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Daisy Bruise Balm

5/28/2020

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Some of my earliest childhood memories are potion making. Rose petal perfume; fairy mirrors made from a combination of twisted stems & cobwebs dipped in milk; nettle and liquorice root tea. When I was in the 4th Year of Juniors (now called Year 6) I wrote a detailed story about being shipwrecked on a desert island.  I'm not quite sure what I did for food but I spent a lot of time gathering local plants and seaweeds to make my own shampoos and skincare!

I’ve never lost this fascination.

As a herbalist, I get quite frustrated when the more common herbs or weeds get overlooked for the next new Superfood or Wonder Tonic. But there is so much we can use that is all around us.  We are all spending a bit more time at home than normal so I thought I'd share a few simple recipes that can be made with things we can easily find growing around us.  

I thought I'd start with the humble daisy as they are easy to identify and abundant at the moment.  

However please note that daisy or (Bellis perennis) is a member of the Asteraceae or Compositae family of flowering plants (which includes flowers such as daisy, echinacea, marigold and sunflower) , which some people are allergic to.  If you are allergic then this isn't the project for you. As with all homemade skincare products its also always safest to patch test a small amount on your inner arm and wait 24 hours to see if you have any reaction before proceeding. Only use on unbroken skin.

Daisies may have fallen out of fashion with herbalists these days but they have a long history of use for bumps and bruises, as well as gout and rheumatic pain, they can be used in a similar way to Arnica. See link at the bottom of this blog for more information.

To make a daisy bruise balm you'll need:
Daisies
Oil (I use sweet almond oil, but you can use sunflower oil) 
A clear glass jam jar with a lid
Beeswax (or soya wax/ rice bran wax if you want a vegan balm) 
A bain marie or pan with a bowl that will fit on top
Another glass jar for the finished balm
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​First collect your daisies.  You'll need a few good handfuls, or a small bowlful big enough to fill your glass jar

Don't wash the daisies, any water on them will lead to mould growing in your infused oil.

​After collecting the daisies lay them out on a large tray.  This allows any hidden insects to escape.  No matter how carefully I pick the flowers there are always some late escapees.


Next pack the daisies into a clean glass jar and cover with enough oil that all the daisies are covered.  If any are exposed to the air it can also cause mould to grow.
​Tightly close the lid and leave the jar on a sunny window ledge for 2 weeks.

After 2 weeks strain the oil through a fine sieve into a measuring jug. 

You can use the daisy infused oil as it is.  But its more convenient to carry round with you as a balm., and balms are really easy to make.  You now just need 4 parts oil to 1 part beeswax.  (So if you have 100ml of oil you'll need 25g of beeswax.  If you find it easier to weigh the oil, thats 100g of oil per 25g beeswax) If you want to make a vegan balm, you can use soya wax or rice bran wax as a substitute for beeswax, it makes a slightly softer balm.

Place the oil and wax in the top of a bain marie or in a bowl over a pan of boiling water and gently heat the mixture until the wax is fully melted.

Remove from the heat.

At this point you can add a few drops of essential oil.  I often add  chamomile or lavender.  For 100ml of oil you can use up to 20 drops to give a 1% dilution

Pour your balm into a glass jar and allow to cool.  Once cool put the lid on tightly.

Additional reading:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313677850_The_Pharmacological_importance_of_Bellis_perennis_-_A_review

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Understanding the research: using herbal adaptogens to combat stress

11/7/2018

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A while ago I read a blog post that really riled me in a way that only something on the internet can. It pressed my buttons because it contained three of my pet peeves: lack of research, muddying opinion and fact, and dismissing the scientific validity of herbal medicine – in this case it was about the usefulness of a class of herbs called adaptogens.

As a Medical Herbalist I take my profession seriously, so you can understand why I get upset when people try to discredit it as fashionable or ‘out there’. But why should you care?
It bothers me, beyond professional pride, because all too often I see herbal medicine written off as kooky or some sort of snake oil, when it is grounded in scientific research. Which means it has been clinically tested and does what it says it will do. And, even better, it works with your body rather than against it. Herbal medicine has the potential to help an awful lot of people, often with fewer contraindications than ‘conventional’ medicine.
So today I wanted to share some information about adaptogens and why they’re important. And hopefully, while we’re at it, bust some myths about what herbal medicine is and isn’t!

Getting beyond the buzzwords
‘Adaptogen’ is not a new buzzword like ‘clean eating’. It was first coined in 1947 by a Russian scientist, Dr Nikolai Lazarev. An adaptogen is defined as a nontoxic substance that increases your body’s resistance against stressors, whether they are physical, chemical or biological. It is also nontoxic to the recipient, even when taken over a longer time period.
Before we go any deeper, it’s a good idea to understand what we mean by stress here, and the body’s response to it, as stress is one of those buzzwords that’s thrown around quite a lot these days!
To understand stress we need to go back to 1936 and the work of Dr Hans Selye, who has come to be known as the father of stress research. As well as coming up with the term ‘stress’ and writing over 39 books on the subject, he also came up with the ‘General Adaptation Syndrome’ (GAS) model of how we respond to stress – a model that is still used in the medical community today.

How do our bodies respond to stress?
According to the GAS model, when people are faced with physical stressors (such as very cold temperatures), psychological stressors (such as relationship breakdown or money worries) or biological or chemical stressors (such as being injected with toxins) it provokes a three-stage process:
·         Alarm reaction: this is where your body releases the ‘stress hormones’ adrenaline and cortisol, our muscles tense, blood pressure and blood sugar levels rise and we enter what is commonly known as the ‘flight or fight’ state
·         Resistance: in this stage your body tries to restore balance (homeostasis) by countering the physiological responses to stress and trying to adapt to the stressor. At this point, if the stressor goes away, the body returns to normal. However if the stressor continues, your body will continue in a stage of high alert, depleting your energy and resulting in loss of concentration, irritability and tiredness.
·         Exhaustion: as the stress continues your body becomes depleted and exhausted. As well as feeling tired, anxious or depressed, high levels of cortisol in your system longer term can result in digestive and circulatory problems, and lowered immunity.

How do adaptogens help?
Now let’s return to adaptogens. Adaptogens are plants capable of helping with our stress responses in all three stages of Selye’s model:
-          they can help at the alarm stage by reducing our stress reactions
-          they can help at the resistance stage by helping our bodies restore balance,
-          they can retard / prevent the exhaustion phase and thus provide a certain degree of protection against long-term stress.
Research published in the respected journal ‘Current Clinical Pharmacology’ (now does that sound like the latest hippy read to you?!) found strong scientific evidence for the use of Rhodiola rosea extract in protecting against stress, combating fatigue, and improving attention, cognitive function and mental performance in fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.  Good scientific evidence has also been documented in trials in which Schisandra chinensis and Eleutherococcus senticosus increased endurance and mental performance in patients with mild fatigue and weakness.  (1) Anti-stress activity has also been documented for Panax Ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Withania somnifera, and Codonopsis pilosula. (2)
The beneficial stress-protective effect of adaptogens is thought to be related to regulation of homeostasis via several mechanisms of action associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the control of key mediators of stress response.  Many adaptogen also possess immunomodulatory and/ or anabolic activities.(2) (3) (4) (5)
This is not the sort of thing to be dismissed as the latest health fad. In the right hands, and with further research, there is the potential for a variety of adaptogens to protect our bodies against long-term stress conditions. 

There are no ‘quick fixes’
It is important to note adaptogens should not be used in place of proper self-care, nourishing food, adequate rest or a much needed change in environment or way of being.  They are not meant to be used as a ‘pep-pill’ to keep us going when our body is telling us to slow down and recuperate.   A good herbalist will advise their use alongside other supportive and fortifying herbs, good nutrition and lifestyle changes.  We will often sign-post to supportive talking therapies.  An analogy I often use is if you have a car that is struggling after running low on water and oil after a long road trip across the desert ,filling up with high performance petrol and hitting the accelerator without attending to the other requirements is not a sensible approach!  Medical Herbalists take a holistic approach, addressing the cause and not just the symptoms.   Herbal adaptogens are just part of our toolkit to build up strength after a long illness, during recovery from a chronic disease or as a long term measure to supplement and nourish an individual who is very sensitive to stress and environmental factors.
The main point I’d like you to take away from this blog, is that use of any medicine – herbal, holistic, traditional or otherwise, needs research. Medical Herbalists are not simply brewing up mystery concoctions from the garden! Our work is rooted in clinical studies, and we take the time to do our own research for every single client to ensure any prescriptions are optimal for you.
If you’d like a personal consultation, I have some slots available over the next month. Contact me to get booked in.
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References:
(1)   Evidence-Based Efficiency of Adaptogens in Fatigue, and Molecular Mechanisms Related to their Stress-Protective Activity Panossian, Alexander, Wikman and Georg (Sept 2009) Current Clinical Pharmacology Vol 4 No.3 Pages 198-219
(2)   Plant Adaptogens H Wagner, H Norr and W Winterhoff (June 1994) Phytomedicine Vol 1, Issue 1, Pages 63-76
(3)   Adaptogens exert a stress-protective effect by modulation of expression of molecular chaperones Panossian, Wilkman, Alexander and Asea Phytomedicine Volume 16, Issues 6-7 Pages 617-622
(4)   Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress—Protective Activity Panossian and Wilkman (2010) Pharmaceuticals Volume 3, Issue 1
(5)   A current status of adaptogens: natural remedy to stress Pawar Vinod and Hugar Shivakumar (2012) Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease S480-S490
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10 Autumn Immune Tonics

11/2/2018

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In the last blog I talked about what a rollercoaster this year has been so far, and autumn is proving no exception. The past month has brought a whole range of changes, including a new job! As my days get even busier I’ve turned to my trusty slow cooker to rustle up nurturing soups and casseroles to keep us going. Traditional health systems such as Ayurveda endorse this approach – matching our food and habits to the changing seasons helps us to tune-in to ourselves and stay in balance.
That’s often easier said than done though. Autumn is often a time of new starts and new projects, with the school year and everything kicking into life after the summer break. In the flurry of activity it’s easy to get caught up in being busy, and that’s when we’re most susceptible to getting run down. We feel more stressed, we’re likely to take less time for ourselves and any healthy eating or fitness habits can go out the window.
So if you’re feeling under the weather at the moment, and would like some help using food and herbs to get you feeling yourself again, here are ten immune tonics you can make or buy.
As usual – don’t forget to check with me or your GP if you have any pre-existing health conditions or are taking medication
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​1.    Echinacea
 
This herb needs little introduction. Most of us have heard of its immune boosting properties, useful to help fight infections of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. It activates macrophages ,increases T cells and stimulates phagocytosis. So it packs a punch in your immune-boosting toolkit!
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2. Elderberry
 
Elderberry can be taken either as a tincture or a tea. Or it’s even tastier as Elderberry Syrup: get the recipe here, or contact me to buy some.
Elderberry is antiviral so it hinders the cellular replication of the virus, thus shortening the duration of the illness. Combine the decoction with some Manuka honey and ginger for an extra hit that tastes great too.
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​3. Elderflower, yarrow and peppermint tea
…Or as I call it ‘Flu Brew’. Using the elderflower rather than the berry this time; elderflowers are indicated in any catarrhal inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and combine well with yarrow which is a standard remedy for helping the body to deal with a fever.  Adding peppermint which is also antiseptic, analgesic and diaphoretic makes a drink that is tasty, comforting, decongesting and immune modulating. This tea is perfect for symptomatic treatment of the common cold or flu and helps to bring a fever down gently. Contact me if you’d like some.
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​4. Thyme and Liquorice Cough Syrup
Thyme and liquorice are both effective for soothing sore throats and coughs. Together in a syrup they are expectorant (so they help you cough out that cough!), antiseptic and very tasty. Contact me if you'd like to buy some.
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​5. Garlic
Garlic is anti-infective, keeping away colds and viruses as well as vampires! It also has an antiseptic, expectorant effect in respiratory disease. Daily garlic supplements have been shown to reduce your chance of getting a cold, and shorten its duration if you do get one.
6. Turmeric
This spice contains curcumin, which has notable antioxidant properties. It also has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and stomach soothing benefits. It reduces inflammation by stimulating the adrenal glands to increase the hormone that lessens inflammation. Animal studies on this herb have revealed that turmeric protects the liver from the adverse effects of alcohol and certain toxins. Turmeric also helps in digestive problems by stimulating bile flow.  
A tasty way to take turmeric (other than in a curry) is as 'Golden Milk'.  Here's a great recipe from Katie Wells (makes 2 servings)

Ingredients
  • 1 cup of milk of choice such as almond, pecan, coconut, or dairy, or use bone broth in place of the milk for a more hearty tea
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder 
  • pinch of ground black pepper
  • tiny piece of fresh, peeled ginger root or ¼ tsp ginger powder
  • pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 tsp honey or maple syrup or to taste (optional)
Instructions
  1. Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth.
  2. Pour into a small saucepan and heat for 3-5 minutes over medium heat until hot, but not boiling.
  3. Drink immediately.
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7. Ganoderma
Ganoderma is a bitter mushroom also known as reishi. It has long been a popular herb in Chinese medicine, and is attributed with assisting in longevity and health. Its uses are focused on moderating the immune system: it is both able to reduce immune system activity when the system is over-stimulated, and bolster the immune system when it is weakened.
Aviva Romm shares a great immune boosting Miso and Mushroom Soup recipe here
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​8. Astragulus root
Astragulus is a herb which acts as another immune stimulant. It increases interferons (proteins which fight pathogens), enhances the white blood cell count and enhances NK cell (natural killer cells – white blood cells which form an important part of our immune system) activity. It also promotes stamina so is useful for post viral fatigue.
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​9. Bone Broth
The old wives remedy of chicken soup when you're poorly is more of a wise woman's remedy. Nourishing, gut healing and therefore immune modulating. You can go for a traditional recipe or try this Vegan version made with seaweed and mushrooms.
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10. Fire Cider
This ancient recipe was reported to work against the plague! It’s so easy to make and tastes great too.  
Try your own with this recipe:
1 medium onion, chopped
4-5 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
3-4 tablespoons of freshly grated ginger
3-4 tablespoons of freshly grated horseradish
organic apple cider vinegar
honey
cayenne powder (the kick!)

Chop and combine the onion, garlic, ginger and horseradish in a wide mouth glass quart jar. Add just enough apple cider vinegar to cover them. Place it in a warm spot and let it sit for 3-4 weeks, shaking every day or two. Strain and discard the spent herbs.
Add honey and cayenne to taste. The finished product should taste lively, hot, pungent, and sweet. Fire Cider Vinegar also makes a fantastic salad dressing!
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I hope this will help see you through cold and flu season! If you’d like more personal support on getting your immunity up to scratch, contact me to book in a consultation.
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How to harness the power of listening to feel better

10/7/2018

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I learnt to properly listen from an early age.  What people were saying, what they weren’t saying.  That the gaps between their words weren’t just there to be filled by my reply.  Giving space for silence is important and a dialogue isn’t like a game of tennis. It has served me well in my work. Recently I’ve been pondering the quiet, often overlooked, role listening plays in my life and I thought I’d share some thoughts to celebrate it!

I have a number of massage clients who live in care homes. Two of them can’t verbally communicate. What I’ve noticed though is that they are still powerful communicators – you just have to take the time to notice. Last time I visited them, for example, they were both agitated. By the end of their treatments one of the ladies couldn’t stop giggling, releasing pent-up emotion, while the other was gently stroking my hand, feeling relaxed after I had calmed her with massage, words and inviting her to mirror my breath. They had needed very different things from their treatments, despite initially seeming to be in the same condition.

Understanding what my clients want and need from their massage is crucial for any massage therapist and the only way to do that is to set your expectations and assumptions aside and listen – both to what people are saying and what they are not saying. It’s all about stopping, being quiet and allowing the communication to happen, without imposing on it.

One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say. Bryant H. McGill

During my Herbal Medicine degree we were taught the importance of an in-depth consultation – and the role listening plays in that. Herbal medicine isn’t a one size fits all approach. Two people presenting with the same symptoms might turn out to need very different treatments, depending on their lifestyle, expectations, diet and medical history. Listening allows me to go deeper, tackling issues at their root rather than the surface level.
The irony is, this year it’s been pointed out to me I’ve failed to listen to myself. All aspects of my work deal with the importance of paying attention, looking after ourselves and treating ourselves well to be at our best and live life the way we want to.

Yet earlier this year, a catalogue of family crises completely derailed me. I was bouncing from one emergency to the next, reacting to each new issue without any pause in between. I knew I was struggling. Good friends spotted I was struggling, but it took driving in a rush to a meeting and thinking I might actually be having a heart attack or a stroke to realise I had to stop and grab my metaphorical oxygen mask before I could be any use trying to help anyone else on this plummeting plane!

A good friend offered me a free place on a yoga workshop – it was only when I properly stopped to relax that I realised just how much of my body hurt! And all the tension I was physically carrying every day. Another good friend offered me a reflexology session and I can honestly say I floated into another dimension for that forty minutes, which left me more relaxed than I had been in months.  I also chatted with a counsellor I know, who as well as listening, prompted me to realise that I had to share how I was feeling with others and I didn’t have to be superwoman!

My circumstances haven’t completely righted themselves (in fact we’ve had some more stresses thrown into the emotional rollercoaster) but that space has given me chance to breathe and make me realise I have to prioritise my self-care or I won’t be able to cope. Which is no good to those around me, let alone myself.

So as part of this celebration of listening, I want to invite you to listen to yourself. Stop, take three deep breaths and notice what’s going on in your body and mind. Where are you carrying tension in your body? What are the thoughts circling in your head?

Self-care is another term for listening to yourself. It doesn’t always look like a hot bath, sometimes it looks like changing your diet, organising childcare or making yourself go for a walk in the rain to get some fresh air.
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If you’ve started to notice you need to build in some time for yourself, I’d love to help. Contact me to talk about how you can start to use herbal medicine (or massage) to listen to and work with your body, to feel better in the long term.
If you get in touch by 30th of October you can take advantage of my Autumn Wellbeing Reboot – 6 weeks to help you listen to your body and make the changes you need. 

"Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand." --Karl A. Menniger

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Have you got that 'back-to-school' feeling?

9/12/2018

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Summer is my favourite time of year. Playtime! The garden is at its most abundant and as a self-employed Medical Herbalist and Massage Therapist I’ve been lucky enough to juggle life and work to spend a lot of the summer months outside.
But I love that ‘new start’ feeling that comes with September. That briskness in the air along with the start of term calls me to look forward. Time to buy some new stationery and make plans.  Dream of what I want to achieve for the rest of the year and into the next year.  And look back at the year so far, see what has worked, what hasn’t and how I’m going to change things.

The perfect time to make changes
While January’s traditionally resolution time, winter isn’t a good time for new starts. September, bursting with nature in full fruit, also heralds change. And hopefully we’re feeling refreshed by the summer and in a much better place to make positive changes.
This year, more than ever, I recognise the importance of taking stock and looking after myself.

I‘ll be honest, I’ve had a shitty year.
What started off really hopeful with some exciting new projects in the pipeline suddenly got railroaded by family ill health and some scary stressful months.  And I lunged from one stress to another reacting to each new issue rather than being able to be pro-active, or take any time for self-care. It was only when friends insisted that I realised I was pushing myself into a wall and had to stop.
So I’ve swapped my September ritual of buying lovely new stationery to getting out foraging for elderberries. I now have a fridge of elderberry syrup full of immune boosting properties ready for the coming months. It’s not too late to make your own – take a look at my recipe.

Time for an Autumn reboot?
It’s as though nature knows it needs to help us out at this time of year. Come the middle to end of September there is always a rush of patients wanting help with coughs, colds, sore throats, and general immune support as all the kids back at school mingle their germs and bring them home to share with the rest of the family.
If, like me, you’re feeling like you want (or need!) to reset your wellbeing this Autumn, I’d love to help you. For a limited time I’m offering an Autumn wellbeing reboot programme, which includes:
A one hour initial consultation, to understand your health, diet and lifestyle
Tailored herbal prescriptions to suit you, as well as lifestyle and self-care recommendations that take account of your needs and preferences
A follow-up consultation to check-in and go deeper if need be
Two further consultations to review progress and ensure any changes are sustainable into the future
Herbal prescriptions adjusted as needed during the course of the programme

This is a fantastic, highly accessible way to reset your health and wellbeing for the long term. Herbs work with your body to make changes from the inside out, so you’re not just responding to the surface symptoms, you’re working at a much deeper level.
If you’re interested in making changes to see you feeling calmer, healthier and brighter into Autumn and beyond, I’d love to hear from you. Take a look a the Autumn Wellbeing Package here  to see if it’s for you.
Feel free to contact me to ask questions and book your place. 

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Packages to help you take back control of your health and wellbeing

11/23/2017

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Bespoke 6 week wellbeing support package:


​I don't often 'do' special offers; people generally book in to see a Medical Herbalist when they realise they need some help getting their health back on track, and they haven't managed to find that help elsewhere.  But I have noticed recently that sometimes people come for one or two consultations and then I never see them again.  I have to admit I've done a lot of soul searching about this / taken it a bit personally and worried that I was doing something wrong.  But, when I've asked for feedback I've discovered three things:

​1) It can be difficult to set up good habits, whether that be making changes to your diet or lifestyle or remembering to take your herbal medicine 3 times a day.  And if you go a couple of weeks between seeing your herbalist, and realise you haven't managed this, sometimes it seems to make sense to cancel the next appointment until you manage to make those changes / take the medicine regularly.
​2) if you don't make the changes, or take the medication regularly you might not feel any better, so decide 'its not working for you'
​3) when you booked to see a herbalist you didn't realise what the full investment (money and time) would be.

​So, I want to fix these barriers to you finding your way to better health.

I understand the enormous benefit of having someone 'in your corner', someone who will truly listen, care, and help you get to the root cause of whatever is going on with your health.  And I understand the value of both accountability and support to make changes.  I don't offer 'a magic pill to cure every ill' but I will walk with you on your journey.  I also understand that in these challenging financial times it helps if you know upfront what it's going to cost and then you can decide if its worth it.

​With all this in mind, I think it would be useful to offer a package of care alongside my 'pay as you go' consultations and for a limited time I'm offering it at a discounted rate to encourage you to consider investing in your health and wellbeing.

​Tailored to your individual need, this will include an initial consultation, which typically lasts one hour.  In this appointment we will discuss why you want to consult with a Medical Herbalist and go through your entire health history to understand your story and help set your aims for treatment.  We will discuss diet and lifestyle so that we can work together to discover what will work best for you.
​Unless there is a need for further tests you will begin herbal support after this initial consultation
​Typically you will return for a follow-up consultation a week later.  This way there is no delay for you to ask questions that you may have forgotten about at your first appointment.  We can check in on how you are getting on with your herbal prescription and any dietary and lifestyle recommendations. If appropriate for your needs, we will look at you diet in more depth and after this consultation you will be sent further dietary suggestions.  Alternatively we can explore and discuss other useful self-care measures.
​The timing of your 3rd follow-up consultation will be set to suit your requirements, typically 2-3 weeks later.  We will review how you are getting on, and any further adjustments or support that might be helpful.  
​At the end of the 6 weeks you will have a further consultation to assess progress and any further recommendations.  Some patients will need ongoing care which will be discussed during this appointment and paid for on an ad-hoc basis after that.  However where possible many patients can be signed off with tools they need to carry on in good health.

​For January I am offering a reduced rate of £148 for this package, which includes 4 consultations, recommendations and 6 weeks of herbal prescriptions.

​Vouchers are available if you want to drop heavy hints before Christmas!






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Herbal Medicine from the hedgerow

9/21/2016

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​Whilst I pride myself on having a strong understanding of the science behind herbal medicine (I have a BSc degree in Phytotherapy, which includes study of the medical sciences such as Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemistry, Differential Diagnosis, Medicine, Pathology and Pharmacology as well as Botany and Herbal Materia Medica) there is something deliciously ‘witchy’ about making your own medicines.  Particularly if you do this with plants you have either grown yourself or foraged.  This can be as simple as picking a few fresh leaves of Lemon Balm to make a tea to ease a headache, throwing a handful of chamomile into a bath to calm a fractious child before bedtime or making tinctures (alcoholic extraction of herbs) and herb syrups.
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At this time of year I tend to spend a lot of time peering into bushes and trees, looking for berries and hips at their perfect moment of ripeness and I did struggle to contain my excitement on the school run when I spotted some elderberries finally ready for me to steal (ahem) forage.  I am always mindful not to overharvest when foraging, all berries are primarily over-winter food for birds; therefore I never take all the berries off a tree, only taking those that are easy to reach, leaving those higher up for our feathered friends. Once the kids were dropped off at school I was straight back with my basket to collect enough berries to boost our immunity over the autumn and winter months.
The Elder Tree (Sambucus nigra)
The Elder has been used since ancient times for its medicinal properties. In fact it was once considered to be the "Medicine Chest Tree" as all its parts can be used to treat common ailments. Although the leaves, bark, flowers and berries were once used, it is mainly the flowers and berries that have a modern usage. This is because the bark and leaves, when used internally, are quite strong purgatives.
Elderflowers have been traditionally used for the treatment of cold and flu; when drunk hot in a tea they help you to sweat, thus reducing your temperature and sweating the infection out. They are also great for treating catarrh and hence are not only good for colds but also for hayfever and sinusitis. They also be made into delicious Elderflower Champagne.
Elderberries have many of the same properties as the flowers, but they also contain lots of Vitamin C. They have been the subject of a lot of research which is showing that they are also active against flu viruses; they are able to stop the virus from infecting your cells as well as stopping it spreading. Hence if you take Elderberries from the start of your cold or flu you can reduce the severity and length of your illness. This is great example of how modern research is confirming what we already know from our traditional knowledge.
Folk Lore: The Elder is also known as a magical tree with a wealth of folk lore associated with it. For example there is supposed to be a spirit called Hylde-Moer or Elder-Mother who dwells within the tree and watches over it. If the tree is cut down without the permission of Hyle-Moer, she is said to haunt those who do so. Hence before making a cut it is traditional to say: "Elder Mother, give me some of your wood and I will give thee some of mine when it grows in the forest". If you don't, well you have been warned!
Once I’d harvested sufficient berries I returned home to rinse them in some cold water to take off any dirt and removed them from the stalks (any stalks left in the mix would make it taste quite bitter) and then I was ready to make my favourite immune tonic.
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Elderberry Syrup Recipe:
Put your berries into a pan and add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Bring them slowly to the boil and simmer for about 20 minutes with the lid on until they have released their juice.
Once cool, pour the juice and berries through some muslin into a bowl. Wearing rubber gloves squeeze the rest of the juice from the berries.
Measure how much juice you have and for every 500ml of juice, add 500g of sugar, 20 cloves, 1 stick of cinnamon, 2 star anise and 1 inch cube of chopped fresh ginger.  (I also often add half a liquorice stick to this mix)
Heat gently while the sugar dissolves then bring to the boil and simmer hard for 5 minutes.
Strain through a sieve and allow to cool a bit before putting into clean bottles. Keep shaking the bottles every 10 minutes as the syrup cools, don’t forget to label your bottles. If refrigerated the syrup will keep for six months (that’s if it lasts that long!)
I didn’t just add the spices for their flavour they also add to the syrups medicinal action.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is a warming antimicrobial, antiviral and antibacterial.  It is also a useful expectorant (i.e. it supports the body in the removal of excess amounts of mucus from the respiratory system).
Cloves (Eugenia caryophyllus) are a powerful antiseptic and mild anaesthetic.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) can be used for many different complaints during an upper respiratory system infection- it is diffusive and stimulating and is perfect for getting stuck mucus flowing again. A strong ginger tea can relieve congested coughs and stuffy sinuses.  It’s also antimicrobial, helping to prevent further infection.
Star anise (Illicium verum) is used as a stimulant and expectorant. It is commonly used to flavour cough mixtures and pastilles. It has also been used as a source of shikimic acid, a primary precursor in the production of anti-influenza drugs such as Tamiflu.
Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)  is a sweet demulcent that soothes mucous membranes; If I have a scratchy sore throat, liquorice tea is often the first thing I reach for. The sweet taste and thick consistency of liquorice root seems to magically erase dry and irritated sore throats. Besides soothing sore throats, liquorice is famously used as a pectoral herb. It soothes coughs, especially those dry and irritating coughs that can keep you up all night. Since sore throats and coughs tend to come together this is a wonderful herb to reach for. Add to that its antiviral and antibacterial properties and you’ve got a useful herb for common upper respiratory infections.
As mentioned its best to keep this syrup in the fridge, where it should last at least 6 months.  It can be taken by itself or I also combine it with tinctures such as Echinacea or Wild Indigo.
I’m going to be sharing some more recipes over the next few weeks.  Do follow my blog if you think you’d be interested.  Looking at my front garden I think the next one will be Hyssop Oxymel – for colds, flu and bronchitis.

For more information about my work as a Medical Herbalist, or if you are interested in whether a consultation could help you have a look at my website
www.bespokebotanicals.co.uk
 
Disclaimer: All information given above is for educational purposes and is not intended to replace advice from a health care professional.  If you have any health problems or are taking any other medication, herbs or supplements always seek the advice of a qualified medical herbalist or other healthcare practitioner prior to starting any new treatments

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Why should you visit a Medical Herbalist

11/19/2015

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If I wasn’t a Medical Herbalist I’d be really confused about the difference between a Medical Herbalist and someone who knows lots about herbs.  Many people know about the healing properties of herbs and how to use them for simple, self-limiting complaints.  Some GPs, pharmacists, health food shop assistants, gardeners, amateur experts, avid readers and those who have undertaken short term study all might have a sound understanding of herbs and their individual actions in the body.  Most people with a knowledge of herbs can tell you that Echinacea is good for helping the immune system deal with colds, that Elderflowers are anti-catarrhal and therefore help with hayfever and the sniffles, and that Garlic has a reputation for helping just about everything! It’s pretty common knowledge among many that Sage is good for sore throats, that Thyme tea might help coughs and Chamomile is calming and restoring to the digestive system.

I myself hold workshops sharing my knowledge of what herbs to pick from the wild, our gardens and the kitchen to use for simple, self-limiting complaints.  Amongst other things, we make and taste different herb teas, make creams and ointments together, and we learn how to make herbal syrups and tinctures.  There is a wealth of natural remedies all around us and as a herbalist I am passionate about educating and empowering people to use these resources for self-care.

So....Why the need for a Medical Herbalist?

Whilst I’m all for people using ‘herbal first aid’ and trying infusions and single tinctures to see if that might help (and if I think that’s all that’s necessary I’m likely to suggest you try it before booking an appointment) Herbal Medicine really comes into its own for more complex, long standing and difficult conditions, however these conditions require a more in depth understanding of how each herb works, how it interacts with other herbs (and any other medication you may be on) and what the underlying cause of your symptoms might be. 

A qualified Medical Herbalist will have studied for (at least) 4 years, and have a Bachelor of Science degree.  It is compulsory to undertake 500 hours supervised clinical training and be able to assess the patient medically as well as holistically.  A medical herbalist is permitted by law to ‘diagnose’ in the same way as a GP (reflecting our level of training).  It’s unlikely many of us do though, as our approach to treatment is very different, and the diagnosis is not always central to us, what’s more important is how the person came to develop the illness in the first place.  Nonetheless, it’s vital to have the medical knowledge, as primary health care professionals we need to be able to spot any danger signs of serious undiagnosed conditions and refer on where necessary.

What happens in a consultation?

Firstly I’ll take your basic details, date of birth, address etc and then I ask you to talk to me about what you would like my help with.  I go on to ask lots of questions about your condition and past medical history, current medication, diet, lifestyle and I review the workings of your body.  I’m looking for signs that tell me how well the different organs and systems are working to see what has gone wrong, where and why so I know which areas to support to reduce the risk of the problem recurring after treatment.  All the time I’m thinking about what I might want to include in your prescription.  I will definitely be including things to help your symptoms, so if your digestion needs calming I might use chamomile, or something more appropriate with similar properties.  I may use sage if you are having hot flushes, or thyme if you have a persistent cough.

But, this is only part of the picture. I’m basically building a unique recipe for each person.  With in-depth knowledge of therapeutic dose and individual need I ensure you get the strength and quantity of each herb that is most likely to be of benefit for you and this will be different for each person.  And then there are the ‘restorative’ herbs, aimed at targeting the body systems that might be contributing to maintaining the symptoms; your adrenal glands might have been overworked, your liver may have been sluggish, you may have been producing abnormal levels of hormones or your nervous system may have been under stress. Any number of things may have contributed to your condition.  All the time I’m building your prescription I’m accounting for your medical history and any contra indications for existing medical conditions and medications you might take from your GP – this is all an important part of our degree training.  A deeper part of being a medical herbalist is to be able to assess a person ‘constitutionally’ and identify which herbs may, or may not, be right for them.  Most herbalists consider constitution vitally important.

All patients are different, some feel the cold, others run too hot; some put on weight easily whilst others remain slim regardless of what they eat.  Constitutional, or traditional prescribing takes account of these tendencies when deciding how to treat and it is vital to understand this when putting together a prescription.  It’s when addressing ones constitutional tendencies that herbal medicine prescribed by a Medical Herbalist is at its most successful – meaning the right herbs are used for the right person.

Some conditions might need long term treatment.  Most people are helped by 3-4 consultations and medicine lasting up to six months.  It’s always my aim to reduce the medicine as soon as the body’s resources have recovered sufficiently for it to maintain health on its own. It could be said that herbs prescribed by a medical herbalist remind the body how it needs to work!

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