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Billericay Herbal Medicine, Nature's Table, 8 The Walk, Billericay (2026)

21/01/2026

A herb that many of you may be familiar with from using it in cooking or growing in your gardens or on windowsills is thyme (Thymus vulgaris), a herb that I’m using a lot medicinally at the moment. I often think of it as being a “lung herb” but as you’ll see, it has beneficial effects on other body systems too!

So why is thyme used for the lungs? For a few reasons. First, it has an expectorant effect – this means that any catarrh/phlegm on the chest is coughed up more easily rather than staying in the lungs to potentially become infected. Second, it is antimicrobial so in itself can help fight infections. Thirdly, it relaxes the bronchial tubes (which run down to the lungs) which can help with wheezing and tight chests. Consequently thyme is one of my go-to herbs for asthmatics, COPD, bronchitis, chest infections, coughs and other respiratory conditions.

Thyme is also useful for digestive conditions as it can relax the gut (aiding in IBS and wind), protect it from irritation and inflammation, and also deal with infections like gastroenteritis.

The relaxing effect that it has on certain types of muscle in the body (like the bronchial tubes) can also be used for period pains, and that antimicrobial effect can be used for thrush and UTIs.

Externally, thyme can be used to disinfect cuts, as a gargle for sore throats, or in an old fashioned “sitz bath” for gynae infections. I’ve also used it as a mild but potent face rinse for spots.

I tend to use thyme as a tincture but it can also be taken either on its own or combined with other herbs as a tea. You can also infuse a sprig in honey.

It’s said that thyme was used in Jesus’ manger. In Roman times it was associated with bravery and soldiers added it to their bathwater. They also exchanged sprigs as a mark of respect. Of course it has been grown for centuries for culinary reasons – does anyone grow it in their garden?

19/01/2026

Can you only discuss one issue at a time with a medical herbalist? Due to time limitations, when you see your GP, most surgeries ask you to book a double appointment if you have more than one issue you need to talk about. In a herbal medicine consultation, in the hour we have you can get it all off your chest, and then we’ll ask you even more questions that you didn’t realise you needed to sift through!

You can talk about more than one problem; such as your hayfever and your headaches; your digestive problems and your insomnia; your arthritis, skin problems and anxiety. There may be links between your ailments that you hadn't considered! And in follow up appointments, what happens if something else comes up? Not a problem.

You are prescribed a mixture of herbs and if one condition has started to become under control, we can “tweak” the herbs to concentrate on a different condition. What if we’re still looking at the original condition but in the meantime you’re still bunged up after recent virus? We can prescribe you a second herbal mix for a couple of weeks to help get rid of the catarrh or soothe your throat. Suddenly come up with a skin rash or dry patch? If appropriate, we can mix you a cream.

As we have all your medical details from your first appointment, we can react to what’s important to you at that time. And if you’re a patient who we haven’t seen for a while, as long as no major medical issues have taken place in the meantime, we will of course still have your notes so you can pop back in for new ailments, major or minor. It’s not often that people have only one health complaint at a time and we medical herbalists are fully equipped to deal with this – we’re the ultimate in multi-taskers!

17/01/2026

These fabulous fungi are King Alfred's cakes (Daldinia concentrica) which you can find on dead wood throughout the year. They look like lumps of coal!
They are named after King Alfred who, in the 9th century was trying to escape from the Vikings and hid in the house of a peasant women who asked him to keep an eye on her baking cakes. Unfortunately he let them burn and she scolded him! He ran away, embarrassed, and scattered the evidence around the woods to hide it.

If you find any of these, you'll see that they are pretty hard so not edible but inside there are concentric rings which correspond to a year's growth, like trees. Older ones can be used like a charcoal briquette to start fires.

Another name for this fungus is cramp balls, as it was believed that if you carried them in your pockets, they would prevent cramp! There is a tradition of using them for wound healing in India, and research in 2017 found that their action was comparable to Neosporin ointment.

Has anyone seen these on their travels?

15/01/2026

We're halfway through January now - always a difficult month. But I'm trying to stay positive, and today I'd like to know: what do you LOVE about winter? For me: seeing dogs in jumpers and onesies, cold walks on frosty crunchy grass, and hot chocolate! How about you?

12/01/2026

Are you looking to keep your immune system fighting fit this winter? There have been all sorts of nasty viruses going around this winter. This is how I and my family help keep ourselves well.

First, we make sure we're eating a healthy, varied diet. My advice to everyone is “eat a rainbow”: fruit and veg of as many different colours as you can as the different colour pigments contain different nutrients. Plenty of water and herbal tea to allow your body to flush everything through. Garlic, ginger, onions, mushrooms, spices…these all have anti-viral/antibacterial properties.
We also get plenty of fresh air, exercise, and sleep, and do whatever keeps us cheerful in the dark winter months!

What not to do? Eating too much sugar and processed foods, stress, smoking, poor sleep, lack of exercise…all these factors are bad for your immune system.

I have a number of patients (as well as me and my family) who like to take herbs to keep well over winter and so I mix up specific blends for all of them. There are a few herbs that I use for most people, such as elderberry (Sambucus nigra, not to be eaten raw), as it has been found to inhibit the growth of different strains of flu and other viruses. However, no two people are the same and so for those with “weak chests” (from growing up in smoky homes, or a history of asthma for example) I can use herbs specifically for this; or for those who generally have blocked sinuses I can help get rid of the catarrh. I can help with stress and sleep issues too! As we all know, viruses don’t respond to antibiotics but secondary bacterial infections can get in, and I have a number of antibacterial herbs that I can use to help avoid this. I also frequently work alongside prescribed medication so that isn’t a problem.

Obviously none of this is a cast-iron guarantee that my family won't catch anything, but it should mean that if anything sneaks through, it won't affect us as badly as it could, and we get over it quicker.

If you’d like to talk about keeping your immune system tip-top then please get in touch!

10/01/2026

Do you have “problem periods”? Perhaps they are painful, heavy, irregular, affect your mood, cause painful breasts, bloating, binging, migraines…are these symptoms you’ve just got used to over the years? Well, you don’t have to!

There is a natural way of dealing with problem periods. You don’t have to go on the Pill or get the Mirena coil. Herbal medicine is gentle but yet so effective and has changed many lives. Do any of the following ring a bell?

🌺 younger teenagers who are still waiting for their hormones to settle but are having to take time off school for cramps, irregular/absent periods, heavy flow;
🌺 diagnosed conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids;
🌺 irregular periods: those who are fed up with their period taking them by surprise, or who are trying to get pregnant;
🌺 Mood swings, irritability, tearfulness, snappiness, cravings before your period;
🌺 Abdominal pain, migraines, headaches, bloating, breast pain;
🌺 Perimenopause/menopause – flooding, brain fog, libido issues, dryness, hot flushes

Depending on the individual, a medical herbalist will probably prescribe a blend of herbs for the whole month, but this can vary. We use herbs that gently balance your hormones if appropriate, and support your liver in processing any excess hormones. We can give you relaxing and mood-boosting herbs to take the edge off your emotions. If there are other symptoms such as fluid retention we can also look at that with herbs that help drain excess fluid from the body. Your blend of herbs is individualised to YOU personally – everyone is different!

We also look at your diet and lifestyle as these can have a major effect upon your cycle, and may recommend particular supplements if we think they may be lacking in your diet.

Don’t just put up with problem periods – get in contact for a chat to see how herbal medicine could help you!

08/01/2026

This is wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). If you’ve ever had a muscle or arthritis rub from me or a cream for aches and pains, the chances are it had wintergreen essential oil in it! It’s a small shrub, growing to no more than 6 inches in height usually, with white flowers, and pretty red berries (often eaten by deer) at this time of year. It also keeps its leaves throughout the winter. It has a really distinctive smell, reminiscent of any over the counter muscle rubs and liniments you may have bought.

The essential oil of wintergreen (from the leaves) is a good source of methyl salicylate, closely related to aspirin. It has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain killing) effect and I use it topically (externally) for patients with arthritis, muscle strains and sports injuries, ligament and tendon issues, sciatica and other similar conditions. (Climbers: also good for "belay neck"!)

Wintergreen essential oil is strong stuff and should NEVER be taken internally. It also shouldn’t be used in too large quantities in creams and oils, and doesn't mix well with certain prescribed medication or medical conditions. Your medical herbalist will be aware of the safe dosage.

06/01/2026

Struggling with your exercise plan? Are you:

🏋️‍ trying to exercise but are finding you don’t have enough energy what with work, family and life in general?
🏋️‍ training for a PB or RED January and just need a little more endurance and less recovery time to get you there?
🏋️‍finding yourself taking ibuprofen more and more for muscle aches/DOMS?
🏋️‍noticing that your motivation and “get up and go” has got up and gone?
Have you thought of trying herbal medicine?

Having always been one for exercise and sport (but equally understanding the pull of the sofa), I’m really interested in using herbal medicine in this way. My dissertation at university was on the use of ginger in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and since then I’ve researched herbs and performance more widely.

I’ve worked with many people who are trying to improve their performance for sports or the gym – from those who are simply trying to keep fit but don’t have the energy to those who are competing in their chosen field. You’re never too old…my oldest sportsperson is a gentleman in his mid 70s who was starting to struggle with keeping up with the 20 year olds during races! Although I can’t perform miracles, I can help you perform at your optimum. We can look at your diet (often people are not eating enough) and whether you are getting enough sleep, and if something else is causing you to be under par.

A class of herbs I often use in these cases are the adaptogens. These are described in many different ways but I like to describe them as herbs that help the body adapt to “stressors”. Those stressors can be illness, stress itself, or in this case stress on the body caused by exercise. There are a number of different adaptogenic herbs with different medicinal properties – for example, some help stabilise blood sugar levels, some can help delay lactic acid build up associated with muscle fatigue, some increase blood supply to the muscles and some increase endurance and stamina.

Research has found certain adaptogenic herbs can significantly increase the levels of ATP and creatine phosphate in the muscles thus increasing the available energy to the muscles. They can even have an anabolic effect: helping the building and regeneration of muscles and other tissues. Intense training can have a negative effect upon the immune system and herbs can help prevent this.

If you’re interested in using herbs safely to help you reach your goals, why not get in touch? Zoom appointments are available as well as face to face in Billericay or Chelmsford!

(photo Vintage inn)

05/01/2026

Are you struggling with your mood? Of course it's normal to feel more energised and cheerful in the summer and and less so in the winter but for many people it can become a problem, especially after the excitement and festivities of Christmas. I specialise in depression, low mood, anxiety and stress and over the few years I've seen an increase in people feeling this way.

You might feel low or more irritable, or lose interest in activities you would normally enjoy. Maybe you have less energy or sleep for longer, or crave stodgy foods. Symptoms like these that get worse when the days are shorter can be down to the "winter blues" or if they are more severe they could be due to SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder.

It's thought that the cause is lack of daylight - this creates havoc with our body clocks and can affect the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in our brains that control our mood. In the UK we are known for having long, dark winters with not much sun - in more equatorial regions SAD is not so much of an issue if at all!

It's worth trying a few ways of helping yourself if you're troubled by the winter blues or SAD. A good place to start is by getting as much natural light as you can during the day. When you're indoors, sit by the window if possible and try and get outside as much as you can during the day - go for a walk around the block at lunchtime or go the long way round when you go and buy some milk. Exercise is a known method of lifting mood and it doesn't have to bring you out in a sweat! You could also try a lightbox which many SAD sufferers find very helpful. Trying to stick to a healthy diet can be difficult when you just want to eat comfort food, but it can be very important for emotional help.

You can also try herbal medicine to help you through the darkest months of the year. A medical herbalist will chat to you about how you're feeling and mix a blend of herbs specifically for you - these could be herbs to help lift your mood, calm you down if needed, help you sleep, keep your energy levels up or help you stay focussed or motivated. It's never a "one size fits all" approach - everyone feels different after all. Get in contact if you'd like to know more - there's no obligation to book an appointment and I offer Zoom consultations as well as face to face in Billericay or Chelmsford.

04/01/2026

Have you given up smoking as a new year's resolution? If you have, or if you're still considering it, one of the things that concerns lots of people is how they are going to deal with their stress levels if they haven't their usual emotional support of a cigarette. Read on if this is you, or someone you know!

Herbal medicine can be amazingly effective for stress and anxiety and can work pretty quickly too - so it can help keep you calm while you're trying to give up smoking. In a consultation, we can talk about other ways of reducing your stress levels if you like, and supplements that may be helpful. And while I'm making your herbal medicine I can also add herbs to support your lungs and help get all the gunk out out of chest!

Get in contact if you'd like to have a chat. As always, Zoom appointments are available as well as in-person in Billericay and Chelmsford.

(Picture: DigiCharmView)

03/01/2026

How are your New Year's resolutions going? Are any of them to do with your health - to finally get that niggling health concern sorted, stop it impacting on your life so much or just feel generally better all round? How about trying herbal medicine? Your medical herbalist can help you with a range of ailments, both short term and long term, conditions that you're already taking medication for or health issues that you've more or less given up hope on ever sorting. For example:

🌱Digestion: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), heartburn/reflux, constipation, stomach ulcers, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis;
🌱Allergies/respiratory: lung health, hayfever, asthma, bronchitis, coughs/colds, sinusitis, MCAS;
🌱Hormones/endocrine: PMT, painful/heavy/irregular periods, peri/menopause, type 2 diabetes, thyroid issues, BPH (enlarged prostate), PCOS (polycystic o***y syndrome), endometriosis, urinary tract infections, fertility;
🌱Energy/fatigue/wellness: insomnia, ME, post viral fatigue, long covid, “always getting ill”, staying in tip top condition for sport, work, studying or life in general!
🌱Emotional/nervous system: Stress, migraine, headaches, depression, anxiety, Parkinsons, MS, memory loss, "brain fog";
🌱Skin: eczema, psoriasis, acne, allergies;
🌱Joints/bones/muscles: Arthritis (rheumatoid, inflammatory and osteo-), sports injuries, tendon/ligament issues, Lupus (SLE), ankylosing spondylitis, gout, fibromyalgia;
🌱Cancer support: nausea, sleep issues, support through radiotherapy, support through chemo;
🌱Heart and circulation: high blood pressure and cholesterol, varicose veins, some heart conditions, “poor circulation”..and many more!

Give me a call, drop me an email or message me to see how herbal medicine can help you - consultations are in Billericay, Chelmsford or online so why not make 2025 the year you feel better!

(Artwork Maria Scrivan)

02/01/2026

Trust me, I know. Straight after Christmas it's tempting to put our health on the back burner when the credit card needs paying, the new term of kids' clubs want money up front, or you've just forked out for new sports equipment, the ever-increasing gas bill or a slimming club. Seeing a medical herbalist might seem really expensive as, on the face of it, it looks like you're just paying for an hour, and maybe you could just ask AI. But what do you actually get for your money?

When we first meet, I explain how you will be prescribed a bespoke mix of six or seven herbs in one bottle. During your first consultation, even if you turn up with the most common of “common ailments”, I’ll almost never decide while we're still talking exactly what I’m going to give you. I don’t switch off my laptop, go to my dispensary, and reach for my large bottle of “IBS herbal mix” or “eczema herbal mix” or “insomnia herbal mix”, decant it into a smaller bottle, and write your name on it. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, your herbal mix is specifically for you *only* and takes into account the whole of you. That off the cuff remark you might make, or that "insignificant" thing that happened ten years ago might well make all the difference to what I give you. It's very different from buying a off the shelf product, or asking AI.

So, after we meet, I might be doing the washing up or filling the bird feeders but I’ll be thinking about what herbs might suit you best. I will probably have a few in mind at this point. I will formally write up your patient notes, and refer back to any previous consultations we may have had if this is not your first visit to me.

Once I get to my books, I’ll refresh my knowledge of your condition by looking it up in my medical textbooks. I’ll read about any prescribed medication you are taking in my copy of the BNF (British National Formulary) – which is what your GP and pharmacist use. I’ll check any blood test results you might have given me. I’ll then look at my herbal medicine textbooks to see if the herbs I’m thinking of would be suitable or if there are others that may be more appropriate. I often book onto continuing professional development (CPD) courses with a particular patient in mind. I search through the latest scientific research papers to see if there are any recent developments in dealing with your condition herbally. I may talk to my fellow medical herbalists to see if they have had experience in treating your particular condition and what has worked for them. By now, I’ll probably have a good idea of the herbs I might want to prescribe you.

Once I’ve got your prescription almost finalised in my mind, I check each herb with each and every drug or supplement you’ve told me you’re taking as some interactions can be dangerous or cause unwanted side effects. Then I can make up your prescription! So you can see that many hours go into each patient after I’ve seen them. I have been known to spend days researching prescription medicine interactions with herbs I planned to prescribe for patients under hospital consultants, to ensure not just a safe and controlled herbal prescription but also to be certain that the herbs I was prescribing would have the maximum impact and success.

Your money is gratefully received and goes towards new reference books, regular training courses, subscriptions to herbal and medical journals and my time! I'm back working on Monday so why not give me a call or drop me a message to see how herbal medicine might help you?

Billericay Herbal Medicine

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