The Benefits of Herbal Medicine and Natural Remedies
For many people, the idea of natural remedies - including herbal remedies - brings up mixed feelings.
On one hand, there’s curiosity, a sense that there must be more to health than just prescriptions and test results. On the other, there’s hesitation. You might have heard conflicting advice online, worried about safety, or been unsure whether your GP would take your questions seriously.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone and its something we see at Latern Clinic frequently.
We often meet people who aren’t rejecting conventional medicine - they’re simply looking for a broader, more thoughtful approach. One that considers lifestyle, stress, nutrition, and the body as a connected system, while still staying grounded in evidence and safety.
This article is about helping you understand the benefits of herbal approaches and other natural options, where they can be helpful, where caution is needed, and how they can fit sensibly alongside conventional care and modern medicine.
What Do We Mean by “Herbal Remedies” or Natural Remedies?
The term natural remedies is broad, and that’s part of the confusion. It can include herbal medicine, lifestyle approaches, and other forms of complementary support.
It can refer to:
Nutritional approaches (such as food choices or correcting deficiencies)
Lifestyle factors (sleep, movement, stress regulation)
Herbal and plant-based products (herbs, teas, extracts)
Mind–body practices (breathing, mindfulness, nervous system support)
Supplements derived from natural sources, including some herbal supplements
Importantly, natural does not automatically mean:
Harmless
Proven
Appropriate for everyone
And it certainly doesn’t mean “better than” medicine offered in conventional healthcare.
A balanced view recognises that natural options including herbal remedies are tools: some useful, some overhyped, some potentially risky, depending on how, when, and why they’re used.
Herbal Medicine as Complementary and Alternative Medicine
In healthcare, herbal medicine is often grouped under complementary and alternative approaches — sometimes called complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). You may also see the term complementary medicine used, especially when these approaches are used alongside conventional medicine, rather than instead of it.
It’s also worth knowing that herbal practice sits within wider systems of traditional medicine used by people around the world. This includes traditional Chinese medicine as well as ayurvedic medicine. The use of traditional medicine is part of a long history of health care in many cultures, and remains relevant in world health and global health today.
Why People Are Drawn to Natural Approaches
There are good reasons why interest in natural remedies has grown over recent years, including interest in herbalapproaches and other complementary options.
Many people come to us after feeling that:
Their symptoms don’t quite fit into a neat diagnosis
Tests come back “normal” but they still feel unwell
They’ve experienced side effects from medication or other medicine
Their health concerns feel dismissed or rushed
Natural approaches often appeal because they:
Focus on why symptoms might be happening, not just suppressing them
Encourage people to understand their bodies better
Support long-term health, not just short-term fixes
Feel more aligned with everyday life and self-care
When used thoughtfully, this curiosity is not misguided, it can be a valuable starting point for health and well-being.
The Core Benefits of Natural Remedies (When Used Well)
1. They Support the Body as a Whole
One of the biggest strengths of natural approaches is that they rarely focus on a single symptom in isolation. This includes approaches that use traditional herbal preparations as well as lifestyle-based care.
Sleep, digestion, mood, energy, hormones, and immune function are deeply interconnected. Addressing one area often affects several others - sometimes in subtle but meaningful ways.
For example:
Improving sleep quality may support energy, mood, blood sugar balance, and immune health
Supporting digestion can influence nutrient absorption, inflammation, and even mental wellbeing
Reducing chronic stress can affect hormones, gut function, and pain perception
This whole-person lens is often where natural remedies add the most value and where herbal medicine aims to support the person, not just the symptom.
2. They Encourage Active Participation in Health
Natural approaches often place you inside the process, rather than something being done to you. For many people, that shift matters as much as any particular medicine.
That might involve:
Learning how food affects your symptoms
Noticing how stress shows up in your body
Understanding your sleep patterns
Becoming aware of early warning signs before symptoms escalate
This sense of knowing your body can be empowering, especially for people who have felt passive or unheard in healthcare settings.
3. They Can Be Gentle and Supportive When Medication Isn’t Needed
Not every health concern requires medication or other medicine.
In many situations, especially for early or mild symptoms, addressing lifestyle, nutrition, and stress can be a sensible first step. For some people, taking herbal supplements can sit in this category too, where appropriate.
Natural remedies may be helpful:
Alongside “watch and wait” approaches
During recovery or convalescence
As part of prevention and long-term wellbeing
In supporting resilience during periods of stress or change
This isn’t about avoiding medicine when it’s needed, it’s about matching the response to the situation and choosing the right kind of support for each person individually.
Common Misconceptions About Natural Remedies
“If it’s natural, it must be safe”
This is one of the most important myths to address.
Many natural substances are biologically active. In herbalmedicine, that activity comes from the plant’s chemistry and its active ingredient compounds.
Herbalmedicines might:
Interact with prescription medications and other prescription drugs
Affect liver or kidney function
Alter hormone levels
Be unsafe in pregnancy or certain medical conditions
“Natural” does not equal “risk-free.” Some herbs can interact with other medicines, and in certain situations may increase side effects including the risk of bleeding.
This is why it is always recommended to discuss any alternative medicinal treatments with a qualified doctor.
“Natural remedies can replace conventional medicine”
In some cases, natural approaches may reduce symptom burden or support recovery. But they are not substitutes for:
Emergency care
Necessary medications and essential medicine
Evidence-based screening or monitoring
A safe approach is integrative, not oppositional and should support conventional medical treatment when it’s required.
“More is better”
Higher doses are not always more effective - and can sometimes be harmful.
Supplements and herbs should be chosen carefully, at appropriate doses, and for clear reasons. Random stacking of products rarely leads to better outcomes - especially if you’re taking herbal products alongside other medicine.
How Evidence Fits In (Clinical Trials and Herbal Medicine)
One of the biggest frustrations people experience is the lack of clear guidance on what actually works.
Some natural approaches have:
Strong evidence
Emerging but promising research
Limited or mixed data
No meaningful evidence at all
As clinicians, it is our job not to dismiss natural remedies, but not to blindly endorse them either. Where possible, we look for good-quality clinical trials and safety data, particularly for commonly used herbal medicine and other interventions used in the UK.
At Lantern Clinic, we aim to:
Use evidence where it exists
Be honest where evidence is limited
Prioritise safety at all times
Revisit and reassess rather than “set and forget”
This approach protects you from both unnecessary scepticism and unnecessary risk, and supports better health information decisions overall.
Where Natural Remedies Often Fit Best
Natural approaches are often most helpful when:
Symptoms are chronic but not dangerous
Stress and lifestyle clearly play a role
Multiple systems are involved
Standard tests are reassuring but symptoms persist
The goal is long-term health, not just symptom control
They can also be valuable alongside conventional treatment, helping support recovery, resilience, and quality of life. In that sense, natural approaches can feel like medicine within a bigger plan, rather than an “either/or”.
No two people respond the same way.
What helps one person may do very little for another, and something that feels “right” can still be inappropriate in a different context.
A safe approach considers:
Your medical history
Current medications and other medicine
Life stage
Stress levels
Nutritional status
Personal preferences and capacity
This is why personalised guidance matters far more than generic advice found online, especially when you’re managing multiple health conditions.
Navigating Natural Remedies Safely (Using Herbal Medicine)
If you’re considering natural remedies, some gentle principles can help keep things grounded - particularly if you use herbal approaches or are using herbal medicine alongside other care.
Be wary of bold claims or “cure-all” language, and pay attention to the claims made
Avoid using multiple new products at once - especially when including herbal items
Pay attention to changes - good and bad
Let your healthcare provider know what you’re taking; tell them about any herbal products or supplements you use
Seek guidance from clinicians who respect both safety and curiosity - ideally a regulated health professional
You don’t need to choose between being open-minded and being cautious. You can be both.
Buying Herbal Medicines Safely
If you’re thinking about buying herbal products, a little caution goes a long way. Buying herbal medicines from reputable sources matters because quality can vary, especially online. In the UK, you may see information about the registration of herbal products and quality standards.
A good rule of thumb is to be cautious with products that make sweeping promises, and to avoid assuming herbal medicines are safe for everyone by default.
People often pick up remedies from health food shops or broader health food retailers. That can be perfectly reasonable - but it’s still worth thinking about your situation, any existing medicine you take, and whether you might be better supported by a clinician.
UK safety discussions may reference the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatoryframework and the Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, as well as broader guidance from the Department of Health (wording and responsibilities can shift over time).
Herbal Preparations, Plant Parts, and Traditional Herbal Medicines
Herbs used in healthcare come in many forms — teas, tinctures, capsules, and other herbal preparations. These often use specific plant parts (such as leaves, roots, or flowers), and the same herb can behave differently depending on how it’s prepared. This is one reason many herbal products aren’t directly interchangeable, even if the label looks similar.
It’s also why traditional herbal medicines have historically been used with care and context - in many places, medicinefor centuries has included both “traditional medicine and western” approaches, depending on culture, access, and the health need at the time.
A Note on St John’s Wort (Wort) and Interactions
A well-known example is st john’s wort (often written as St John’s Wort). This wort is commonly discussed in relation to mood, and you may see it mentioned as being used for anxiety or low mood. However, it’s also a good illustration of why safety matters: it can interact with other medicines and prescription drug metabolism, which is one reason it’s important to discuss it with a clinician if you’re taking herbal medicine or taking any herbal medicines alongside prescriptions.
A Thoughtful, Integrated Approach to Care (Complementary and Alternative Therapies)
At Lantern Clinic, we see natural remedies not as alternatives, but as complementary tools that can be helpful when chosen carefully and used in the right context. In other words, we’re often looking at how alternative therapies might fit safely alongside evidence-based medicine.
Our role is to:
Help you make sense of conflicting information
Explore possible contributing factors without blame
Support you in a way that feels safe, grounded, and personalised
Combine the strengths of conventional medicine with a broader view of health
You don’t have to navigate this alone, and you don’t have to commit to extremes. The goal is sensible, safe integration, choosing the right medicine, the right timing, and the right level of support.
Leaving You With Clarity, Not Pressure
If you’re curious about natural remedies, that curiosity is valid. Many people are exploring herbal options because they want a thoughtful approach to health, not a quick fix.
You don’t need to rush into supplements, reject medication, or overhaul your life overnight. Often, the most meaningful changes start with understanding - and with small, thoughtful steps.
Natural options can be helpful, but they’re not a substitute for good assessment. If something is persistent, worsening, or worrying - or if you’re navigating a specific mental health problem - it’s worth speaking to a clinician.
The aim is not to “treat everything naturally”, but to choose what’s appropriate and safe, including when used to treat symptoms as part of a broader plan.
Health is rarely about choosing one path over another. More often, it’s about finding a balance that respects both science and the lived experience of your body.
If you’d like support exploring that balance, we’re here to help.
Discover how Functional Medicine can integrate natural remedies into a personalised plan for lasting health. Book your free discovery call with Lantern Clinic today.
