S2: Ep3 Using Herbal Remedies in the Home with Medical Herbalist Lucie Bradley

 In this episode, medical herbalist Lucie Bradley talks about how she was initially led to explore alternative health options when medical treatment for persistent vaginal thrush failed to work for her. This enquiry led her to study medical herbalism, and subsequently spend time in Africa working with nurses and doctors in integrated clinics, using herbal medicine alongside medical practices.

Her exploration of local uses of herbs in Tanzania led her to then complete a Masters degree in ethnobotany while living and working as a single mother in Africa.

On returning to the UK she set up a clinical herbalist practice in Edinburgh, and is now based in Glasgow with a busy herbal practice. Lucie is eager for people to be able to take more control over their own health, and so also runs a course on using herbal remedies to treat simple ailments in the home.

Lucie Bradley embodies the values and aims of The Mother Podcast, to empower women to take more control over their health by exploring and learning about alternatives to Western medicine. Lucie has worked tirelessly through her life to teach people to not only use, but integrate, plant medicine into their lives.

Listen to this episode to find out:

• How persistent vaginal thrush led Lucie to find alternative health practices
• The connection between the food we eat and our health
• How our past experiences and trauma can affect our health
• How plant medicine is used in malaria treatment
• The challenge of being a successful practitioner and running a business
• Working with money blocks to be able to earn money as an alternative health practitioner
• How practitioner-grade herbs are more effective
• How the processing of herbs determines its effectiveness
• How plants work synergistically, and pharmacological medicines don’t
• Reasons why people are suspicious of herbal medicine, and how herbal medicine got pushed out of mainstream culture
• How understanding your own constitution is important for taking control of your health
• That most herbs are safe in pregnancy
• Why it is important to maintain your health – and gut health – to stay well, and why it is even more important for pregnant women to keep themselves healthy
• How to use garlic and onion as antimicrobials
• How to make fire cider
• Making your own berry tincture in the autumn to stay well in winter
• How staying well includes treating our stress levels
• Adaptogens and their importance in keeping stress levels healthy
• Finding reliable information on herbal medicine
• How to use herbal baths for infants and children

Lucie can be found at https://www.luciebradley.co.uk/

Lucie's instagram handle is lbradleymedicalherbalist
You can access Lucie's Herbs for Simple Ailments online course through her Instagram

Suzanne's website - podcast, blog, booking and resources:
www.motherheal.com

Suzanne is mother.heal on Instagram

Suzanne is at Suzanne.mother.heal on Facebook

music by Shooglenifty with Dhun Dhora
https://www.shooglenifty.com/

The Mother Podcast is produced by Garry Finlayson and Suzanne Maier