What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm

http://www.billericayherbal.com/

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

13/04/2026

This dandelion-esque plant is coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara). It’s an unusual plant as the flowers appear before the leaves do (giving rise to another name for it - "son-before-father"). As you can see, the flower is similar to dandelion, but the stem is very different. The name “coltsfoot” refers to the horseshoe shaped leaves.

Coltsfoot leaves were very popular traditionally as a medicinal herb but have fallen out of favour a little in recent years. In fact in the 18th century, French apothecaries used a picture of the flower as their symbol.
Coltsfoot has traditionally been used for coughs, especially chronic and irritable coughs; in fact one of the most common ways of using it was to smoke it, which was a typical way of using herbs for respiratory problems. Tin miners in Cornwall used to smoke it to protect their lungs against occupational hazards of working in the mines. The botanical name "Tusslilago" comes from the Latin "tussis", meaning "cough", and we use this as a medical term "antitussive". See also names of cough syrups such as Robitussin!

Externally it was used to treat piles and other skin inflammation. This is probably due to the mucilage content of the leaves (mucilage is a thick liquid that is there to protect wounds in the plant but is also used in herbal medicine for the same reason – it is healing to the skin).

A herb with a long history of use but best prescribed by a medical herbalist as more recent research has suggested it may not suit everyone due to certain constituents.

As you can see, I've found it in what looks like quite an inhospitable environment - coltsfoot is often found on wasteland rather than being a "lawn" plant. I love the weird-looking stems! Has anyone seen it whilst out and about?

11/04/2026

Today is World Parkinson's Day. Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressing condition where the cells in the brain that make the neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) dopamine gradually die off. Dopamine has many roles but one is to control movement of the body.

It’s not known what causes Parkinson’s disease, but like MS, it seems to be a mix of genetic and environmental factors. There is also a group of conditions called Parkinsonism – although not diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, they show similar symptoms. These can be caused by illnesses such as encephalitis, trauma eg from boxing or tranquiliser drugs.

Control of movement is affected, so the most common symptoms are tremor (shaking), slowness of movement and rigidity (muscle stiffness). There can also be bowel/bladder problems, difficulty swallowing, sleep problems and depression.

The most common way of managing the condition is with drugs such as levodopa (a building block of dopamine), but these become less effective over time and can cause significant side effects. Other drugs such as entacapone or selegiline stop the breakdown of dopamine in the brain. If medication isn’t effective, then a type of surgery called Deep Brain Stimulation can work for some.
Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy are also often used.

How we can support those with Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism as medical herbalists? Some people can find that when they eat protein, it makes their symptoms worse, as levodopa competes with protein to be absorbed by the body. So for some, it can help to eat proteins evenly throughout the day; for others it may be worth restricting them during the day when they need to function properly. There is also evidence linking low gut flora (“good” bacteria) with Parkinson’s Disease, and this is something we can work on using diet and herbs. We look at potential food intolerances and remove these from the diet, along with processed foods and sugar; and we increase foods such as dark green leafy veg and “good” oils.

We use herbs that are anti-inflammatory, help stimulate the circulation, restore the nerves, ease muscular spasms, and act as a source of levodopa, without the side effects of orthodox drugs. We also use herbs to help ease the other symptoms, for example herbs to help with constipation in various ways. Many people have heard of the herb ginkgo biloba when used for brain ageing and dementia. In Parkinson’s, we use it as evidence has shown it can help stop the degeneration of the cells that produce dopamine, and stop the breakdown of the dopamine that is there. Another couple of herbs that you’ll have heard of are cinnamon and rosemary – these also protect the nerve cells.

As always though, please don’t self-medicate with medicinal herbs if you have a neurological disorder, a trained medical herbalist will consider your medical history and choose the herbs that are safe and appropriate for you. If you would like to discuss herbal support for Parkinson’s disease or parkinsonism further, then please get in touch.

09/04/2026

April is Stress Awareness Month and today I'm going to talk about practical ways to deal with what's getting on top of you. Have you ever wondered why some people don't seem to be affected by stress, despite having lots going on? Perhaps these people have good coping mechanisms, surely nobody has such a smooth-running life!

The first step is to know that stress is affecting you. Last week I gave a list of symptoms that could show that stress is becoming a problem for you.
Secondly, identify WHY you are stressed. What’s bothering you? From the huge things like worries paying the mortgage all the way down to the tiny things like getting round to mowing the lawn. Can you categorise these stressors? For example:
a) things that might have a practical solution,
b) things that will gradually get better after time,
c) things you can’t do anything about (you can’t control other people, for example).

For those stressors that you *can* do something about – what practical steps can you take? Are you keeping control of tasks that you could give others to do? This goes for both work and home. Give others a chance to show you that they are just as capable as you at getting “your” tasks done – it may take a while to show them what to do but in time will pay off. Remember to keep a good work/life balance - this can be difficult to do if you're working from home! If you're struggling at work, your employer has a legal obligation to help you.
School/college/uni stress? Make a study plan – talk to your teachers/lecturers. Make sure you build enough breaks into your day and don't work too late into the evening.

Does everything have to be done yesterday? Try and prioritise your tasks. “To do” lists are not just for work – have a weekly calendar on your kitchen worktop and cross items off as you’ve done them. Be kind to yourself if you don't complete everything! If you know that the situation will be over soon, plan what you will do when it’s done and you have more time to yourself.

(To do list pad from Happy Badger Prints on Etsy)

In the next instalment, I'll post about how to help yourself if you can't control what's causing the stress.

07/04/2026

This is alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) which you can see at the moment at the edges of fields and at the roadside as well as coastal areas. It’s quite tall and bushy, with greenish-yellowish flowers and a distinctive smell. This one was in Mill Meadows.

Alexanders is often found in the grounds of old monasteries as the monks used to cultivate it for cooking – it was known as “black potherb” as it has black, spicy seeds. It originates from the Mediterranean and apparently doesn’t like frosts, so possibly does better down south than in Scotland.

Foragers use every part of alexanders as food but it is one you have to be extra careful picking as it is very similar to other poisonous plants! Being high in vitamin C, it was used to prevent scurvy; and although it’s not used in modern herbal medicine, there are reports that centuries ago it was used for menstrual problems, wound healing and toothache.

One to look out for on your walks!

05/04/2026

April is IBS awareness month. It’s estimated that one in five adults in the UK have IBS – and symptoms often appear in the sufferer’s twenties although of course there are always exceptions. Symptoms can include constipation, diarrhoea (sometimes alternating between the two), mucus, bloating/wind, abdominal pain and discomfort, and wanting to go to loo but not being able to once you get there.

There is no agreed upon single cause but it’s thought it could come on as a result of stress, a stomach upset such as gastroenteritis, or after taking antibiotics. It’s been suggested that IBS sufferers experience increased squeezing sensations in the gut. As there’s no specific test for IBS, it tends to be a “diagnosis of exclusion” – once everything else has been ruled out. Orthodox treatment tends to be laxatives, anti-diarrhoea drugs, or drugs for the pain and bloating. Unfortunately, a drug that helps one symptom can sometimes make another symptom worse! Sometimes, talking therapies and relaxation are recommended.

IBS is a condition medical herbalists see frequently in clinic. As well as talking about diet, lifestyle and stress levels, we often work on building the gut flora (the “friendly bacteria” in your digestive tract) as this can be out of balance in IBS sufferers. We use several different approaches combined when it comes to prescribing herbs – herbs to gently ease constipation or diarrhoea, limit the cramping pain, calm the bloating and wind and address any issues with stress or mood. If you have had a diagnosis of IBS, and everything else has been ruled out by your GP, why not get in touch and see how I may be able to help?

03/04/2026

This is one of my favourite spring plants: ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea). A member of the mint family, its pretty purple flowers and dark green leaves do well in shady areas. You might think you've found a carpet of violets, but look more closely and you'll see! These were at the edge of a woodland footpath but I've also seen them recently in hedgerows.

Ground ivy has anti-catarrhal properties and it is also astringent (drying and toning to inflamed tissues) so in herbal medicine we tend to use it for conditions such as sinusitis, bronchitis, ear congestion, or that leftover catarrh you get long after your cold has disappeared. In combination with other herbs, I’ve had great success with ground ivy for chronic post-nasal drip (PND) – where there is an irritable, tickly cough caused by catarrh gradually dripping down the back of the throat.

As it’s also astringent, it has traditionally been used for diarrhoea and cystitis. And it also has wound-healing properties which make it useful for topical application for cuts, scrapes and even piles (the astringency helps here too). Ground ivy can even be used as a gargle for mouth ulcers or in sore throats!

One of ground ivy's other names is ale-hoof and this probably relates to the fact it was often used to make beer, and I guess the hoof-shaped leaves? In folklore, it was often used by milkmaids to protect their cows from enchantment - sometimes they even milked them through wreaths of ground ivy.

It’s an edible plant and its bitterness can stimulate digestion. Always use a good plant ID guide before picking though! Who's seen this one around?

01/04/2026

April is Stress Awareness Month. I see people suffering with varying degrees of stress all the time in clinic and things do seem to be getting more difficult for many of us.

What causes stress? Well, it can be short term or long term, and some common causes include work, health concerns, family issues, bereavement, school/college/uni, illness, money...I'm sure you can think of more. The problem is, once you have one or two severe stressors, smaller things can be the "straw that broke the camel's back". So problems with the trains or traffic, trying to get the kids' stuff sorted for school the next day, or even happy things like packing for a holiday can wind you up - stress is cumulative.

How do you know if stress is affecting you?
Well, apart from the obvious constant worrying, you may feel overwhelmed, have a short fuse, have difficulty concentrating or have mood swings.

You may be comfort eating, or lose your appetite, or have problems sleeping.

You might have digestive symptoms such as constipation, diarrhoea or stomach cramps.

You may have muscle tension, especially in your neck, shoulders or jaw - often leading to headaches.

And you might be smoking, drinking or using drugs more often than usual.

You could feel you have difficulty breathing, or that your heart is racing, or you feel dizzy.

Or if you have a chronic illness like arthritis, or skin problems like eczema, acne or psoriasis, they may be worse than normal.

How do you find stress affects you?

30/03/2026

This is greater stitchwort (Rabelera holostea, formerly Stellaria holostea), just starting to appear in hedgerows and wooded areas of Essex. Also known as Poor Man's Buttonhole and snapjack as the seed pods make a popping sound as they ripen.

Stitchwort isn't a plant really used in modern herbal medicine but it's common name refers to a traditional use, which was for stitches in the side during running! The leaves and flowers are edible but do make sure you have a good ID guide to check first.

This is an important early source food to bees, moths and butterflies. Folklore says that if you pick it, you will cause a thunderstorm (it's also known as thunder flower).

Another cheering sign of spring!

28/03/2026

So if you've been following me this week you'll have seen that I've been discussing how herbal medicine can help with convalescence or recovery. I've spoken about how I go about building a herbal prescription, which varies for each person, as they could be consulting me after a virus, during or after chemo, after a long period of stress or hard work, or maybe training for sport. Sometimes, especially in children, it can be a succession of infections, one after the other, such as tonsilitis or glandular fever. Everyone will have a different story, different symptoms (both physical and emotional), and a different past medical history.

This means that a first consultation involves a lot of questioning on my part to ensure I get a full picture of you and can choose the most appropriate and safe herbs for your prescription. For an adult this tends to last an hour. I'm in Billericay, Chelmsford or on Zoom if that's easier for you! I then post your prescription out to you and provide a detailed report of the rationale behind the herbs you will be taking.

Usually when I see a patient, I see them two weeks later, then every 4-6 weeks after that. However, in more acute situations where symptoms can be changing on a daily and weekly basis, I may speak to a patient weekly (and keep in contact in between) so their medicine is up to date for their needs.

If you are interested in how herbal medicine can help with your recovery, have a look at my website www.billericayherbal.com for more info. If you'd like to discuss it with me, you can message me here, email me at info@billericayherbal.com or phone me on 07596 842642. I look forward to helping you get back to normal!

27/03/2026

Day 5 of how I put a herbal prescription together for someone who is convalescing or recovering from illness, stress, heavy workload or training. If you’ve been following me this week, you’ll see that so far I’ve mentioned support for damaged or under-stress organs; how adaptogens support the body; and yesterday, tackling those annoying leftover symptoms. Today it’s emotional support - really important (but often forgotten about) in convalescence.

How frustrating is it when you start to feel better but still can’t quite do what you used to? Sometimes patients have had a real fright and find that they are tearful, scared, angry, grieving even. They can be anxious, depressed, lacking in motivation, having trouble sleeping. They might blame themselves for whatever has happened, or they might be pushing themselves too hard to get back to work, school or the gym. There may be problems with sleeping. There are so many herbs that are used for emotional support and it really does depend on the individual person as to which ones I choose.

Pictured is gotu kola or centella (Centella asiatica) – this is a herb I give for anxiety, but the important point is that it’s not sedating, instead it calms people down and allows them to focus on the job in hand. It can be really helpful in “brain fog” after illness, during a stressful period, and especially in menopause/perimenopause.

26/03/2026

If you’ve been following me this week, you’ll have seen I’ve been talking about how herbs can help us when we’re convalescing or recovering from an illness, or a long period of stress, or overwork. So far I’ve discussed how we support damaged or under-stress organs such as the heart, lungs or kidneys, and yesterday I talked about how adaptogens support the body. Today I want to focus on those annoying residual symptoms after the main illness/situation has finished. These could include:
- an injury or ni**le from overtraining,
- low energy after a virus or long period of hard
work/studying,
- digestive symptoms like a stomach ulcer from stress,
- leftover catarrh or phlegm from a chest complaint or flu,
- problems sleeping after an emotional upset (more about this tomorrow).

As always, I’d choose whichever herbs are relevant to the patient in front of me. Pictured is a herb I’m using a lot at the moment for people who are coming to me after a nasty cough or flu: elecampane (Inula helenium). Elecampane is a decongestant and expectorant which means it helps remove catarrh/phlegm/mucus from the chest. It’s also antibacterial which can help during or post-infections. And it has antispasmodic properties which can be helpful in irritating coughs.

Tomorrow I’m going to round my herbal prescription off with some emotional support.

25/03/2026

In today’s instalment of how herbs can help us convalesce (recover) after a period of illness, stress, a shock, hard work/study or heavy training, I’m going to talk about the next step I use in prescribing once I’ve looked at supporting organs that might have been put under strain. Have you ever heard of adaptogens? They’ve become a bit trendy over the last couple of years…

There are lots of definitions of adaptogens but this is a simple one: they support your body and help it adapt to “stressors”. Those stressors can be physical; such as illness, environmental pollutants or even strenuous exercise; or they can be mental/emotional. They work on the HPA-axis – that’s the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis which is implicated in stress in the body. They may tone down the activity of over-functioning systems or increase the activity of under-functioning systems, leading to balance or normality in the body.

There are many different herbs that are classed as adaptogens, but as all herbs have many more than one medicinal action, we use a different adaptogen (or adaptogens) in different circumstances. For example, I use one adaptogen when there has been a lung condition, a different one when keeping white blood cell levels up during chemo, or another if stress is causing insomnia. Often I may use two or even three adaptogens if I feel they are required for a patient. There’s been a fair amount of research into the use of adaptogens in sport so I use these for my patients who train hard! Adaptogens gently increase the energy reserves of the patient without “writing cheques the body can’t cash” – it’s not like having an espresso and being able to stay awake to finish a film or an essay, more like suddenly realising over the last week you’ve gradually been able to do a little more without having to have a nap in the afternoon, or falling asleep in front of the TV.

This is milk vetch (Astragalus membranaceus), which enhances immune system activity, improves blood flow and heart function, strengthens the lungs and prevents kidney and liver damage caused by drugs and viruses. It’s native to China though, so you’re unlikely to see it on your daily walk!

Tomorrow I’m going to talk about residual symptoms that tend to last after the main illness has long gone…

Billericay Herbal Medicine

13/04/2026

11/04/2026

09/04/2026

07/04/2026

05/04/2026

03/04/2026

01/04/2026

30/03/2026

28/03/2026

27/03/2026

26/03/2026

25/03/2026

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Our Story

Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm