Medical disclaimer

This is not medical advice

Nothing on this site is medical advice, and reading it does not create a clinical relationship of any kind. If you have symptoms, a diagnosis, or a decision to make about your health, speak to a qualified clinician who can examine you and knows your history.

Food is not treatment

We publish what foods contain and how preparations are traditionally made. We do not claim, and you should not infer, that any food or preparation treats, cures, reverses or prevents a disease. Where we describe a traditional use, we are reporting that it is traditional — that is a statement about history, not about effect.

Do not stop or change prescribed treatment

Do not stop, reduce or alter prescribed medication on the basis of anything you read here. Some foods and herbs interact meaningfully with medicines, and some interactions are serious. Tell your doctor or pharmacist what you are taking, including preparations you make at home.

Allergies, pregnancy and children

Any food or topical preparation can cause an allergic reaction. Patch test topical preparations before use, and stop immediately if you react.

We do not publish preparation advice specific to pregnancy without obstetric review, and we do not publish content for children under two at all. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or preparing food for a young child, take advice that accounts for your circumstances.

Home preparation carries real risks

Preserving, fermenting and soap-making are procedures with genuine failure modes. Soap-making involves a corrosive alkali and requires protective equipment. Water-containing cosmetics spoil and need a preservative. We state the precautions on the relevant pages; please follow them rather than reading around them.

If something is urgent

Seek immediate medical help for chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, a severe allergic reaction, suspected poisoning, or any symptom that is rapidly worsening. Do not wait, and do not look for a remedy first.

Our scope and refusals are set out in the editorial policy, and our review process in how we review.