26 Jul 2023
Can you treat diabetes with herbs? It’s a controversial question, but one that my next guest Dr Merlin Willcox, may have the answer to.
Today, we’re diving into the world of therapeutic herbs and spices. Travelling across generations and cultures from around the world to discuss traditional medicine practices, whether they hold up to scientific scrutiny and if these herbs and spices have a place in our drug cabinets as well as our kitchens.
Dr Willcox has worked as a GP in the NHS since 2003 and currently works in a practice in Oxford. His research interests at the University of Southampton include global health, clinical trials of herbal medicines, and improving care for vulnerable people.
Dr Willcox has researched different aspects of primary health care in low-income countries, with a particular focus on child health, malaria and traditional medicines.He has been involved in several clinical trials of herbal medicines in Uganda, Madagascar, Mali and the UK and coordinates the RITAM network (Research Initiative on Traditional Antimalarial Methods).
We’re talking about a bunch of compounds today including moringa, ginseng, cinnamon, nigella, fenugreek, psyllium and will be discussing their potential mechanism of action plus the evidence for them. But please, if you are thinking of supplementing or trying these items, particularly if you have a condition or take pharmaceuticals, please do discuss this with your physician.
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Academic Clinical Lecturer and researcher at the University of Southampton and NHS GP
Dr Willcox has worked as a GP in the NHS since 2003 and currently works in a practice in Oxford as well as in the Out of Hours service. His research interests include global health, clinical trials of herbal medicines, and improving care for vulnerable people. His research interests at the University of Southampton focus on the care of vulnerable people, global health, and traditional (particularly herbal) medicine.
Dr Willcox has researched different aspects of primary health care in low-income countries, with a particular focus on child health, malaria and traditional medicines. He led a pilot confidential enquiry into maternal and child deaths in Uganda and Mali from 2011 to 2015. He has been involved in several clinical trials of herbal medicines in Uganda, Madagascar, Mali and the UK and coordinates the RITAM network (Research Initiative on Traditional Antimalarial Methods).
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