We’re delighted to announce that Joined-Up Medicine will officially launch this Friday, 21st November at 6pm, in the iconic Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, The Cornstore, Galway (H91 AH7A).
You’re warmly invited to join us for an evening of conversation, insight, and celebration.
A message from Dr. Dilis Clare
As a medical doctor, I’m often asked:
“Why do you practise herbal medicine?”
My answer is simple: because it works.
That naturally leads to the next question:
“Then why wasn’t this taught in medical school?”
Exploring these questions opened up a far wider conversation—one that ultimately led to the writing of this book.
For centuries, 65–80% of the world’s population has relied on herbal and traditional systems of medicine. So how did these long-standing, effective approaches become marginalised to near-invisibility within today’s medical paradigm? And why is public funding channelled almost exclusively into pharmaceutical and surgical interventions?
Are billions of people across history simply wrong—
or is it time to re-examine the story we’ve been told?
Joined-Up Medicine offers a root-and-branch revision of our accepted medical history. If you’ve ever wondered why you are offered only one model of medicine, or if you instinctively feel there must be a wider way to support health, this book is for you.
The Bigger Question
Given the exclusive funding of pharmaceutical and surgical medicine,
are we truly equipped to prevent and treat the modern pandemic of chronic disease?
Chronic illness is now the major threat to living well. Yet the current healthcare model—brilliant for trauma, paediatrics, and emergency interventions—was never designed to manage long-term, lifestyle-driven conditions.
We need a wider toolkit.
A HerbWideWeb – Join the Book Community
I am building a HerbWideWeb — a network of 300+ people worldwide who care about expanding the conversation around medicine and health.
By signing up, you will receive:
• A free monthly live webinar
We cover 3–4 pages of the book at a time, unpacking core themes in a clear and accessible way.
• A behind-the-scenes look at self-publishing
Follow the real process of bringing a book into the world.
• Significant discounts when the book is published
This community is free to join, and our hope is to gather people who want to contribute to a global shift in how we think about human health.
Learn more or sign up here: https://www.joinedupmedicine.com/
A Call for Collaborative Medicine
Throughout most of human history, no single medical system claimed ownership of healing. Many approaches co-existed and complemented each other. The rise of a one-size-fits-all model—dominated by products rather than patient outcomes—is a very recent development and, in many ways, an aberration.
This book argues for collaboration, not competition.
For patient outcomes, not product-driven care.
For choice, not limitation.
Why Herbal Medicine Matters Now
In my clinical practice, I see daily how personalised herbal care improves people’s quality of life. Many herbs offer additional supportive actions that go far beyond symptom control.
While some medical conditions absolutely require pharmaceutical intervention,
I rarely meet a patient who wouldn’t benefit from incorporating herbal medicine.
Herbal medicine is not an “alternative.”
It is a necessary companion for a healthcare system overwhelmed by chronic disease.
What You Will Gain from Reading This Book
Joined-Up Medicine offers:
✔ A radically new understanding of how today’s healthcare system came to dominate
✔ Referenced evidence challenging long-accepted assumptions
✔ Insight into why herbal and indigenous medicines were pushed aside
✔ A framework for reintegrating traditional medicine into publicly funded care
✔ A wider lens through which to make informed decisions about your own health
This book may shift how you view medicine entirely.
Listen While You Wait: The Herb Doctor Podcast
If you’d like to explore these topics in conversation, you can listen to the Herb Doctor Podcast where we discuss herbalism, medicine, history, and the realities of modern healthcare.
🎙️ https://www.drclare.ie/herb-doctor-podcast/the-dr-clare-apothecary-podcast/
Explore the Book & Join the Community
Everything you need is here:
👉 https://www.joinedupmedicine.com/
We would love to see you there on Friday evening — to share in the launch, the conversation, and the beginning of something much bigger.
