Herballea Healing from the Meadow

Herballea Healing from the Meadow Mila Banach Dip.H.Med. MNIMH
Medical Herbalist - appointments available upon request. Apothecary. Bespoke herbal tea blends, handcrafted herbal vinegars.
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Discovering forgotten wisdom.

Interesting facts about elderberry in one place....
09/09/2026

Interesting facts about elderberry in one place....


Horsetail is one of the oldest plants still growing on Earth - its ancestors were around over 300 million years ago, som...
02/09/2026

Horsetail is one of the oldest plants still growing on Earth - its ancestors were around over 300 million years ago, some as tall as trees. What we forage today is a much smaller descendant of that ancient family.

But here's the important part: there's more than one horsetail in the UK, and knowing which one is in front of you really matters.
Equisetum arvense (field horsetail) is the one used in herbal medicine - rich in silica, traditionally valued for bones, nails, hair and connective tissue, and long used to support wound healing and the urinary system.
Equisetum palustre (marsh horsetail) looks similar but contains a toxic alkaloid and must never be used. Equisetum fluviatile (water horsetail) isn't medicinal either, and often grows right alongside the one we want.

The clues: field horsetail has solid branches with 3-4 teeth on the sheath. Marsh horsetail has hollow branches with 5-6 teeth - your warning sign. Water horsetail has a huge hollow centre and grows standing in water.

Because of its high silica content, horsetail is traditionally taken as a decoction rather than a quick infusion - simmered longer so the silica can actually be drawn out. It's also used as a tincture, capsule, or hair rinse and vinegar.

Do you check plants this closely before picking, or is this the first time you've thought about it?



Disclaimer: This content is for general herbal education only and is not medical advice. Herbs may interact with medicines and may not be suitable for everyone. If you take medication, have a health condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your doctor, pharmacist or a qualified medical herbalist before use.

Vinegar 😎The word actually comes from the French vin aigre - "sour w**e" - because that's exactly what it started as: w*...
01/09/2026

Vinegar 😎

The word actually comes from the French vin aigre - "sour w**e" - because that's exactly what it started as: w**e exposed to air and acetic acid bacteria.

But you don't need w**e, or grapes, or anything fancy - just fruit, sugar, water, air and time. Two fermentations, one after the other, and vinegar happens.

In the kitchen it's far more than a splash on chips. It’s used to make dressings, marinades, pickles, shrubs, oxymels... And because it's unpasteurised, homemade vinegar can carry some of those living cultures from the fermentation itself, the same family of processes we associate with gut-friendly foods.

I always have a few jars quietly working away, experimenting with all sorts! 😜

How simple is it really to make your own? 🤔
Simpler than you'd think.
I'll be showing exactly how at my upcoming workshops - keep an eye out.

Sometimes we overlook the simplest things because they are so familiar. 🍎Apples are a lovely example. Beneath that ordin...
28/08/2026

Sometimes we overlook the simplest things because they are so familiar. 🍎

Apples are a lovely example. Beneath that ordinary skin you’ll find pectin, a soluble fibre that supports digestion and our gut bacteria, alongside polyphenols and other plant compounds. Much of the good stuff is in and just beneath the skin too so another reason not to peel them unnecessarily. 🤓

Herbalists have valued apples for generations, not only as food but in preparations for traditional remedies.

And we’ve been really lucky with apples this year, despite the drought, the trees around here seem to be absolutely full of them. 🍏

At this time of year, they are a lovely reminder that something doesn’t have to be exotic to be valuable.

No superfood label required. 🌿

Stay tuned - I’ll show you what I’m doing with all these apples next. 🍎👀

27/08/2026

From study days to busy workdays, this is still part of my daily morning routine.

You probably know nettle as the plant you try very hard not to touch… 😅But Urtica dioica is so much more than an annoyin...
25/08/2026

You probably know nettle as the plant you try very hard not to touch… 😅

But Urtica dioica is so much more than an annoying sting.

It’s a mineral-rich blood tonic, traditionally used as a nourishing and diuretic herb; it contains histamine but is used in hayfever remedies and at this time of year, there’s another part of the plant worth looking for: the seeds for their adaptogenic properties.

Swipe through for a few of my favourite nettle facts, including how to tell which plants to collect seeds from. 👉

How do you feel about nettles - a wonderful herb or just a w**d? 😜



Disclaimer: This content is for general herbal education only and is not medical advice. Herbs may interact with medicines and may not be suitable for everyone. If you take medication, have a health condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your doctor, pharmacist or a qualified medical herbalist before use.

Apparently Mandi Coxall has never met anyone quite so excited to be handed a bag of w**ds. 😂But when you're a medical he...
22/08/2026

Apparently Mandi Coxall has never met anyone quite so excited to be handed a bag of w**ds. 😂

But when you're a medical herbalist and the “w**d” happens to be horsetail (Equisetum arvense)… well, this is basically a present. 🌿🎁

Thank you Mandi! Other people get flowers, I get bags of horsetail and couldn't be happier. 😜

I know I keep going on about my Hibiscus & Rose Lemonade… but I can’t help it! 🌺🍋But I haven’t really told you what insp...
20/08/2026

I know I keep going on about my Hibiscus & Rose Lemonade… but I can’t help it! 🌺🍋

But I haven’t really told you what inspired it.

Yeah, it’s super pretty and tastes so fresh and zingy — but there’s more to the herbs than just how they taste.

As a herbalist, I picked herbs that are known for being cooling and refreshing, but honestly, I just love how interesting they are too!

Basically, I wanted to make something tasty and super refreshing for hot days—and every glass feels like a little celebration of these awesome plants. 🌿

So what’s actually in this lemonade, and why did I pick these herbs?

Swipe to see what’s inside ➡️

Wow, look at all this wonderfully colourful produce! There is something for everyone 😎
07/03/2026

Wow, look at all this wonderfully colourful produce! There is something for everyone 😎

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