Rhizome Community Herbal Clinic

18/12/2025

Annwen talking about Medicinal Mushroom Medicine 🤎

16/12/2025

One of the clinic cats looking pretty adorable and very comfy on the client seat. If desired there is an additional bit of cat therapy in the clinic as the two sister cats are very loving and cuddly 😆 Obviously they disappear for those who don't want a cat sitting on them 😉

15/12/2025

Becs talking about Honey Fungus from the .bristol calendar. The writing and medicinal extract recipe is by herbalist & foraher and the gorgeous artwork is by

To buy a calendar to support Herbalists without Borders Bristol follow the big cartel link in our bio. It's packed full of info, recipe and beautiful artwork.

15/12/2025

For one day only, until 9pm tonight, the Herbalists Without Borders Bristol gorgeous 2026 medicinal mushroom calendars are on sale for £15, or 2 for £28!

The last second class posting day for Christmas orders is tomorrow.

https://herbalistswithoutbordersbristol.bigcartel.com/

13/12/2025

Come and join us at Picton Street Market in Bristol today. Loads of calendars, books and bags.

11/12/2025

I’m on the hunt for mistletoe for decorations, but I’m not really that bothered if I don’t find any with berries. Traditional mistletoe for kissing under should have berries on, but it’s the berries that are toxic and shouldn’t be eaten..whereas the leaves are safe enough to drink as tea.
The only risk being that you might accidentally end up with some berries included, so it’s safer to pick it when there aren’t any!
It’s such a magic-infused plant rich in folklore and tradition. It grows really well around here, but it is quite uncommon in some other parts of the UK, so I always feel pleased to see it up in the boughs.
In the clinic we use mistletoe leaf for high blood pressure, headaches, palpitations, stress and tension.

09/12/2025

Back in the woods with some lovely women for the nature connection sessions organised by Forest Child CUC in collaboration with Next Link. This is a peer support group of women who have experienced domestic violence , which is now estimated to be 1 in 3 women.
It felt like a privilege to be there with them, to talk about herbal allies for the nervous system, herbs they can use and to make a lavender based calm balm.

02/12/2025

We did a fair bit of writing for the .bristol Medicinal Mushroom Calendar. Our writing and recipe for Turkey Tail is here alongside the beautiful artwork by . We were first taught to use this mushroom nearly 20 years ago by our clinic teacher Martin Logue and blew our minds by showing us that it grew all around us.

We use it so much in the clinic and had great results using it as part of a treatment plan for herpes and HPV. It's also a great immune tonic particularly supporting the lungs. It's one of the mushrooms we use to support people through chemo.

You can see the calendar and the beautiful Turkey Tail mug, drawing by Amani . If you want the whole set come and find us at a local Bristol market:
Friday 5th December St Werburghs Community Centre Christmas Fair
Sat 6th St Werburghs City Farm Christmas Fair
Sun 7th Bristol Folk House Fair
Sat 13th Picton Street Christmas Fair

Otherwise you can buy from HWBB big cartel.
https://herbalistswithoutbordersbristol.bigcartel.com/

30/11/2025

Love this Lichen lesson. Lichens are a symbiotic relationship between an algae and a fungi. Read the article to discover why Lichen are nature's bio indicators for pollution 🩵

The Miniature World on a Branch: Understanding Lichens 🌳🔍

Ever stopped to look—really look—at the bark of a tree? That splash of color isn't just dirt or moss; it's a biological masterpiece called Lichen.

Here is a breakdown of the fascinating growth forms shown in the diagram, along with the real science behind them! 👇

🌿 What is a Lichen?

First, a quick fact: A lichen isn't a single plant. It is actually two organisms (a fungus and an alga/cyanobacteria) living together in a symbiotic relationship. The fungus provides the structure, and the alga provides the food through photosynthesis. Teamwork! 🤝

🔍 The 3 Main Growth Forms (Morphologies)

The image illustrates three distinct ways lichens grow. Here is the science behind what you are seeing:

1. Leprose (The "Powdery" One)

The Look: As the image says, it looks "painted on," but specifically, Leprose lichens have a powdery or granular appearance.

The Science: Unlike other lichens, these lack a smooth outer "skin" (cortex). Because they are just a loose layer of fungal threads and algal cells, they look like dust or powder on the bark. They are extremely water-repellent!

(Note: These are often grouped with "Crustose" lichens, which form hard crusts that are impossible to remove without damaging the bark.)

2. Foliose (The "Leafy" One)

The Look: These have distinct lobes that look like tiny lettuce leaves or crumpled paper.

The Science: The name comes from "foliage." Unlike the painted-on types, Foliose lichens have a distinct top side and bottom side. They are attached to the branch by tiny root-like structures called rhizines, meaning you could theoretically lift the edges (though it's best to leave them be!).

3. Fruticose (The "Hairy" or "Shrubby" One)

The Look: These hang down like hair or stand up like tiny miniature bushes.

The Science: (Spelling Check: It is spelled Fruticose, derived from the Latin for "shrub" — no 'i' after the u!).

These are the complex, 3D lichens. Because they hang or stand out into the air, they are very sensitive to their environment. They absorb water v***r directly from the atmosphere like a sponge.

💡 Why does this matter?

Lichens are nature's Bio-indicators. Because they absorb everything from the air around them (nutrients and toxins alike), they typically only grow in areas with good air quality.

If you see a branch covered in big, bushy Fruticose or leafy Foliose lichens, take a deep breath—the air there is likely very clean! 🌬️✅

29/11/2025

Thanks so much to the special people at for their generosity to .bristol. They donate a pound for every sale on black Friday to an independent business or organisation, this year it's to Herbalists Without Borders Bristol gorgeous Medicinal Medicine calendar which you can see in the first photo. There is a film of the calendar on the last slide.

To buy a calendar and support HWBB
https://herbalistswithoutbordersbristol.bigcartel.com/

27/11/2025

Had a lovely day with the outside education team at Windmill Hill City Farm . There's still lots left to harvest and make cough and immune syrup with. It always feels good to teach other educators, knowing that this herbal knowledge can flow into their own existing work. The farm is such a great resource for the city.

10/11/2025

We are so proud to have been part of the amazing team getting this year’s fundraising calendar for Herbalists without Borders Bristol together.
It’s at the printers, and we couldn’t be more excited to see the first hard copy.
We’ve contributed writing for the intro pages all about mushrooms and their amazing medicinal properties, as well as written about individual mushrooms and added recipes. Then we’ve been part of a team collating artwork and contributions from so many incredible artists, herbalists, foragers, mycologists and enthusiasts.
These are available to preorder from .bristol and we’ll be selling them at Christmas markets all over Bristol. You can buy online and have them posted to you, or arrange a local pickup.
Hot off the press soon!!