Connecting you with the herbs your body is already searching for
Calendula officinalis or English Marigold
Calendula officinalis is one of my favourite herbs. Sometimes known simply as calendula; other common names include English marigold, pot marigold or poor man's saffron. You can't help but smile when you look upon that stunning orange flower. Calendula has had a home...
How to make nettle pesto
We're half way through spring and the warm weather has arrived. Hooray! I love this time of year as it's a treasure trove of fresh green spring leaves. My favourite are the fresh green tips of nettle. If nettle tea isn't your thing, try this nettle pesto recipe....
A quick way to make fresh ginger tea
Ginger tea is my 'go to' whenever I'm feeling under the weather. It supports the immune system and is great for all parts of the body. Because it's a root, it's made as a decoction. Here's my super quick way to make ginger tea. What's a decoction? When we are making a...
Rose
Of all the flowers, methinks a rose is best. The Two Noble Kinsmen by John Fletcher and William Shakespeare Although most famous as a beautiful flower and for it's fragrant scent, rose is used extensively in herbal medicine. She lifts the spirits, helps to heal grief,...
Sweet Violet
I've always had a soft spot for sweet violet. I love the smell. The taste is divine. My favourite sweets are violet cremes. I used to treat myself to a small box of rose and violet cremes from Fortnum and Mason when I lived in London every Christmas. Just remembering...
How to protect Golden Seal
Golden Seal has been used by the Cherokee nation long before Europeans had heard of the plant. Traditionally used as a bitter herb to support digestive problems, it is now more widely known for its ability to break down catarrh and to overcome bacterial invasion...
Are your essential oils cat friendly?
Too many flies are plaguing my office. Being herbally inclined I decided some essential oils diffused in the air would do the trick. My usual go to are lavender and peppermint. They're very effective at repelling flies. But they are potentially poisonous to cats and I...
How to recognise yarrow
The combination of blazing sunshine and intense rain has encouraged an abundance of vibrant yarrow in the Wairarapa. So I thought I'd take the hint from mother nature and make January the month of yarrow! How to recognise Yarrow Yarrow or Achillea millefolium is known...
How Milk Thistle Can Help Your Hangover
Milk Thistle seed (Silybum marianum or sometimes referred to by its older botanical name of Carduus marianus) is a wonderful liver helper. That's particularly good news this time of year. Researchers believe the family of plant chemicals (phytochemicals) known as...
Important Conservation Work at Kew Gardens is Under Threat
www.change.org are calling for a petition to Danny Alexander MP (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) to reverse the planned reduction in Kew Garden's Grant in Aid. You can read about it at www.change.org here:...
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