Blue Ginkgo Therapies

12/11/2022

2022 LAST FORAGING

🍄The 2022 foraging season is unfortunately coming to an end. With the first frosts, most of the edible fungi will hibernate and only a few ones alongside some herbs will be available.

🍄During this last foraging trip, I collected a few delicious parasol mushrooms (Macrolepiota procera) and a large birch polypore (Fomitopsis betulina).

🍄Birch polypore has been studied for its immunostimulating properties. It has shown that a water/alcohol extract of this bracket mushroom can increase T cells and dendritic cells proliferation in vitro. You can prepare it by cutting it, dehydrate it and use a slice in a cup of hot water.

🌿 If you are curious about future foraging workshops, watch this space for 2023 events updates!

10/11/2022

SOLANACEAE MEDICINES/POISONS

🌲Poison and medicines are equal in nature, it is just the dose that changes!

09/11/2022

BURNING THUJA

🌲Thuja occidentalis, also called Tree of Life or Eastern white cedar, is a common tree found throughout England. It has powerful antifungal and antiviral properties and contains the chemical compound thujone, a molecule that gives also sage and absinth their aromatic scent.

🔥Thuja gets its name from the ancient Greek Thuya "To sacrifice"; Making a smudge with thuja leaves is a very powerful practice for dispelling heavy emotions such as self-loathing, shame and guilt. In Native American traditions, Thuja was used to celebrate and honour the spirit of the dead and the eternal cycle of life; that's where it gets its name Tree of Life.

🌿You can make your own Thuja smudging powder/stick by picking its green leaves, tie them and let them dry for 4/5 days. Burn them to clear spaces, shed emotional heaviness and wish a smooth transition to any soul that recently passed.

24/10/2022

MAGIC MEDICINES

🍄Autumn is a time of balance. The outward fiery spirit of the Summer slowly gives way to the quiet introversion of the colder months. There is no wonder then that it is during this time of transition Mother Nature provides us with supportive guidance tools as we navigate our inner world.

🍄 In the UK, there are predominantly two species of mushrooms that can be used to amplify consciousness, improve mood overcome the Winter blues (also known as seasonal affective disorder, SAD). These are Psylocibe semilanceata (Liberty cap) and Psylocibe cyanescens (Wavy cap). They contain the psychoactive molecules psylocibin and psyocin, which act on the 5HT2 receptors in the central nervous system. Although entheogenic (hallucinogenic) when consumed in large amounts, small amounts (microdosing) can be undertaken to improve mood and calm the mind.

🍄These mushrooms are commonly found in meadows where animals roam and near decaying matter and are available from mid September until the first frost, usually in mid November.

🍄It's a shame that by UK law picking these mushrooms is still illegal, as there is an ever growing mount of evidence showing remarkable clinical results when used for depression, anxiety and PTSD.

22/10/2022

COMFREY - THE GREAT HEALER

🌿Absolutely essential in everyone's garden or medicine cabinet; Comfrey speeds up wounds, clears inflammation and accelerates the repair of bone fracture.

21/10/2022

MID AUTUMN MEDICINES

🌿It is not too late to engage in foraging walks for wild medicines. The mild and humid weather of October is not only ideal for mushroom picking, but also for medicinal herbs foraging! Some of the medicinal herbs you can find out in the fields include:

🌿NASTURTIUM FLOWERS: Rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. You will find this delicious flowers in public gardens rather than in the wild

🌿GREATER PLANTAIN: Great for heartburn, dry coughs and constipation

🌿MUGWORT: Traditionally used as a protective herb against evil entities, mugwort works well more painful menstruation and parasitic infections

🌿BORAGE: With cucumber tasting flowers, borage is a powerful adrenal tonic!

🌿MARIGOLD FLOWERS: Very effective to soothe inflamed skin and mucous membranes

🌿COMFREY: The best remedy to speed up the healing of damaged tissues, skin wounds and broken bones

🌿WHITE DEADNETTLE: Digestive tonic, it has been used to treat vaginal discharges and menstrual complaints

🌿YARROW: A herb with great affinity for the blood: It stops bleedings immediately, promotes circulation and sweating, reduces fevers and brings on latent periods

14/10/2022

CEDARWOOD

🌲 Cedarwood is one of my favourite essential oil. It is incredibly grounding and relaxing and blends well with other uplifting oils such as lemon, lavender and rosemary.

🌲 I use cedarwood in my massage oils when working with client who feel a lot in their head and need grounding. I tend to massage it on acupressure points on the sole of the feet on top of the sacrum to allow the energy to flow down from the head to the lower limbs.

🌲 Cedarwood is also a powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial and makes a wonderful ingredient for face balms and lotions.

🙏🏻 A massive thank you to for providing their outstanding products!

03/10/2022

30/09/2022

THE SUMMER OF THE TIGER

🌿The year of the Tiger in the Chinese calendar is about doing and manifesting. This year has definitely been the most powerful time of my life. Today I turn 29 and I am immensely grateful to the Universe for having given me the chance to live such incredible experiences to make me grow in confidence, power and compassion.

🌿The greatest achievements of this Summer have been:

-Providing wellbeing support at Glastonbury festival with Emergent Purpose

-Becoming fully self-employed and thrive with my business

-Spending one night at 2500mt of altitude in the Slovenian Alps

-Being an official forager for Medicine festival's cafe'.

-Running Paradise in the Alps retreat n my homeland

🌿 Truly excited for what life has to show me on my hero's journey. A huge thank you to all the wonderful humans that make my life such a delightful dance!

29/09/2022

PORCINI MUSHROOMS FORAGING

🍄I cannot be enough grateful to Mother Nature for having gifted us with such an abundance of deliciousness!

🍄Porcini mushrooms are one of tastiest mushrooms growing in UK. They love growing near pine and beech and are good friends with Amanita muscaria (Fly agaric) mycelium too!

🍄Wanna enjoy this goodness too? Then grab your basket and hit your local beech forest! These marvellous fungal creations will be around just for another month or so!

22/09/2022

🍄MUSHROOM PICKING TIME

🍄Its is time to hit the woodland and look for these gifts from Mother Nature!

16/09/2022

PARADISE IN THE ALPS 2022

🏔️A deep, heart-felt thank you to all the brave souls that choose to join us on this magical adventure in the Italian Alps. Me and my siblings had the honor to support and guide a group through a deep and transformational experience

🏔️OUR INTENTION: To support the participants to deepen the connection with their bodies and with Nature.

🏔️HOW DID WE DO IT: All the participants brought to the retreat their true and naked self, sharing the blessings and difficulties of their present moment reality. We thoroughly organized a series of wholesome activities to challenge the participants status quo in order to bring forth in their minds a renewed sense of empowerment and strength.

🏔️WHAT DID WE OFFER:
-Yoga
-Breath work
-Cold water immersions
-Adventurous hikes
-Authentic relating games
-Nature connection games
-Cacao and Sacred fire ceremony
-Mushrooms and herbs foraging
-Organic wholesome meals

🏔️THE OUTCOME: We were delighted to hear the feedbacks from the participants:
-Some got inspired to continue the yoga practice on a regular basis
-Others felt the benefits of cold water immersion so deeply that are determined to integrate it in their daily routine
-A few unlocked their creativity and expression with communication and music
-Everyone felt deeply nourished by the whole experience.

🏔️WHAT'S NEXT? Our next retreat would take place in May 2023. Watch this space for more info!