

Introducing Pukka’s Herbal Research
Here at Pukka Herbs, we invest in a vibrant programme of herbal research led by Dr Viv Rolfe (Pukka Head of Herbal Research), working with world-leading universities. Our aim is to spark a herbal health and wellbeing revolution to help society appreciate the health benefits of herbs. We build our research upon the traditional wisdom of Ayurveda, and carry out research studies to increase the available medical evidence.
Student Internships
We engage with the next generation of herbal scientists and bring students from a wide range subjects from biomedical science to psychology and agriculture into Pukka. We have clinical studies underway with the University of Southampton on the herb andrographis, Northumbria University on turmeric and Exeter University on shatavari. We have recently had scientific papers published with the University of the West of England looking at the health benefits of herbal teas, and University College London which looked at the sourcing and quality of organic turmeric.
How we work
We access the latest scientific research to inform our approaches to healthcare and the creation of our teas and supplements. For many herbs like turmeric, the clinical benefits are well studied, but we are also interested in the longer term preventative health benefits of drinking herbal teas.
What we are working on in 2019
We are working with Exeter University to study the benefits of shatavari, a herb traditional used by women, to understand its effects on bone and muscle. We also have a study with Northumbria University to look at turmeric and cognition. We are also planning to look at herbs that support a healthy microbiome.


Author: Dr Vivien Rolfe
Head of Herbal Research
Viv is a gut physiologist and has recently achieved a Foundation in Herbal Medicine. She leads Pukka’s research programme to explore how herbs can benefit our health and be used to widen healthcare choices. This includes research into herbs for Women’s health and as alternatives to antibiotics. She establishes global research partnerships and enthuses the next generation of scientists through Pukka’s Scholarship Scheme. She is a champion of diversity in science and open access to knowledge.
Qualifications:
BSc, PhD, PFHEA
Years of experience:
30+ years in the wellbeing industry and academia
Education:
Degree in Physiology University of Sheffield, PhD University of Sheffield, Foundation in Herbalism Heartwood, MBA Entrepreneurship (on-going) Edinburgh Napier University, Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Professional Registrations:
Membership of Nutrition Society, Physiological Society, Society for Chemical Industry, and other herbal and botanical groups.
