Cornwall Herbal Clinic

21/06/2026

Up at the Krack o' Dawn

21/06/2026

18/06/2026

Can you recognise ten medicinal plants?

Could you make a spring cleansing tonic?

Would you know which root can improve your gut microbiome ?

Meet me Carol Thorogood ( Medical Herbalist) at 10am tomorrow at the Old Cemetery, Pennance Road Falmouth for an hour of plant discovery.

It will change the way you look at wild plants.

It could even change your health.

Best of all, it's free.

18/06/2026

Marshmallow - the original source of those squishy sweet pink melt-in-the-mouth clouds of deliciousness.

A valuable plant for softening and soothing surfaces - inside and out. For the mouth and digestive tract, easing soreness and inflammation. For the lungs when coughs are harsh and dry. For the bladder when irritation strikes. For skin that's dry and inflammed.

The root is rich in mucilage - holding moisture and easing dryness. The leaves are similar, soft and silky, best made into an infusion.

Marshmallow - Althea officinalis- included in the British Pharmacopoea since 1618.

16/06/2026

Oh no ! Did you miss the Secret Garden medicinal plant walk today? We found so many interesting plants! Thank you to all the lovely people that came along.
We talked about the spectrum of liver herbs, from Fumitory to Artichoke; the value of slime; bitters and many other things.

If that piques your interest, come along on Friday at 10am to the Old Cemetary Pennance Road for an hour of herbal wandering. Free and no need to book.

15/06/2026

It's nearly time to collect nettle seeds so take a moment to differentiate the male from the female seed heads. Female seeds , rich in omega 3 fatty acids, adaptogenic for resilience and a good winter supplement. Bountiful and free.

11/06/2026

This article by my colleague and former teacher Anita Ralph explains how herbalist's approach a case of hay fever.

by Anita Ralph

11/06/2026

Slip through the door to the secret garden where we will find all manner of plants that our grandmothers used to keep the family well. From Artichoke to Yarrow, each has its unique profile of alkaloids, flavonoids, bitters and tannins which can be made into teas, decoctions, poultices and tonics.
In this hour long introduction to medicinal plants, I will show you which ones you can grow or gather to make a digestive tea, which ones help to move fluid and which make the best balm for stings and scratches.

I'll be at "the secret garden" on Tuesday 16th June at 2pm. It's free and no need to book.
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Follow my stories for other dates and venues.

04/06/2026

The concept of a polychrest is found in herbal medicine (and homoeopathy), but is completely alien to pharmaceutical medicine. It describes a deep acting, broad spectrum remedy, prescribed to treat a wide array of symptoms and conditions. These remedies are mild, yet restorative and act on several different organs and tissues. They can be taken over the long term.

Goldenrod is one such polychrest remedy. Rich in flavonoids, anti allergic, antiinflammatory, restoring and decongesting. Its actions are focused on the urinary and upper respiratory systems. Restoring the mucosa and drying up any excess secretions. Promoting tissue repair.

Another one of my dispensary indispensables!

It's also a beautiful plant to have in the garden.

01/06/2026

I'm about to watch Emma Barnett on BBC2 talking about Endometriosis. Sometimes it takes high profile women to speak publicly about their own health in order for a condition to be taken seriously. Endometriosis affects one in ten women. Think about that. How many women in your workplace or living in your street or in even in your family have endometriosis? GPs often don't have detailed knowledge and even if they do, referral to a specialist takes years. For too long it has been wrongly classified as a purely gynaecological condition, and while hormones have an influence, many other factors contribute to the pain, inflammation, tissue proliferation and scarring. Let's campaign for more research, let's call out gaslighting, improve training for doctors and start to find the means to help the 10 percent.