Holistic Herbs

02/09/2026

Ladies mantle / Alchemilla vulgaris was known as 'Celestial water' by the medieval alchemist.
The leaves after dew or rain hold big pearls of water, looking like a starry sky.
Known as guttation, when the water cannot be lost by the leaves as vapour so ladies mantle forces it out of its tiny leaf breathe holes.
Culpeper informs us that it is ruled by Venus and it is a useful women's herb, being a menstrual regulator. It is said to restore women's sagging breasts to their former shape.
The keynote of this plant medicine is 'bleeding'. It actions are drying and binding and it used for internal and external bleeding, wound healing and inflammations and is useful for treating diarrhea, colitis and ulcers.
The dried herb is used mainly but the root can be used as a decoction externally for bleeding.

12/08/2026

It's the day of the Eclipse, and it is a good time to sit quiet as the Sun is blocked out, reflect on life, listen to your inner voice and perhaps think about starting something new.
If you're looking for a new approach to your health and lifestyle choices, please checkout my page 🌿🙏

Let me introduce you to the therapeutic, healing, self journey of discovery that HerbalWays has to offer you:
Hi, I am Jess and my journey into healing began at 19yrs as a qualified Holistic Massage Therapist. This led me down the path of complimentary therapies and, after a long period of study, in 2001, I qualified as a Medical Herbalist.
My path is still continuing today and it has led my healing journey further; into wild foods and foraging, natal Astrology, Humoral medicineand healing Sound frequencies. I now consider myself a Traditional Western Herbalist.
My massage treatments are bespoke to your individual needs and I work intuitively with my guides to reduce tensions, release trapped emotions and aid inner healing. All treatments offer aromatherapy oils, sound healing and time for you.
Traditional herbal medicine is a holistic approach to health issues, both physical and mental, taking into account your natal chart, elements, humour, lifestyle and family history.
Using bespoke herbal medicines, in the form of tinctures and teas, to help to bring about homeostasis.
Receiving herbal medicine together with massage can benefit you to staying in perfect health.
I am also available to host guided foraging walks and medicine making workshops ✨

12/08/2026

Let me introduce you to the therapeutic, healing, self journey of discovery that HerbalWays has to offer you:
Hi, I am Jess and my journey into healing began at 19yrs as a qualified Holistic Massage Therapist. This led me down the path of complimentary therapies and, after a long period of study, in 2001, I qualified as a Medical Herbalist.
My path is still continuing today and it has led my healing journey further; into wild foods and foraging, natal Astrology, Humoral medicineand healing Sound frequencies. I now consider myself a Traditional Western Herbalist.
My massage treatments are bespoke to your individual needs and I work intuitively with my guides to reduce tensions, release trapped emotions and aid inner healing. All treatments offer aromatherapy oils, sound healing and time for you.
Traditional herbal medicine is a holistic approach to health issues, both physical and mental, taking into account your natal chart, elements, humour, lifestyle and family history.
Using bespoke herbal medicines, in the form of tinctures and teas, to help to bring about homeostasis.
Receiving herbal medicine together with massage can benefit you to staying in perfect health.
I am also available to host guided foraging walks and medicine making workshops ✨

31/07/2026

Lovely to see a big bunch of Wild Carrot / Daucus carota today.
Also known as Queen Anne's lace, after a Queen Anne who pricked her finger and a tiny drop of blood landed on the lace, if you look in the centre of the flower head you will see a tiny red flower, said to resemble this.
But as it is in the Umbelliferae family, extra caution is needed to make sure you are 100% confident with your identification.
Wild Carrot is under Mercury's rule.
The whole herb and seed is a wonderful aromatic, great for indigestion and wind. This plants actions are also felt in the urinary system as a diuretic and a stone solvent.
But do not use if trying to conceive or if pregnant!

30/07/2026

Yesterday's Full Moon was Lunar Lammas.
Lammas, also known as Lughnasad, is the celebration of abundance and the first harvest. Usually of wheat, barley or corn but for me, as I walked late down the lanes and woodland paths and as the Sun was setting I harvested my first Plums and Blackberries 😋
A lot of my harvestings and foragings this year have been early.
Lammas is also when the fire element is at its peak and now marks the beginning of the gradual shift towards Autumn.
So enjoy this bountiful time of year

28/07/2026

Let me introduce you to Wood Calamint / Clinopodium menthifolium.
It is in the Mint / Lamiaceae family and the smell I find quite captivating, abit like a minty marjoram scent and taste.
The uplifting scent helps to lift the spirits, drive out melancholy and sorrow and according to old herbalist Gerald; makes a man merry and glad.
Culpeper mentions it too, recommending it for convulsions & cramps, shortness of breath, choleric pains in the stomach and bowels and to cure yellow jaundice. If taken with salt & honey, it will kill intestinal worms.
Us medicinal herbalist use it for its aromatic action, aiding digestion, for its expectorant qualities that aid breathing and for its calming effects on the mind.
It is a warming remedy that drives out cold damp conditions.
The genus Calamint is derived from the Greek Kalos because of ancient belief in its power to drive away serpents and the dreaded Basilisk, fabled King of the serpents whose very glare was fatal

28/07/2026

My usual morning dog walk with medicinal herbs galore

25/07/2026

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21/07/2026

Hollyhocks are looking delightful at the moment but did you know this is a medicinal plant medicine?
The flowers contain mucilage polysaccharides, which have a soothing effect on mucousal membranes and anthocyanin flavonals & phenolic acids which have an antioxidant and mild anti inflammatory action. As well as tannins, which is probably why Culpeper describes it as having an austere taste.
Culpeper also puts Venus as this plants ruler, like the Mallows.
So if you are suffering with a sore throat and tonsillitis, perhaps a cup of holyhock tea is due.

16/07/2026

Today I found Soapwort / Saponaria officinalis growing in the wild.
The flowers are so fragrant and they can be pink or white.
This is the first time I have seen this growing so I am feeling very happy today 😀
Soapwort was valued for its use as a clothes wash. If you mash the stems and leaves in water, you can extract the glucoside saponin, which lathers up has a cleansing action.
Once cultivated close to Woollen mills, where it was used to wash wool and Woollen garments.
In traditional herbal medicine it's leaves and stem are used, having a laxative, diuretic, expectorant, cholagogue, detergent and powerful blood tonic action. But, for internal use, it is practitioner use only due to the saponin content.
It can also be made into a cleansing skin wash.