Last year I had my first experience of supporting a woman through birth and I have to say it was truly an honour to do so. This woman was an absolute goddess, there is no other way to describe her! Watching a woman birth a baby was humbling, exciting and a stark reminder of how incredible life is, how delicate it is and how paper thin that veil between powerful birthing goddess and vulnerability. As a mentored doula, I debrief after each birth; I am so grateful to have a wond

Not the most inspirational post title, is it? Big companies have mission statements and vision statements: you can click on a website link and find out why the exist and what their purpose is. Well, I figure it's high time that I do similar. Jury's out on the name, so answers on a postcard please I had a kind of 'lightbulb' moment a week or so ago at the book launch of Why Mothering Matters written by my wonderful Doula Mama, Maddie McMahon. As well as Maddie, two other incre

Ok, ok so it hasn't got the most engaging title ever, but us herbalists aren't wordsmiths and to be honest, it does what it says on the tin! I was thrilled to be sent this book to read, road-test and review as part of National Tea Day on 21st April The book is written by herbalist extraordinaire Henriette Kress. I love Henriettes work and frequently refer to her blog or website for useful info, and she was definitely the inspiration behind my post-partum work, indeed her guid

I posted a few days ago on Instagram and it reminded me that I have meant to talk about this for AGES! Compliance - which boils down to how well you can stick to whatever regime you're undertaking. With my plans, it's usually a combination of dietary measures, lifestyle changes, supplements and of course the vital herbs! Compliance is supremely important to your journey and so the consultation process and treatment plan needs to be discussed openly and honestly - there is ver

This week is Self Care Week - I have a list of go-to self care remedies which I refer to and I'm sharing with you to celebrate... All of these remedies should be used with caution - do speak with me if you have any queries at all. Onion syrup • Layer slices of onions with sugar/honey/agave syrup in a jar • Leave overnight • Strain the juice • Onion syrup! Sounds nasty but great for colds. • Throw some thyme in there too if you like – thyme is a fantastic herb for the upper re

Ok, so there has been a 'little' gap in between posts - Jan and Feb have been really busy for me! Stage Five: Be Time Savvy This is where the slow cooker comes into its own; time is one of the major factors for people to fall off the wagon or eat badly (myself included). A weekly meal planner really helps, as does planning minimum-input meals! I have been known to buy bags of ready chopped veg to save time, especially when my little one was in the very little stages; I simply

This post will be relatively short and sweet, mainly because I am procrastinating about a talk I am giving in two days time... well, they say a little bit of stress is good for you ;) (note: 'they' lie!) This week I wanted to share some recipes with you, which is something which will come later in the week. I also want to talk about super ingredients and how to make the most of what you eat: you are what you absorb after all! I have purposly not used the words 'super foods'

I started writing this article and realised that there was far too much to put into one blog post, so here begins a journey of several posts which are all about Kickstarting your Health and will form part of a course I will be running next year. As always, your comments and feedback are invaluable to me. This is borne from several things; not just my love of improving health and wellbeing, but my love of food and also my passion of promoting breastfeeding. This will apply to

I was given the honour of talking at the Enfield Centre for Natural Health in February 2014, a local charity set up to champion integrated medicine and the use of complementary medicines in the area. The charity celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2014 and I would urge you to get involved! They hold regular talks and discussions on various aspects of health which are really interesting and informative at Jubilee Hall, Parsonage Lane, Enfield and looks to be a really good one!

So moving on from my last blog, I thought I'd discuss more about 'the stuff no one talks about' when you become a mum. Strangely enough, one of my best pieces of advice is always try and get dressed. Sounds obvious doesn't it? But it's very easy to stay in your pjs all day, with the curtains drawn and only the tv (and baby) for company. That's fine on occasion, but it all too quickly becomes normal and acceptable if you let it. Getting up and getting out works wonders. I used

I'm lucky enough to be blessed with two happy, healthy children, one who is seven years old, fiercely stubborn, independent, imaginative and cheeky; just the right amount of each. And the little one who is seventeen months, who is a complete pickle, mischevious and loving. I've never considered myself maternal, but I know that it's more because I don't feel confident around lots of children, rather than a reflection on my relationship with my own. In fact, I am probably cons

So, one of my favourite herbs is Avena sativa, put simply - Oats! It is a fantastic remedy for the nervous system and what we Herbalists refer to as a nerve tonic. It has a nourishing, nurturing nature and helps restore an individual when they are stressed, depressed or exhausted To think that a product which seems as simple as oats can have such a profound effect on our health and wellbeing is quite something; that's what I find so beautifully complex and interesting about h