If A Tree Falls | Alex Laird - leading UK Medical Herbalist

What can plants teach us about health, healing and our relationship with the natural world? In this episode of If a Tree Falls, I’m joined by Alex Laird, one of the UK's leading medical herbalists, educator, researcher and author. Alex is a medical herbalist, educator, trained in biomedicine and treats patients at the only NHS clinic based at a UK hospital at Whipps Cross. Alex has published clinical research and is the co founder of the charity Living Medicine. Together we head outdoors to forage, exploring the remarkable medicinal properties of wild plants while discussing the place of herbal medicine in modern healthcare. Our conversation ranges from traditional plant wisdom and scientific evidence to the deep connection between people, food and nature. Whether you're interested in foraging, herbal medicine, wild food, nutrition or simply slowing down and paying closer attention to the landscape around you, this episode offers a thoughtful exploration of the intelligence of plants and what they can teach us. In this episode we discuss: • Medical herbalism and its role today • Wild medicinal plants • Foraging safely and ethically • Food as medicine • Traditional knowledge and modern science • Reconnecting with nature • Seasonal living and wellbeing If A Tree Falls is a filmed series by Harriet Mansell @harrietmansell with Alex Laird Directed by Jack Chapman @MontyBaxter Director of Photography Sam Coombes @samcoombesdp Sound Recordists Michal Kuligawski Camera @jmaxleedoc Assistant Camera Johanna Siberian @johanna.sibrian11 Photographer Andrew Watson @Andrew.watson.photography Producers Jack Chapman and Sam Coombes