What comes to mind when you think of an infusion? You’’d probably think of a tea - herbs infused in water. But did you know you can make an infusion with oil? I filtered this infused oil today, having ‘brewed’ it for hours to extract all the healing goodness from the herbs. It takes a long time to make an infused oil. The way it’s done depends on what herbs are used in the infusion. In one method, herbs are steeped in oil for hours on a very low heat. Then the oil is filtered. As part of my training as a herbalist, I learnt pharmacy. We herbalists learn to make all the medicines and preparatio ..read more

I often find myself explaining to patients the physiology and anatomy behind t heir health problems. I used to reach for my old anatomy colouring book* from the shelves in my consulting room but it has been used so often, it stopped finding its way back to the shelf several years ago and instead sits on the floor under my desk. The cover is loose now, from years of use. I use it to show them what’s going on in their body because I find it helps them understand their current health problem, and importantly w hat we’re going to do about it. Some patients are also treated to one of my priceless d ..read more

Valentina was left with severe pain, or post-herpetic neuralgia, after having shingles. She had suffered from this for two and a half years before she came to see me, and had seen all sorts of people before me. Nothing had helped. The pain covered more than half her back, much more than the area originally affected by shingles - it reached from the bottom of her neck to the base of her spine, stretching right across the spine to her side. It was so painful she could hardly bear to wear clothes - the slightest touch was agony and she often broke down and cried from the pain. I gave her a mixtu ..read more

If you were to visit my garden at the moment you would be forgiven for thinking that #roses are my favourite flower. You’d probably be right, although I think flowers are like children - you can’t have favourites. A friend recently asked me how many different roses I have - I’ve never counted them. I just know it takes a while to prune all of them. I probably spend more time looking after my roses than any other plants in my garden. The results of that care make all the time and effort worthwhile. From late May until the end of September there are roses blooming in my garden, and the smell is ..read more

I’ll spare you a gruesome photo but this week I’ve been treating an infected wound with the help of lavender oil. Lavender is a very popular essential oil with a wide and versatile range of uses. I included lavender along with Calendula officinalis and Commiphora molmol to make a poultice for a patient who had an infected wound. Calendula, Commiphora (myrrh) and lavender are all antiseptic and help with wound healing. As well as being antiseptic, lavender has a soothing and calming effect on the nervous system, making it useful for alleviating stress and anxiety. It can help relax the mind a ..read more

Usually at each appointment you will take away enough medicine to last you until your next appointment. Occasionally you may need a herb that I do not keep in stock so I will order it and send it to you as soon as it arrives. This does not usually take more than 3 or 4 days. A typical prescription contains six or seven different herbs, each chosen for its range of actions. Creams, lotions or ointments may be prepared, if your condition warrants an external application - this usually applies to skin complaints but can often include conditions such as arthritis or shingles. Medicines are dispen ..read more

Each of us experiences ill-health in individual ways and each of us has a unique medical history. This means that no two patients seeing a herbalist will be given the same herbal prescription - treatment is tailored to your individual needs. For your first appointment you should allow at least one hour. This gives us time for an extensive discussion of a your current health. When you come to see me for a first appointment we will explore your current health concerns and your medical history. I will need to know about any prescribed or over-the-counter medications or supplements you might be t ..read more

Often when people think of herbal medicine they think about taking a herb they bought in their local health food shop or on the internet. Most people will think of taking a specific herb for a particular problem - such as taking St John's Wort for depression or Black Cohosh during the menopause. For a herbalist the term "herbal medicine" means the practice of herbal medicine as a whole system of holistic healthcare. When herbalists talk about Herbal Medicine, we are referring to the whole philosophy that guides our practice and the way we treat our patients - you. This system uses herbs and a ..read more

It’s National Gardening Week so I thought I would look at some of the health benefits of gardening. First of all, there is the exercise element. Research has shown that 30 minutes of gardening burns a comparable number of calories to playing badminton or volleyball, or practising yoga. Being a physical activity, gardening lowers your risk of heart disease or stroke. The movements involved in gardening such as bending, twisting, pushing and pulling strengthen various muscles such as abdominal, leg, arm feet and hand muscles. Did you know gardening can improve your immune system? Soil bacteria h ..read more

It’s 2 weeks into a new year and I’m watching the sun return. It comes back quite quickly. These photos were taken 2 days apart at the same time of day. Just before Christmas at this time of day where I live, there was complete darkness. Winter can bring challenges for some people, when they find short days and long nights hard to cope with, and spend all their time indoors in artificial light. Getting up when it is still dark, going to work or school while it is dark, and then coming home when it is dark again can have a dramatic effect on mental health, not to mention vitamin D levels, the i ..read more