Simon Mills — A herbal medicine practitioner with over 50 years of experience, regarded as one of the world's most respected herbalists. He has held leadership roles in the British Herbal Medicine Association and European phytotherapy bodies and has seen upwards of 10,000 patients.
The gist
Steven Bartlett sits down with herbalist Simon Mills for a deep dive into using plants, spices and food as everyday medicine. Mills walks through specific kitchen remedies, the central role of the gut microbiome, and why inflammation and fever are defenses rather than enemies. He critiques the overuse of antibiotics, ibuprofen and omeprazole, explaining their long-term risks and gentler plant-based alternatives. The conversation ranges across chronic pain, cholesterol, brain health, fertility and the keto diet, framed around the idea that the body is largely self-healing if given the right support. Throughout, Mills stresses self-experimentation: most herbal remedies act fast enough that you can feel within an hour whether they suit you.
Big reveals
- US doctors gave out about 236 million antibiotic prescriptions in 2022, roughly 30% of which were unnecessary.
- WHO estimated antibiotic resistance was responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to nearly 5 million.
- Migraine sufferers split roughly 70/30 preferring heat over cold packs, which tells you whether to use warming or cooling remedies.
- Mills describes a 'garlic intensive' of eight raw garlic cloves over an evening to knock back gut and lung infections.
- He argues ibuprofen suppresses inflammation that is actually a needed defense, and asks why the inflammation was necessary first.
- Mills says he has roughly 13 'herb babies' from helping women with fertility difficulties conceive.
- Reveals curcumin is barely absorbed (1-2%) and works mainly via the gut microbiome, not the bloodstream.
- Warns omeprazole carries growing long-term risks (cancers, dementias) and a rebound effect that makes it hard to quit.
Things worth remembering
- The microbiome holds about 100 times as much genetic capacity as our own cells and 'runs the show.'
- Ginger was once worth more than its weight in gold and the original Asian species was driven extinct around Roman times.
- French 'vermouth' derives from wormwood, a bitter once used as an aperitif to stimulate appetite.
- An unsweetened espresso is technically a bitter and was historically used as a digestive aid.
- Most vegetables were originally purple; the purple was bred out of crops like corn because it looked less appetizing.
- Keto diets can improve insulin sensitivity and may reverse early-stage diabetes.
- Around 80% of women with PCOS have some degree of insulin resistance, even those who aren't overweight.
- Shakespeare's Hamlet references rosemary 'for remembrance' because it was long believed to aid cognition.
- Mills calls 50-100g of 75%+ dark chocolate 'one of the best medicines around' for brain and heart health.
- The EU once ruled UK 'milk chocolate' should be labeled 'chocolate flavour candy.'
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Simon Mills' books
Simon Mills
“I've got your books here which I'm going to link below. There's the herb hour on your website.” — Steven Bartlett 02:11:55Find it on Amazon