Kirraleaf

21/04/2026

Congratulations to the quiz winner Max Stibbe who will get a half price initial consult with me for answering the question first (on my other page!)...

Benzene rings were a cool discovery because, it is not just benzene that has a benzene ring in its atomic structure, it's also many active compounds in plants, and in our bodies too. These types of molecules have powerful effects.... other powerful molecules that contain benzene rings are things like serotonin and ni****ne, as well as plant chemicals that help defend them from disease like flavonoids, and phenoloc acids (these also have healing capacity for all the animals in the environment that consume them).

This discovery was part of the scientific world coming to understand that there is much more to plants than just simple building blocks like carbohydrates, protein and fats... this is when science started to be able to explain plants' healing capacity, that we have known about for thousands of years.

And the way the scientist Kekule was able to invisage the molecular structure as being a ring rather than a stick was one of those moments where imagination is more important than knowledge...

19/04/2026

I've decided to do a weekly competition kind of thing....

Post your answer to this question (you will likely need to research it!) in the comments and you could win a...

HALF PRICE INITIAL CONSULT

Or

COMPLETELY FREE FOLLOW-UP
(f you have already seen me in the last 6 months)

!!!!!!!

(Online or in person available)
.. if you are the first person to get both parts of the question correct....

This week's question is:

Who discovered the existence of the Benzene Ring molecular structure in many of our plants medicinal compounds? And what made him realise?

11/04/2026

Garlic and goldenrod oxymel.. in a few weeks i will stain this.... oxymels are a base of vinegar and honey... the vinegar acts as a solvent and the honey adds flavour and antimicrobial benefits. Acetic acid in vinegar is also mildly expectorant. The honey goes great to balance the strong garlic taste. Garlic is a great mucolytic (breaks down and clears mucous) as well as strongly antibiotic/ fungal but selective (doesn't harm beneficial bacteria). The vinegar honey and garlic all ensure this product is unlikely to ever go off. The golden rod is anti- inflammatory, antibacterial/fungal, anticatarrhal (clears mucous), and also mildly analgesic and anti spasmodic so great for a colds and flus with a sore throat, cough or sinus congestion. This mix would also be great for swollen glands or Urinary Tract infections.

11/04/2026

Out in the sun today gathering this gorgeous solar herb with some other Golden Rod fan herbies! So great to meet you Thea and Michelle from The Herb Emporium

10/04/2026

My first Golden Rod tincture of the year is soaking. It will be ready when it's ready, probably in a few weeks. This whole bunch mostly (except the little frond of flowers in the last photo) all chopped up to nicely fit in a large jar. I then calculated the right amount of ethanol and water to make the right strength for this plant considering that it's fresh and has its own water content, that will work nicely to extract the healing constituents of this particular plant.

I realised as i did this that the plant makes the medicine but as we prepare and measure, handle and process the medicine we are also making medicine... our conscious prescence, focus, touch and vision, mind body and soul are a part of the process.

Maybe this is why I'm sure when i make my own tinctures, especially wild crafted ones, they are often better in smell and efficacy than the ones made in a factory. I really have found this to be true and it's fascinating.

On that note later in the year i am going to do some workshops on making herbal products. I am feeling like it will be a collaboration. More info in the coming months!

09/04/2026

It is Golden Rod season again. How this glorious and yet humble plant welcomed me when i moved here last year and how nice to be reminded it has been a full year since then. I will be making tinctures, tea and infused moringa oil over the coming weeks. This is my first small Golden Rod harvest for the year, there will be more!
Golden Rod is uplifting, soothing and, as i said last year, is of great benefit to kidney health, sinus and hayfever relief as well as being a great cold and flu tonic... it can help you sweat out a fever and clear inflammation and mucous. It will help with sinus and ear infections as well as Urinary Tract infections and i find the energy of this plant very peaceful and warmly uplifting. It's one of my favourites!

28/02/2026

Cacao is an amazing medicine... its known to improve cognitive function, enhance mood and support cardiovascular health. It's a powerful antioxidant and has superfood level nutrient content. Recently there was a study that highlighted cacao's benefits particularly for micro-vascular health. The tiny blood vessels that nourish the brain, eyes, kidneys and all vital organs are incredibly important for maintaining health and preventing degeneration.

Here is an article by Herbalist Kerry Bone about this study. Notice that high quality medicinal cacao extract was used. Also please see the link in comments about how terrible for you a lot of chocolate is. So make sure you are using pure good quality cacao / quality dark chocolate products!

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/profkerrybone_post-1-of-2-one-of-the-core-components-of-activity-7428921079441641472-Ksyk?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAACpMrUcBtKI5Y5fxuc3YVu8KX4R4kkFLa3Q&fbclid=Iwb21leAQPOpdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR7fHvZCTQQOsISAiIKMf9DQCzjJaIWNXT5ynEug9tsAmxkHzJ7EEA3StHiKMA_aem_9Qd_YeRvWdLrFt4ggM7mEA

Post 1 of 2 One of the core components of my microcirculation phytonutrient diet is cocoa, usually as very dark chocolate (85 to 90%), chosen for its higher flavanol density and lower sugar load. A 2025 systematic review rigorously evaluated the clinical evidence to determine whether cocoa flavanols...

28/02/2026

Recently i met one of my herbal medicine mentors in person for the first time! Jimi wollumbin! He's a total master... he is moving to Greece to finish writing his book on greek medicine. I got some books and herbs and totems for my own clinic and also got to be immersed in his presence which felt like an initiation into knowing that will continue over time....

13/01/2026

I love this place! It reminds me of the old west end vibe in the '90s! It's a few doors up from the clinic room i use in Nambour. It's open for lunch most days now as well as dinner.... serving nourishing healthy satisfying food! Outstanding value amongst the usual take away junk! And a nice cozy eat-in atmosphere with doting staff and loving Buddhist Juju!

06/01/2026

Happy new year… It feels like 2026 is going to be big! Whether you have heard about all the numerological and Chinese horoscope significance of this year or not, we can all feel it in the air I am sure. We are going through a turning point which has been building up for decades and it is now possible to collectively and individually evolve and create a better world, which is an inside job as much as anything.

How we treat ourselves on a daily basis affects what we think and feel and do, and this affects the world around us through our focused energy, actions and intentions. That's why daily practices like meditation, diet and movement practices are so important. It doesn’t feel like there will be much room for getting things wrong this year, the time has come to shape up and do this thing!!

I am grateful for the help of herbs at this time for their vibrational / energetic, physical, mental and emotional support as we evolve. Plants are evolving too, as they are facing similar challenges to us.

I have chosen a Ginkgo tree as the picture for this post because this tree is both ancient (it has been around for up to 390 million years!!!!) and evolving (it's morphology has changed in response to environmental changes but it's phenotype has not changed for at least 200 million years). Ginkgo trees have survived Hiroshima and are so well designed for life on earth that they are the longest surviving species with one of the longest life-spans. It is also, like all medicinal plants, here for a purpose not only of it's own, but to support other lifeforms to survive and evolve as we all face the challenges we are exposed to on this planet together. Our use of and understanding of this plant has also evolved as traditionally the seeds are used but in recent years we have also discovered the amazing benefits of it's leaves. Ginkgo is also the leaf image I chose for my business card!

I wish you all an amazing new year! I hope we all find the courage, compassion for ourselves and others, and most importantly self-love needed to enjoy the wild ride ahead!

05/12/2025

Just in case you've heard the voices of big food telling you there is no harm in seed oils and that there is no evidence of harm from seed oils ... well there is! Here are a couple of examples... (also see comments). It's important to avoid these in your own cooking but also in processed foods and things like almond milk (get the ones with no oils added as they are always seed oils)... processed foods are very high in trans fats and seed oils (and seed oils also become trans fats very quickly when exposed to heat). BTW olive oil is not a seed oil it's a fruit high in healthy monounsaturated fat.

Maintaining a balance of ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids is essential for cardiac health. Current ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids in the American diet have shifted from the ideal ratio of 2:1 to almost 20:1; while there is a body of evidence that suggests the negative impact of such a shift in younger organisms...