From Poison to Panacea: Exploring Herban Myths and Truths

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.

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Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/

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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/