Andrea Hughes Medical Herbalist- Functional Medicine

14/06/2026

I've been pottering around the herb garden this morning and to my delight and surprise, the st.johns wort is already in flower! A little ahead of the traditional time of 24th June which is St Johns day.

We'll be meeting this plant during both the online and in person event of 4th July

14/06/2026

Join me this summer for a nourishing exploration of herbal medicine and seasonal wellbeing.

In the fullness of summer, we are invited to bloom, connect, and shine. Herbal medicine teaches us how to nourish the heart, calm the mind, and tend the inner fire that sustains vitality, joy, and resilience.

Summer is the season of abundance. The days are long, the sun reaches its highest point, and the natural world is alive with colour, movement, and vitality. In traditional herbal medicine, summer is associated with the element of Fire, the force of warmth, transformation, connection, and joy.

During this immersive workshop, we'll explore the relationship between the heart and the nervous system and discover herbs that support emotional wellbeing, nervous system regulation, and cardiovascular health.

Like the rose opening fully to the summer sun, we too are invited to cultivate openness, resilience, compassion, and connection while maintaining balance amidst life's activity and demands.

🌹 Learn about herbs for the heart and nervous system
🌿 Explore seasonal herbal remedies and preparations
☀️ Connect with the energy and wisdom of summer
💚 Support vitality, balance, and emotional wellbeing

📅 Saturday 4th July 2026

Choose the option that suits you:
✨ Attend in person and via Zoom
✨ Join online via Zoom only

Spaces are limited for in person

Message me for details or to book your place.

I look forward to sharing this beautiful summer journey with you.

08/06/2026

Finally… she blooms!

After days of checking and waiting, the Linden tree has burst into flower! I snapped this photo this evening in the golden sunshine after a day of rain. The scent is absolutely heavenly, and the whole tree is alive with the happy hum of bees.

Now I’m just praying for a few dry days so I can harvest those precious blossoms.

Tilia europaea (Linden or European lime flower) is one of the beautiful herbs we’ll be working with on my Summer Herbal Medicine Immersion Day on 4th July.

If you’ve never tried it, pick a few fresh blossoms and brew yourself a cup of tea in the evening. It’s wonderfully calming and often leads to a lovely, restful night’s sleep.

Have you ever tasted Linden tea? Drop a 🌿 below if you’d like to join us on the 4th!

31/05/2026

31/05/2026

🌿☀️ LAST CHANCE TO WIN A FREE WEBINAR PLACE!

THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW!!☀️🌿

Join me on Saturday 4th July 2026 for Herbs of the Sun & Gentle Fire a beautiful summer herbal medicine workshop exploring the healing plants and energetics of the season.

Learn about summer herbs, herbal medicine making, flower essences, and create your own remedies to support wellbeing and vitality. 🌼🌿✨

🎉 To celebrate, I'm giving away ONE FREE place on the morning webinar (worth £45)!

To enter, answer this question in the comments:

Which herb is traditionally known for supporting a calm and settled nervous system?

1️⃣ Lemon Balm

2️⃣ Nettle

3️⃣ Burdock

Comment 1, 2 or 3 below to enter!

🌿 One winner will be chosen at random from all correct answers and will be announced on Monday 8th June. 🌿

Medical Herbalist practicing in West Sussex
Remote / in person consultations.
Medical Herbalist with over 20 years full time clinical practice, extensive CPD training in Functional Medicine, Functional Testing, DNA testing and Nutrition.

27/05/2026

All my consultations and dispensing are done for today so I've moved my office to the garden to write up today's reports and treatment plans!

27/05/2026

This mornings gift..

Wild honeysuckle, with its delicate twining stems and heady summer scent, holds a quiet place in traditional herbal practice. Its flowers and leaves are valued for their expectorant and soothing actions, helping to ease coughs, clear congestion, and calm irritated respiratory passages.

Beyond the lungs, this native climber offers gentle anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial support, traditionally used for minor skin irritations, sore throats, and as a mild tonic for overall vitality. In old country remedies it was often prepared as a tea or syrup to support the body’s natural defenses during seasonal shifts.

Next time you pass a fragrant honeysuckle hedge, remember its subtle yet steady gifts.

Nature weaves healing into the simplest blooms.

23/05/2026

it's wonderful weather this weekend but as pollen fills the air, many face the familiar challenges of hayfever: sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion and that tired, foggy feeling.

Rather than only suppressing symptoms, herbal medicine focus on supporting the body’s natural balance with some generous herbal allies.

Eyebright has long been valued for soothing itchy, watery eyes and calming inflamed nasal passages. Its traditional astringent qualities help ease irritation in the upper respiratory system during pollen season.

Nettle offers a mild natural approach to moderating histamine responses while supplying nourishing minerals that support everyday resilience. We Herbalists often recommend it as a steady companion through the allergy months.

Elderflower brings a cooling, decongesting action that supports clearer sinuses and helps reduce excessive mucus and sneezing. It works well in blends to encourage comfortable breathing.

Reishi Mushroom is traditionally used to help regulate an overactive immune response and ease histamine sensitivity. It also supports the body’s ability to handle stress that can intensify allergic reactions.

Echinacea provides short-term seasonal support when the immune system feels reactive, particularly if allergies coincide with sinus irritation. It helps maintain balanced upper-respiratory function during high-pollen periods.

Peppermint delivers a refreshing menthol lift that opens nasal passages and relieves sinus pressure. It also soothes irritated throats that often accompany hayfever.

20/05/2026

The season of the Rose is upon us...