Steven Bartlett's #DOAC: My takeaways on Herbal Medicine & Natural Remedies

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I have subscribed to Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO (DOAC) after I listened to the episode about feet and barefoot running. I appreciate his inclination to invite scientists to discuss their expertise... these guests are conversational, not overly technical or jargon-filled. For instance, the episode featuring Simon Mills (my favourite so far) was all about phytotherapy.

Antibiotic resistance limits the medicines available for treating illnesses. Enter phytotherapy.

I've witnessed the alarming effects of antibiotic resistance firsthand while at work. Patients with bacterial infections must be screened for the antibiotic susceptibilities of the causative pathogens so that doctors can determine the most effective treatment. 

In the lab, isolates identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from specimens submitted by the same patient are sent to the California Department of Public Health every 90 days (based on collection date). This is crucial in a patient's treatment plan because they must take their medication for several months. The cocktail includes ethambutol, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and isoniazid. If the strain of M. tuberculosis complex found in a patient shows resistance to one of these antibiotics, the patient's doctor must determine an alternative antibiotic.

On the other hand, rectal swabs from nursing home residents are tested for the presence of genes associated with carbapenemase resistance (I will never allow my parents to live in nursing homes). Carbapenems are potent antibiotics that can kill a broad range of bacteria. As such, these antibiotics are reserved for severe bacterial infections. However, the use of carbapenems can lead to the rise of bacteria that are resistant to this last line of defence. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria can easily spread in nursing homes, where many individuals with compromised immune systems reside.

Simon Mills presented an alternative to antibiotics: herbal medicine (aka phytotherapy).

Healthy gut = healthy life.

The gut microbiome is composed of a lot of bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses that are found in the intestines. They convert substances in food into medicine and chemicals that boost the body's immune system. These bacteria thrive on plant-based foods; thus, the types of food we consume affect the composition of microorganisms in the microbiome. This then sets the stage for variations in the chemicals the microorganisms produce, and ultimately affects one's quality of life.

For example, people who switched to vegan diets experienced decreases in weight and inflammation, likely due to the increase in the population of microorganisms that produce a significant amount of anti-inflammatory chemicals.

My mum's spice collection doubles as a medicine cabinet.

Since I was a child, I have always known that consuming salabat is a great way to alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with a sore throat, cold, and cough. It is also an excellent way to warm up on a chilly day (or night). On the other hand, mint was also perfect in taming a sore throat if I wanted a cooling effect rather than a warm feeling.

Simon Mills said that such knowledge isn't as common in Western countries. People tend to prefer to drink medicine to counter aches and pains. The information I was hearing was surprisingly not new to me (thanks to my Filipino upbringing), but it was still quite interesting to hear about it.

The timing of my listening to this podcast episode was uncanny because soon after, I saw this issue of National Geographic, featuring herbal medicine.



Inflammation and fever are part of the body's defence system.

I knew this from my Immunology class. Inflammation involves white blood cells travelling from the blood vessels to the injured area to fight infections. Fever is the immune system's attempt to slow the replication of pathogens by increasing body temperature. 

This podcast connected the dots from inflammation and fever to immune response and then to the effects of medicines like NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen). Because NSAIDS work by dampening inflammation and lowering body temperature (bye, pain!), they can reduce one's immune response. 

I enjoyed listening to this episode on Spotify and then watching it on Youtube. I hope that Steven continues to bring guests with compelling stories to tell.

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