"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.
Are herbal medicines safe?
Herbal medicines prescribed by a qualified medical herbalist are very safe and rarely cause side effects. Natural doesn't always mean gentle — many herbs contain potent compounds and can interact with prescription drugs. Always work with a trained, registered practitioner rather than self-prescribing.