Naturopath Mim Beim shares an extract from her latest book, Grow Your Own Medicine, to inspire you to plant lavender in your garden. An attractive plant for borders, pathways and rockeries it is an easy plant to grow.

The red hot sensation of biting into food laced with chilli is worth the pain (or is it pleasure?). Chilli has numerous health benefits.

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Before Viagra, the natural world was scoured for aphrodisiacs from tiger’s dick to jackal’s bile, from ginseng to horny goat weed. Naturopath Mim Beim’s guide to plants that can increase libido in men and women. By boosting the adrenals we may ignite that sexual spark again.

An alphabetical guide to some of the more esoteric supplements available in your supermarket, chemist and health food store, including acidophulus, arnica, echinacea, fish oil, ginseng, guarana and more.

Not allowing our body to rest after an illness lowers our immunity. In my clinic, very often a patient reports that they have ‘never been well since’ a bad flu, tummy bug or some other infection, operation or accident. Usually, they’ve returned to work or study too soon.

Salad vegetables provide an abundance of the antioxidant carotenoids, chlorophyll, vitamins C, K and A, as well as minerals iron, calcium and magnesium. Kale, rocket and spinach, have more nutrients than cos lettuce.

I was surprised when I fell in love with garlic, when I ordered a whole baked garlic for entree in a New Orleans’ restaurant. Apart from its glorious aroma, garlic is valuable in treating heart disease and lowering blood pressure.