#16 The Power of Plant Medicine: Ginkgo, Ginger, and the Future of Brain Health with Simon Mills
Pioneering herbalist Simon Mills joins Dr Elizabeth Thompson for a fascinating exploration of why Integrative Medicine remains essential despite persistent barriers in mainstream healthcare. With over 40 years of experience, Simon traces the evolution from “alternative” to “complementary” to “integrative” medicine, revealing how he co-founded the Research Council for Complementary Medicine.
The conversation delves into the science behind key botanical medicines, from ginkgo’s remarkable effects on circulation and cognition to the anti-inflammatory properties of ginger and turmeric, while challenging common misconceptions about herbal medicine being “slow” to work. Simon emphasises the immediate physiological effects of plant-based remedies and introduces lesser-known therapeutic agents like resins (myrrh and frankincense) for immune support.
The episode concludes with exciting emerging research on the neurovascular unit (formerly the blood-brain barrier) and how dietary plant compounds are revolutionising our understanding of brain health and neuroinflammation.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Herbal medicine works immediately: Contrary to popular belief, many herbal remedies have instant physiological effects, particularly on gut receptors and mucosal surfaces
- Ginkgo requires the right form: Only standardised extracts like EGB761 (50:1 extraction) show clinical benefits; the raw leaf doesn’t match the medicinal preparation used in research
- Heat and circulation are fundamental healing principles: Traditional medicine’s focus on warming remedies (ginger, cayenne) reflects deep physiological wisdom about blood flow and inflammation resolution
- Turmeric works in the gut: Most curcumin stays in the digestive system by design, where it reduces inflammatory gut bacteria rather than needing systemic absorption
- Resins are forgotten medicine: Myrrh, frankincense, and high-alcohol calendula extracts coat mucosal surfaces and activate innate immune defences, knowledge lost when glassware made resins inconvenient for laboratories
- The blood-brain barrier is actually a dynamic interface: Now called the neurovascular unit, this system actively regulates brain health, and plant-based dietary compounds show promise in supporting it
- Fever has protective benefits: Well-managed fevers prime the innate immune system, particularly neutrophils and phagocytes, offering long-term immune advantages
- Recovery requires time: Mills recommends one month of recovery for each year of chronic illness, emphasising the importance of convalescence over immediate symptom suppression
About our guest:
Simon Mills is a Cambridge medical sciences graduate and a leading expert in herbal medicine and integrative health. In clinical practice since 1977, he has chaired major UK herbal organizations, advised the UK Government on herbal medicine, and led a European Commission project on the subject. Since 1997, he has served as Secretary of ESCOP, producing key herbal medicine monographs for the European Medicines Agency.
Simon co-founded the Centre for Complementary Health Studies at the University of Exeter, chaired the Prince of Wales’ regulatory committee on integrated health, and was a special advisor to the House of Lords Select Committee on Complementary Medicine. He has supervised ten doctoral theses, published in peer-reviewed journals, and pioneered the first integrated medicine course at a UK medical school.
A Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, Simon has led major initiatives in self-care and social prescription, including a Department of Health project on integrated self-care. Since 2016, he has been Herbal Strategist at Pukka Herbs, co-developing the Herbal Reality platform to advance herbal medicine education. Find out more about Simon and his work at Plant Guides here.
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