Herbal Reality is brought to life by the contributions of our authors and the guidance of the Herbal Expert & Research Body (HERB) team.

Andrew Flower MRCHM, PhD

I have been practising acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) since 1992. In 2009 I completed my PhD at The University of Southampton exploring the role of CHM in the treatment of endometriosis.

I have published a number of peer-reviewed papers relating to Chinese medicine research, including two Cochrane systematic reviews.

In 2011, I was awarded a 5 year NIHR post doctoral Fellowship to investigate Chinese herbs for the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs) that resulted in the RUTI trial. In 2017 I helped set up the recently accredited White Crane Academy of CHM. He is a founder member of the Jade Screen Project.

Alex Laird BSc, FCPP, Medical herbalist, founder Living Medicine

Reconnecting to each other, self care, food and nature are keys to our resilience. The design and rhythm of life at all levels guide my work and teaching. Since 2000, I have run the herbal dermatology clinic at Whipps Cross hospital, along with clinics in breast cancer support and general health.

I founded the charity Living Medicine to teach self care with food and herbs to public and patients alike and unlock the healing potential of gardens.   Our longterm vision is to co-create with the public a hands-on beautiful Living Medicine World Garden and centre of excellence linking to medicinal gardens worldwide and revive our global traditions of natural medicine.

My book Root to Stem: a seasonal guide to natural remedies and recipes for everyday life (Penguin) was published in 2019. I am a visiting lecturer and have published herbal medicine research.  I was a TV producer for 12 years, then as an aromatherapist ran clinics at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and at centres for those with HIV and drug problems.

Vilma Matuleviciute MSc (Herbal Medicine), Nat.Dip., CST, FIRH, MNIMH

I am an experienced medical herbalist, naturopath and craniosacral therapist, in clinical practice for over 16 years. With a background in biochemistry and food technology, I studied herbal medicine and naturopathy at the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) in Dublin, and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Western Herbal Medicine from the University of Westminster, London.

Having spent 12 years as Herbal Medicine course & clinical director, and as a senior lecturer at the CNM (Dublin), I continue teaching on various courses, provides CPD seminars for practitioners and gives talks for the public regularly.

I am a lecturer and clinic supervisor at the Excelsior Apprenticeships School of Herbal Medicine in Belfast (N.Ireland). I am also a clinical examiner and herbal clinics supervisor at the Plant Medicine School (Ireland) and manages a monthly low-cost student clinic for the public at the Red Stables in St.Anne’s Park, Dublin.

In addition, I am a lecturer and an international consultant for the Department of Holistic Medicine at the faculty of Health Science, Klaipeda University (Lithuania), and currently involved in setting up the university’s first Bachelor’s degree course in Phytotherapy. I also teach Phytotherapy on their Master’s degree program in CAM.

I am a Fellow of the Irish Register of Herbalists (IRH). I am a co-founder of the IRH and was a long-standing President of the IRH 2013-2019. Currently I am the vice-President of the IRH. In 2018-2019 I was a vice-Chair of the Federation of Irish Complementary Therapy Association (FICTA).

I am also a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH).

Anne McIntyre FNIMH, MAPA, MCPP

I am a Fellow of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, a Member of the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy, and a Member of the Ayurvedic Practitioners’ Association. I have been in clinical practice working as a medical herbalist for nearly years and for the last 30 years have incorporated Ayurvedic philosophy and medicine into my practice, producing an integrated approach to the care of patients and prescription of herbs.

I am the author of many books on herbal medicine and Ayurveda including The Complete Woman’s Herbal, Healing Drinks, The Complete Floral Healer, Herbal Medicine for Children: Western and Ayurvedic Perspectives, The Complete Herbal Tutor, The Ayurveda Bible and Dispensing with Tradition: A Guide to using Indian and Western Herbs the Ayurvedic Way.

I run a busy practice in Gloucestershire, and lecture widely on herbal medicine and Ayurveda in the UK and USA. I run courses from my home in Gloucestershire where I tend to my beautiful herb garden which is open to the general public by appointment. I also offer online courses in Ayurveda for lay people and other professionals.

Simon Y. Mills MA, FCPP, FNIMH

I am a Cambridge medical sciences graduate and have been a herbal practitioner in Exeter since 1977. In that time I have led the main professional and trade organizations for herbal medicine in the UK and served on Government and House of Lords committees. I have written standard textbooks used by herbal practitioners around the world, including with Professor Kerry Bone from Australia.

I was involved in academic work for many years, co-founding the University of Exeter pioneering Centre for Complementary Health Studies in 1987 (where we built a complementary research and postgraduate teaching programme from scratch), then at Peninsula the first integrated health course at a UK medical school, and the first Masters degree in herbal medicine in the USA, at the Maryland University of Integrative Health.

I am particularly fascinated by the insights we can distill from the millions of intelligent people who over many centuries needed plants to survive. Mostly I want to learn and share the old skills, to experience healing plants as characters, that can help us fend off ill health. My passion for offering people tools to look after themselves and their families has led me to work with the founders of the College of Medicine on pioneering national self care and social prescribing projects. I am now the College Self Care Lead and also Herbal Strategist at Pukka Herbs.

Sebastian Pole Lic OHM, Ayur HC, MAPA, MRCHM, FURHP

I practice traditional herbal medicine, and I am a Master Herbsmith and Co-founder of Pukka Herbs.

I founded Herbal Reality to help share traditional, scientific and practical insights in herbal medicine that inspire a deeper understanding of the power of plants and natural healing. By spreading knowledge of how plants can be used for supporting sustainable health we will help empower, engage and evolve society’s cultural relationship with healing plant foods and medicines.

I am passionate about how herbalism can help serve society, the sustainable supply of organic and pharmacopoeial grade herbs as well as working with communities to protect both their livelihoods and local ecosystems. I’ve spent the last 20 years dedicated to bringing the best quality herbs for Pukka’s herbal teas and organic wellbeing supplements whilst pioneering sustainable organic and fairwild herbal value chains.

I live on a garden-farm in Somerset where I grow a rainbow spectrum of medicinal and nourishing plants for my bees and family to thrive on.

Serving on Pukka’s Board and Mission Council, a trustee of The FairWild Foundation, and the Betonica School of Medicine, the Advisory Board of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and the American Botanical Council Sustainable Herbs Project.

Author of Ayurvedic Medicine: The Principles of Traditional Practice (Elsevier 2006), A Pukka Life (Quadrille 2011), Celebrating 10 Pukka years (2012) and Cleanse, Nurture, Restore with Herbal Tea (Frances Lincoln 2016).

Dr. Edward Thompson

I am a General Practitioner with an expertise in Integrated Medicine. I graduated from Leicester Medical School (MB ChB) in 2007 and completed my GP training in 2012. I am a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP). I originally graduated from St Andrews University with a Arts Degree (MA) in 1990 and then studied Homeopathy at the College of Homeopathy (LCH) from 1990 -1993.

I studied Herbal Medicine completing the East West Course in Herbal Medicine (EWCH) in 1994. I also completed the Ayurvedic Medicine Studies Program at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque USA in 1994. I studied Chinese Herbal Medicine with the Renshu College of Chinese Medicine (Dip CHM) qualifying in 2000, as well as Acupuncture at The Southwest College of Oriental Medicine (Dip. Ac.) from which I qualified in 1998.

I also completed further Herbal Medicine modules at Westminster University from 1999-2002. I have designed and directed a professional Herbal Medicine course and I am a clinical teacher at the Leicester Medical School. I am a member of the Faculty of Homeopathy (MF Hom), the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths (MARH) and the British Register of Complementary practitioners (MBRCP). I am a fellow of the Unified Register of Herbal Practitioners (FURHP). I am a board member of the College of Medicine. My vision is of a genuine integration between the best of modern and traditional systems of medicine so giving patients choice and a greater opportunity to return to and maintain their health.

Robert Verkerk

I am the founder of the Alliance for Natural Health.

I am a healthcare scientist with over 25 years of experience in the field of agriculture and healthcare sustainability, having worked in academia, industry and the not-for-profit sector.

I have worked as a leading scientist in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Americas as well as Europe. After leaving Imperial College London in 2002, I founded the Alliance for Natural Health which I am currently heading.