Herbal Medicines

Healthspan customer reviews

Herbal Medicines guides

What are Herbal Medicines?

Herbal medicines use plant extracts to help support our health. All parts of the plant can be used, including the roots, stems, flowers, leaves, bark, fruit, or seeds, depending on which has the highest concentration of active ingredients.

Herbal remedies can have powerful effects – particularly if you choose a supplement with standardised extracts. This means that every tablet will contain enough of the active ingredients to benefit your health, unlike non-standardised products which, because of the differences in natural extracts, could mean that your supplements contain little, if any, active ingredients.

Healthspan's herbal medicines use high-quality standardised extracts that are consistent across every tablet, pack, and batch. As a guarantee of quality, all Healthspan's products are registered as part of the THR scheme and regulated by the MHRA. Always buy from a brand you trust.

Types of Herbal Remedies

Healthspan offers a range of herbal medicines, targeting some of the most important areas of our health and wellbeing, including joints, hormonal support, sleep, and digestion.

For convenience, all Healthspan's herbal remedies are available as herbal capsules or tablets.

Herbal Remedies for Menopause

Herbal medicines are a popular alternative for women experiencing menopausal symptoms. One of the most popular is black cohosh, traditionally used to help relieve symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, and temporary mood changes. It can also be used to relax menstrual cramps and for irregular periods.

Healthspan's Black Cohosh Menopause Relief contains an extract from the rhizome and root of the black cohosh herb. Each tablet contains 6.5mg of dried rhizome and root extract, equivalent to 29.25-55.25mg of black cohosh. The recommended dosage is one tablet per day.

No serious side effects have been reported from the use of black cohosh, although excessive doses may cause headache, nausea or indigestion.

Herbal Remedies for Premenstrual Relief

Another herbal medicine popular with women is Agnus Castus, derived from a tree native to the Mediterranean. Agnus Castus is traditionally used to help relieve the symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) such as menstrual cramps, bloating, mood swings, and breast tenderness.

Agnus Castus Premenstrual Relief provides 4mg dried Agnus Castus Fruit Extract (equivalent to 28-52mg of Agnus Castus) in every tablet. One tablet is recommended per day, with the full benefits being felt after 3-6 months.

Tablets should not be taken at the same time as hormone treatments such as HRT and the oral contraceptive.

Herbal Remedies for Sleep

Another popular herbal remedy is valerian, traditionally used to aid sleep. The roots of Valeriana officinalis contain unique substances that have a sedative action, and are thought to work by raising levels of a neurotransmitter (GABA) that reduces the over-stimulation that occurs during anxiety.

Valerian SleepAid is a traditional herbal medicine for the temporary relief of sleep disturbances caused by mild anxiety. Each tablet contains 300mg dried root extract – equivalent to 900mg-1,500mg of Valerian root – and should be taken half an hour before bed.

Valerian is preferred by many people to conventional sleeping aids as it is non-addictive and does not produce a hangover effect, as it promotes a natural form of sleep. However, it may cause a mild drowsiness, which will affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, and should not be taken if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or in conjunction with other prescribed sleeping pills.

Herbal Remedies for Digestive Conditions

Often popular around the festive season, milk thistle is traditionally used to help relieve the symptoms of over-indulgence (food and drink), such as indigestion and an upset stomach (based on traditional use only.)

The seeds of the milk thistle herb (Silybum marianum) are thought to be the most effective part of the plant, thanks to a mixture of antioxidants known as silymarin. The best supplements will tell you the amount of silymarin in every tablet (as well as the amount of milk thistle itself) to help you choose the best one for you.

Each capsule of Healthspan's Milk Thistle contains 193−261mg of standardised dried fruit extract, equivalent to 3.725g−10.818g of Milk Thistle fruits, corresponding to 108mg of silymarin.

Take one tablet up to twice daily with water.

Other Herbal Medicines

Natural herbal remedies can also target other areas of the body, including our joints and immune system.

Devil's Claw, for example, is traditionally used for backache and rheumatic and muscular pain, and is regarded as gentler on the body than conventional alternatives. Healthspan's Devil's Claw JointAid contains 450mg dried Devil's Claw root extract – equivalent to 1,575mg-2,250mg of Devil's Claw root – in every tablet, to help ensure the best results. Take one tablet twice a day, morning and evening.

To support the immune system, Echinacea Cold and Flu Relief is a well-known seasonal favourite, and should be taken at the first sign of a common cold or flu-like infection (based on traditional use). Every capsule contains 176mg of dried, pressed juice from fresh, flowering Echinacea purpurea (equivalent to 3,520-4,925mg of fresh flowering Echinacea purpurea). One or two capsules should be taken a day.

Herbal medicines can also support mood and migraines. St John's Wort, a well-known traditional herbal remedy, is used for the relief of low mood and mild anxiety. Healthspan's St John's Wort Mood Relief provides 370mg of dried aerial parts extract in every tablet, equivalent to 1,850mg-2,590mg of St John's Wort.

Similarly, feverfew is another option for migraines if you're looking for long-term, natural prevention. Healthspan's Feverfew Migraine Relief is a traditional herbal medicine containing 100mg dry feverfew herb. One capsule should be taken at the same time every day – although it should be noted that the maximum benefits can take several months to become apparent.

Whether you're looking for joint support, help with hormonal balance, or sleep support, Healthspan has a range of herbal supplements to help support your health – all THR-approved by the MHRA to ensure the best results for your health goals.

For more help and advice, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Our knowledgeable customer advisors are available seven days a week in our UK-based call centre.

You can also read more in our advice hub, including Ayurvedic herbs and lifestyle, 7 natural HRT alternatives, The best menopause supplements and Hot flushes: How black cohosh can help to cool you down.