’s vision for the future of herbal education and the development of an online herbal database.

About 7Song
7Song is a clinical herbalist, teacher, and naturalist. In 1981 he began studying plants and herbal medicine and has been engaged and fascinated by them ever since. He started the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine in 1992 where he has been the director and primary teacher. He is one of the founders and a clinical herbalist at the Ithaca Free Clinic, which is an integrated free clinic offering both conventional and holistic modalities.
7Song is a Russian Jew, originally from Long Island, NY, but has been in Ithaca, NY for over 30 years. Along with teaching and clinical work, he enjoys identifying and photographing plants and other critters.
Follow & Connect
Follow / connect with 7Song: https://7song.com/ / @7songsevensong / https://www.facebook.com/sevensong.sevensong
Explore a world of plant-powered knowledge at herbalreality.com or connect with us on Instagram @herbal.reality.
We are fundraising to continue our work! These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications.
We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/
Herbcast is proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

Mentioned in this episode:
Support our cause - Donate to Herbal Reality
We are fundraising to continue our work!
These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/

From Poison to Panacea: Exploring Herban Myths and Truths
In this episode of Herbcast, Sebastian Pole is joined by Dr. Dilis Clare, a GP and medical herbalist, who runs an apothecary in Galway and hosts her own podcast, The Herb Doctor Podcast.
This conversation takes a look at the myths surrounding herbal medicine, addressing misconceptions about safety, efficacy, placebo, and the role of herbs in modern healthcare.
Dr. Clare shares her insights on the disconnect between modern medicine and patient care, exploring how the medical system often prioritises disease over holistic health. She discusses the challenges herbal medicine faces in the current healthcare landscape, including overregulation and the marginalisation of herbal practitioners.
The episode also highlights the importance of integrating herbal medicine into primary care, the need for better education among medical professionals about herbs, and how herbalists can effectively communicate with GPs.
In this episode:
Exploring the myths that all herbs are safe or merely placebos.
The disconnect in modern medicine and how it affects patient care.
Understanding the historical context of herbal medicine and its current challenges.
Strategies for herbalists to engage with conventional healthcare systems.
The potential for herbal medicine to play a central role in managing chronic diseases.

About Dr Dilis Clare
Dr Dílis Clare, BSc, MB, BCh, DRCOG, BSc(Herbal Medicine) trained in medicine at University College Medical School Dublin (ROI), and in Herbal Medicine at Middlesex University UK.
She is a leading authority on Herbal Medicine and has worked in Collaborative Medical Care since 1999, integrating the best of both pharmaceutical
and herbal medicine. She is an Honorary Clinical Fellow at the University College Medical School, Galway, Ireland.
She has published a herbal clinical case history and an article on the biphasic effects of Curcuminoids.
She has served on the accreditation board of the National Institute of Herbal Medicine (NIMH, UK).
Teaching integrated clinical skills for the Heartwood Professional Herbal Medicine course is a strong element of her current commitments.
She teaches herbal medicine students from a wide range of herbal medicine schools at her clinic in Galway.
She has a herbal clinic and apothecary that makes herbal medicines accessible to the public. She has developed a range of herbal food supplements and topical creams to regulatory specifications.
In late 2025 she coauthored a book titled Uprooted Medicine with researcher Dr Tim Morrissey, this is a Revealing History of Medicine that Restores Herbs to Patient-lead Care.

Follow & Connect
Connect with Dr Dilis: https://www.drclare.ie/ @drclareapothecary / www.facebook.com/drclareshop / X: @drdilisclare1
Explore a world of plant-powered knowledge at herbalreality.com or connect with us on Instagram @herbal.reality.
We are fundraising to continue our work! These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications.
We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/
Herbcast is proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

Mentioned in this episode:
Support our cause - Donate to Herbal Reality
We are fundraising to continue our work!
These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/

Sebastian welcomes renowned ethnographer, writer, and filmmaker Wade Davis to discuss the profound relationship between plants and cultures around the globe. With a wealth of experience as an Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society and a Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Wade shares his unique insights into how traditional knowledge and modern herbal science can harmoniously coexist.
Wade takes us on a journey through his early experiences in anthropology, revealing how his fascination with plants evolved into a deep appreciation for the wisdom embedded within various cultures. He reflects on his adventures in the Amazon, where he learned that plants are not merely resources but vital gateways to understanding human existence and cultural identity.
Throughout the conversation, Wade emphasises the importance of viewing every culture as a unique answer to the question of what it means to be human.
In this episode:
The significance of cultural relativism and the wisdom to be found in diverse traditions.
Wade's transformative experiences in the Amazon and how they shaped his understanding of botany and culture.
The vital role of herbalists in bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and contemporary health practices.
The impact of colonial attitudes on the perception of herbal medicine and the demonisation of plants like coca.
How embracing a deeper relationship with plants can foster respect for the natural world and promote sustainability.

About Wade Davis:
Wade Davis is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker whose work has taken him from the Amazon to Tibet, Africa to Australia, Polynesia to the Arctic. Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society from 2000 to 2013, he was Professor of Anthropology and the BC Leadership Chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of British Columbia until retiring in 2024. Davis holds degrees in anthropology and biology and received his Ph.D. in ethnobotany, all from Harvard University. His 23 books, published in 26 languages, include The Serpent and the Rainbow, One River, The Wayfinders and Into the Silence, winner of the 2012 Samuel Johnson prize, the top award for nonfiction in the English language. His many film credits include Light at the Edge of the World, an eight-hour documentary series written and produced for the NGS. One of 20 Honorary Members of the Explorers Club, Davis is the recipient of 12 honorary degrees, as well as the 2009 Gold Medal from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the 2011 Explorers Medal, the 2012 David Fairchild Medal for botanical exploration, the 2015 Centennial Medal of Harvard University, the 2017 Roy Chapman Andrews Society’s Distinguished Explorer Award, the 2017 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration, and the 2018 Mungo Park Medal from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. In 2016, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2018 he became an Honorary Citizen of Colombia. His recent books include Magdalena: River of Dreams (2020) and Beneath the Surface of Things (2024).
Follow & Connect
Follow / connect with Wade: https://daviswade.com/ / @wadedavisoffical
Explore a world of plant-powered knowledge at herbalreality.com or connect with us on Instagram @herbal.reality.
We are fundraising to continue our work! These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications.
We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/
Herbcast is proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative
Mentioned in this episode:
Support our cause - Donate to Herbal Reality
We are fundraising to continue our work!
These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/