The Herb Doctor with Dr Clare Podcast
Welcome to The Dr. Clare Apothecary Podcast – where time-honoured herbal traditions meet modern, integrative healthcare. Join Dr. Dilis Clare, an experienced General Practitioner and leading authority in clinical herbal medicine, as she shares her knowledge from decades of work at her Sea Road clinic and apothecary in Galway. Alongside broadcaster Caitriona Hegarty, this podcast offers grounded, insightful conversations on everyday health and wellness—exploring the role of herbs in supporting the body and mind through all stages of life. Each episode covers wide-ranging topics including: Hormonal wellbeing and menstrual health Immune and respiratory support Digestive balance and inflammation Stress, energy, and...
Natural Approaches to Sinus Congestion and Seasonal Comfort
A calm, practical conversation exploring natural approaches to sinus congestion and seasonal comfort. Caitriona and Dr. Dilis share everyday home practices, traditional herbal supports, and simple lifestyle shifts that many people find grounding during the winter months.
The Herb Doctor – Episode 18: Herbal Wisdom for Seasonal Coughs & Winter Wellness
A gentle, storytelling-style conversation where Dr. Dilis Clare and Caitriona Hegarty explore seasonal changes, personal resilience, and long-respected herbal traditions. This episode reflects on lived experience, community care, and the everyday wisdom behind slowing down and supporting yourself during busy winter months.
Autumn Foraging
Caitríona Hegarty and Dr. Dilis Clare explore autumn hedgerows — tasting fuchsia berries, comparing haws, and discussing rose hips, lavender seed, nettle seed, and wild carrot. A lively chat on safe, mindful foraging and Dr. Clare’s new book Uprooted Medicine.
Exploring Herbal Medicine: Evidence and Alteratives
A calm, practical conversation about how evidence is gathered for herbal medicine—plus a primer on “alteratives,” a traditional category of herbs used in blends. Dr. Dilis Clare shares how different study types fit alongside long-standing practice, with a focus on burdock root tea as a case example.
Sweat It Out – Herbal Fever Insights
Dr. Dílis Clare and Caitríona Hegarty explore herbs traditionally used to support the body’s natural cooling responses — from elderflower to yarrow — and discuss how gentle sweating has long been part of herbal practice.
Herbal Perspectives on Sleep & Anxiety
A friendly, research-aware recap with Dr. Dílis Clare and Caitríona Hegarty: practical lifestyle notes, long-respected herbs, and why education and community matter when talking about sleep and anxiety.
Cramp Bark – A Herbal Spotlight with Dr. Dilis Clare
Dr. Dílis Clare and Caitríona Hegarty explore the history, traditions, and practical uses of cramp bark — a familiar hedgerow shrub with surprising stories to tell.
Linking Iron Deficiency to Chronic Pain
Dr. Dílis Clare and Caitríona Hegarty explore how iron levels relate to chronic pain and share traditional ways herbs and foods can help support balance.
St. John’s Wort and the Standardisation Debate
The drug interactions were due to manipulating the formula — adding extra hyperforin. In its traditional form, St. John’s Wort is very safe, with mild, transient effects similar to placebo. Standardising it to pharmaceutical levels didn’t automatically make it safer — in fact, it did the opposite.
Joined Up Medicine – Listener Health Questions
Inspired by listener feedback, Dr. Dilis Clare explores how herbal medicine addresses complex health concerns that often appear together—such as cystitis, perimenopause symptoms, and digestive issues—through a whole-person, “joined up” approach.
