- November 24, 2023
Herbalism, Herbs for Health, Herbs in the Landscape 0 Comment

Biophilia and the healing power of Nature: What makes medicine, ‘medicine’?

Words by Neil Allies There is a phrase that is sometimes used amongst practitioners – a ‘brown bottle herbalist’ – meaning, at its extreme, someone that uses herbs straight out of a bottle, without building a relationship or knowledge of the actual plant itself. This type of herbalism probably does not reflect the experience of ...
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- October 20, 2023
Herb Histories, Herbs for Health, Herbs in Profile 0 Comment

A Hawthorn herbal rabbit hole: discovering herbal actions and rediscovering herbal gifts

Words by Neil Allies  What’s the difference between a home herbalist and a professional medical herbalist? There are probably lots of different answers to that question, depending on who you ask! The first time you see a paying client after qualifying must be a scary but exciting benchmark moment for a practitioner, and one I’m ...
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- October 6, 2023
Herbalism, Herbs for Health 0 Comment

Healing herbal vinegars – discovering an old way to use herbs at home

Words by Neil Allies Medical herbalists prescribe herbs to patients to help improve their health but what’s the best way to ‘take’ herbs? Hippocrates, the ‘Father of Medicine’, is famously reported to have said ‘Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food’ (although there’s no evidence he actually did write this). Whoever did say it, ...
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- September 22, 2023
Herbalism 0 Comment

Why study herbal medicine? Insights from a student herbalist

Words by Neil Allies Why study herbal medicine? It’s an important question and there is a huge range of answers: a desire to reconnect with old traditions; frustration with other medical treatment; personal experiences; a desire to help others; to feel more empowered to help yourself; an interest in the natural world and plants. Whatever ...
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- September 2, 2023
Cooking with Herbs, Herb Histories, Herbs for Health 0 Comment

Curse or Cure: The precarious world of Plant Lore & Recipe for Elderberry syrup

Words By Kayleigh Sinclair According to Grieve’s Herbal in 1931, that “the English summer begins with Elderflowers and ends with Elderberries".   An unremarkable shrub for most of the year that is scattered throughout the deeper, rich soils of hedgerows and woodlands of England, the Elder tree (Sambucus nigra) comes into its own in summer adorned in ...
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- June 24, 2023
Crafting with Herbs 0 Comment

RECIPE: Rose Bath Salts

Nicola is a student medical herbalist with a special interest in chronic illnesses. When not studying, she can usually be found tending to her garden or out in the woods with her dogs. Today, she shares a recipe for rose bath salts.   I love roses and luckily for me, they are blooming in my garden ...
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- February 6, 2023
Cooking with Herbs, Herbs for Health 0 Comment

RECIPE: Garlic Honey

If you are a member of The Herb Society and wish to write for the blog, get in touch with your ideas at blog@herbsociety.org.uk Nelle Jervis shares a garlic honey recipe to boost your immune system and treat winter colds, without offending the neighbours. Anyone who knows me well knows that I love garlic…. I have ...
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- December 5, 2022
Herbs for Health 0 Comment

MARVELLOUS MINT PART 4 – 11 recipes for health

If you are member of the Herb Society and wish to write for the blog, get in touch with your ideas at blog@herbsociety.org.uk Written for the UK Herb Society by Lynda Warren, Herb Society Ambassador and Public Speaker www.aspoonfulofherbs.co.uk The photos used in this post belong to Lynda Warren and should not be replicated. All images ...
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