The Gut–Illness Connection: 5 Herbs That Could Transform Modern Health

Natural-medicine authority Simon Mills, a pioneering herbal practitioner with nearly fifty years of clinical experience, argues that modern chronic illness is deeply connected to the gut, inflammation, and a loss of traditional plant knowledge. Mills—who coined the term “complementary medicine”, advised the UK House of Lords, and now works with Herbal Reality—contends that many health issues worsen because Western culture undervalues the medicinal power of plants and relies excessively on pharmaceuticals.

He begins by explaining that medicinal plants contain complex networks of compounds that work together, unlike isolated pharmaceutical chemicals. These compounds interact with human physiology in adaptive, regulatory ways, often similar to widely used drugs like paracetamol, but without suppressing the body’s signals. Plants, he asserts, help the body self-correct.

A central theme is that the gut influences almost every major system—immune response, hormones, inflammation, and even emotional regulation. Mills calls an unhealthy gut the "hidden driver of chronic illness" because poor diet, stress, antibiotics, and environmental factors disrupt the microbiome. This disruption increases susceptibility to infections, autoimmune conditions, chronic pain, and metabolic issues.

He warns that antibiotic resistance may become one of the world’s deadliest crises, killing millions if new solutions aren’t embraced. While antibiotics remain essential in emergencies, he suggests they should not be first-line treatments for every infection. Traditional antimicrobial plants—such as garlic, thyme, oregano, and other aromatic herbs—can support natural immunity and reduce reliance on pharmaceutical antibiotics when appropriate.

Herbal medicine expert Simon Mills reveals how everyday herbs—from garlic to turmeric—supports immunity, reduce inflammation, and offer natural alternatives to common drugs.

Mills highlights several plant-based alternatives to common cold and flu drugs. He cites research showing that some kitchen spices exhibit antiviral properties strong enough to reduce viral load dramatically. He mentions garlic’s long-documented benefits, vitamin D and zinc for immune resilience, and specific botanical remedies used historically for respiratory infections.

For chronic pain and arthritis, Mills describes non-drug options such as turmeric, willow bark, frankincense, and myrrh, which have anti-inflammatory effects. He discusses the surprising benefits of purple vegetables, rich in polyphenols that modulate inflammation and support cardiovascular health. He also addresses the role of diet—specifically reducing sugar, improving gut health, and in some cases using ketogenic strategies—to stabilize inflammation, support fertility, reduce PCOS symptoms, and improve metabolic conditions.

00:00  Intro

02:15  The Power of Medicinal Plants

06:05  Why Medicinal Plants Help Like Paracetamol Does

07:22  How Western Culture Is Getting It Wrong

12:24  Why People Should Care About Medicinal Plants

14:46  Helping 10K+ People With Plants

14:48  Patients Simon Has Helped

16:28  Case Study: Healing Through Plants

23:41  The Gut Controls Almost Everything

27:35  The Dangers of Becoming Antibiotic Resistant

33:28  Alternatives to Antibiotics

39:42  Alternatives to Cold Drugs

52:36  Vitamin D and Zinc for Infection Protection

56:27  Garlic Benefits

59:57  Remedies for Chronic Pain

1:03:02  Arthritis Relief Medicinal Plant

1:09:15  Should We Take Anti-Inflammatory Pills?

1:12:49  The Superpower of Purple Vegetables

1:17:27  Your Diet Recommendations

1:18:23  Keto Diet and Sugar

1:20:24  Keto Diet and the Menstrual Cycle Link

1:22:58  Can PCOS Symptoms Increase From Sugar?

1:24:21  Medicinal Plants to Increase Fertility

1:27:41  Healing Benefits of Echinacea, Frankincense, and Myrrh for the Upper Body

1:34:38  Water Fasting and Long Fasts

1:35:58  Cancer Prevention

1:38:03  Cardiovascular Health Improvements

1:39:50  Benefits of Turmeric Consumption

1:42:24  Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics

1:44:14  The Shocking Benefits of Curcumin

1:51:17  Cocoa Powder Healing Benefits

1:55:34  Shocking Link Between Alzheimer’s and Green Tea

1:57:28  Cholesterol and Statins — Is There an Alternative?

2:02:54  Omeprazole

2:09:19  How to Keep Up With a Fast-Changing World

Mills explains the value of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, emphasizing that gut repair requires feeding beneficial microbes, not merely supplementing them. He highlights curcumin, cocoa, green tea, and echinacea as examples of plants with strong evidence for immune, cognitive, and cardiovascular benefits.

He also comments on modern drugs such as statins and omeprazole, suggesting that while they have important applications, long-term use without addressing root causes may contribute to new problems. When possible, he recommends dietary and herbal strategies that correct underlying imbalances rather than suppress symptoms.

Throughout the presentation, Mills stresses that ancient medicinal plants remain profoundly relevant, often outperforming pharmaceuticals for prevention and long-term wellness—and that daily habits, diet, and whole-plant remedies may prevent many of the chronic illnesses the modern world struggles with today.

You can follow Simon, here:

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▪️ Herbal Reality Website - https://bit.ly/46KVgaz