"All Nature is like one single apothecary's shop, covered only by the roof of Heaven." — Paracelsus, 16th century
Plants have been our oldest medicine. According to the World Health Organisation, herbal medicine is still the most widely used form of medicine globally — and modern research is now confirming what traditional practice has long known. Used skilfully, herbs work with the body rather than override it.
I'm Jennifer Derham — I trained as a Medical Herbalist at the University of Westminster, completing a four-year BSc (Hons) with over 500 hours of supervised clinical training. I hold an MSc in Ethnobotany from the University of Kent in conjunction with the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. I'm BANT-registered, CNHC-accredited, and a member of the Royal Society of Medicine and the British Society of Ecological Medicine. With over 20 years in clinical practice, I work from an NHS GP surgery in Fulham — often with patients where conventional medicine has run out of options.
What I see most often
My clinic has gravitated towards the conditions where herbal medicine has the strongest, most distinctive contribution to make.
Chronic and recurrent infections
Stubborn infections that keep coming back — or never fully resolve — are where herbal medicine often outperforms conventional approaches. Modern evidence is now substantial. I work with:
- Chronic Lyme, Bartonella and post-treatment Lyme syndrome
- Recurrent urinary tract infections (including menopause-related and interstitial cystitis)
- Chronic sinusitis (bacterial and fungal)
- Mould-related illness (CIRS) and chronic fungal overgrowth
- Reactivated viral infections — Epstein-Barr, post-COVID, shingles
Immune resilience and chronic fatigue
Long COVID, ME/CFS, post-viral fatigue, frequent infections, autoimmunity — herbal adaptogens, immune modulators and antiviral herbs offer real support where conventional treatment is limited. See the Chronic Fatigue & Immune Support page.
Broader conditions I treat
- Women's health — perimenopause, PMS, painful periods, fibroids, endometriosis, fertility and preconception care
- Skin — acne, eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections
- Digestive — IBS, reflux, food sensitivities, Crohn's, coeliac
- Respiratory — asthma, hay fever, recurrent coughs and bronchitis
- Circulation, blood pressure, varicose veins
- Stress, sleep, migraine, joint pain, autoimmune conditions
If you're not sure herbal medicine is right for your situation, get in touch.
The evidence
Herbal medicine is no longer a leap of faith. Some of the strongest recent research:
- Chronic Lyme: A 2020 Johns Hopkins study identified seven botanicals — most notably Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and Japanese knotweed — with stronger activity against persister-form Borrelia burgdorferi than doxycycline.
- Recurrent UTI: Cochrane review evidence shows cranberry products reduce symptomatic UTIs in women with recurrent infection (RR 0.74).
- Chronic sinusitis: A network meta-analysis of 47 RCTs across 18 herbal medicines showed lower recurrence than conventional treatment alone.
- Mould illness: Saccharomyces boulardii and antifungal botanicals support mycotoxin clearance and immune regulation.
I prescribe based on evidence, training and the individual in front of me — not protocols.
Treat the person, not the disease
Two patients with the same diagnosis rarely need the same prescription. A full case history, careful examination and — where useful — functional or biochemical testing inform a plan that fits your biology, not a textbook.
Herbal medicines are mostly prescribed as tinctures (water and ethanol extracts) taken in water, teas, capsules or creams as the situation requires. All are made from organic, fresh plant material wherever possible.
Where appropriate, I combine herbal medicine with nutritional medicine and Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) — the three work powerfully together.
What to expect
A first consultation is 60–90 minutes, in person at my Fulham clinic or by online appointment. Follow-ups (around 30–45 minutes) usually 2 weeks later, then monthly. Acute issues respond quickly; chronic conditions typically need a longer course. Most patients notice meaningful change within the first 2–6 weeks.
Tests available where useful: full thyroid, hormone panels, gut/stool analysis, mycotoxin testing, food sensitivity, DNA/nutrigenomics. See the Laboratory Testing page for the full picture.
Herbal medicine — frequently asked questions
The questions I hear most often, answered plainly. If yours isn't here, ask me when we speak.
How should herbal medicines be stored?
They don't need to be kept in the fridge, but do keep them out of direct sunlight. Because they're partially extracted in ethanol, they keep for years.
What are ethanol extracts?
Herbal tinctures are extracted in a mixture of ethanol and water — a combination that pulls out both the water-soluble and the fat-soluble plant chemicals, with the ethanol helping to preserve them. The residual alcohol at a normal clinical dose is roughly the amount in a very ripe banana: trace, not intoxicating.
In what form are herbal medicines prescribed?
Mostly as tinctures — small doses taken diluted in water. Where appropriate I also prescribe herbal teas, capsules, or creams. All my herbal prescriptions are made from organic, wild-crafted or fresh plant material, unless a plant simply isn't available in that form.
Are herbal medicines and nutraceuticals safe?
Prescribed by a qualified practitioner, yes — with few side effects. But "natural" doesn't automatically mean gentle. Many herbs contain potent compounds and can interact with prescription medicines, and what suits one person may not suit another. Much safer to work with a registered medical herbalist who prescribes to you as an individual than to self-prescribe.
Can herbal medicines be used alongside conventional medication?
Usually, yes — and often they complement each other well. My practice is integrative: I work with, never against, your conventional medical care.
Who can benefit from herbal medicine and nutritional therapy?
In principle, most people — infants, children, pregnant women, adults and the elderly can all be treated safely by a qualified practitioner. Short-term complaints often respond quickly; long-term conditions take longer.
What happens at a first consultation?
The first appointment is 60–90 minutes. I take a full case history — and, where relevant, a brief physical examination — to build a complete picture of you. Follow-ups run 30–45 minutes, at two weeks and then monthly.
How long does treatment take?
It depends on the individual and the condition. Acute complaints often respond quickly; chronic and long-standing conditions take longer, sometimes months rather than weeks — because herbs work gradually and cumulatively. The upside is that the benefits are typically deeper and longer-lasting.
