The Crafty Herbalist

13/09/2025

Most people don’t fail at herbal medicine because they don’t care enough… 🤔

They fail because they’re stuck piecing it together on their own.

One book says this. A blog says that. Someone on Instagram swears by something else.

And before you know it, you’re sitting there with jars on the shelf, not really sure which herb to use - or if you’re using it safely 🥴

The Crafty Herbalist Academy was built to end that confusion.

You get:
• A clear path through herbal learning (12 full modules + seasonal projects)
• Foraging and remedy-making videos that show you what it looks like in real life
• A community that’s not on Facebook, where you can actually ask questions and get guidance
• And me, teaching you the way I was taught - steadily, season by season, with honesty and care ☺️

It’s not flashy. It’s not rushed. But it works - just ask my students who have stayed with me for years 🥰

Doors for the autumn intake close 30th September. If you’re ready to move beyond “patchwork herbalism” and build something lasting, this is your moment ☺️💕

Find out more: www.craftyherbalistacademy.com

12/09/2025

Most people know echinacea as the “immune booster” herb. But it’s so much more than that 😏💕

Research shows it stimulates white blood cells – especially macrophages – the very ones that gobble up bacteria and viruses. That’s immune firepower you can literally see under a microscope. No wonder Indigenous healers valued this purple coneflower long before it appeared in every health shop.

But here’s what rarely gets said: echinacea isn’t for everyone.
⚠️ If you have an autoimmune condition, use with caution.
⚠️ If you’re allergic to plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae), avoid it.
⚠️ Best for short-term use during acute infections – not something to take daily forever.

Herbs are powerful allies, but only when we know how to work with them wisely. If you want to go deeper into learning when, how, and why to use plants, come and join us in The Crafty Herbalist Academy – or just hit follow to keep learning.

11/09/2025

Last chance to get your tickets for the annual Herb Society Members’ Day and AGM on Saturday 27th September at Chester Racecourse!

🎉All are welcome! Tickets are £40 for members and £43 for non-members.🎉

We’ll be joined by guest speakers Ros Annett and Zoë Blackwell.

Ros is an art therapist with a background in weaving and natural dyeing. Ros’ talk will introduce you to the basic principles of preparing wool and cotton for dyeing. You will see examples and hopefully your appetite will be whetted to try some dyeing at home.

Zoë Blackwell, MNIMH, BSc (Hons), is a herbalist, aromatherapist, creative artist and passionate teacher, who has spent her life working with natural medicine. Zoë’s talk is entitled Herbal First Aid: Create your home or travel kit. This guided tour of a Herbal First Aid Kit will inspire you to make your own, bespoke to your needs, including how to use herbs as infusions, decoctions, oils, balms, syrups and tinctures.

Refreshments, including pastries, cakes, coffee, tea and water will be available throughout the day and a hot lunch (vegan, with gluten-free options available) will be provided.

All attendees will receive a goody bag, which has been provided with the support of Earth Song Seeds, Weleda UK and Avicenna Herbal Products.

If you’d like to spend time with other herbal enthusiasts, join us for a day of inspiration, learning, fun and connection 💚

Visit https://www.tickettailor.com/events/theherbsociety/1748201 to buy tickets- we hope to see you there!

If you have any questions, please contact support@herbsociety.org.uk

11/09/2025

Not everything in herbal medicine can be Googled 😏

You can collect books, try the recipes, grow a few plants… and still feel like something’s missing.

But at some point, you might want to actually know what you're supposed to do.
Not guess. Not half-know. Really know the herbs – how they work, when to use them, and when not to.

That’s what the Crafty Herbalist Academy is about.

It’s not pretty branding or quick wins. It’s just steady, rooted learning with proper teaching and real support.

You get an accredited course, structured modules, seasonal projects, foraging videos, recipe booklets, live classes, and a forum (not on social media) where people genuinely care and share their learning journey.

I’ve been a herbalist for over 20 years. I’ve seen thousands of patients, made every remedy under the sun, and still get ridiculously excited about a patch of St John’s Wort on the side of the road (just ask my long-suffering husband and children 😂).

If you want to learn this path properly – without pressure, but with solid guidance – you’re welcome in.

It’s £47/month or £470/year.
Doors close on 30th September, and then I shift my focus fully to the students already inside.

(And yes, you’ll need to log in, do the learning, and get stuck in – I can’t do it for you. But I will be there to help every step of the way 🥰)

Here’s the link if you’ve been meaning to join this autumn – I hope to see you there:

www.craftyherbalistacademy.com

09/09/2025

Wood betony (Stachys betonica) has guarded our ancestors for centuries.

Monks planted it in every cloister garden, country folk wore it as an amulet, and healers reached for it to calm nerves, ease headaches, and steady the spirit.

This is no forgotten relic. Modern herbalists like me still work with wood betony as one of the finest remedies for tension, anxiety, and digestion - linking us directly to an unbroken lineage of plant medicine 💕

The best part? It still grows in our meadows and hedgerows, waiting to be remembered. To be respected. To be used ☺️

🌿 Learn to see the plants differently.
🌿 Learn to use them with confidence.
🌿 Learn the old knowledge that still matters.

Follow me for more herbal teachings - and if you’re ready to go deeper, do join me inside The Crafty Herbalist Academy this season ☺️

09/09/2025

Ready to connect with the herbs of autumn? 🍂💕

My students are just beginning their seasonal projects – simmering syrups, steeping teas, and gathering remedies straight from the hedgerows.

Would you like to join us too? The Crafty Herbalist Academy is open – a place to learn the old skills, step by step, and make them part of your own life ☺️💕

08/09/2025

A few herbal treasures from today’s walk. My children are back at and I’m working hard on the next events, both in person and in the academy.

I’m taking bookings for October consultations now - September is fully booked ☺️💕

www.thecraftyherbalist.org.uk

08/09/2025

Come see me in Chesham on Saturday 20th September - I'll have a stall on the high street with some educational material and home-made herbal goodies - a great chance to meet me in person if you live nearby :-)

Sustainable Chesham is thrilled to be hosting Chesham's first ever Green Market, with over 20 stalls representing local groups, businesses, schools, faiths and others, including shops who are participating through displays and promotions! Watch out for future posts from those attending to whet your appetite for whats we are planning! Put the date in your diary 20th September 10am-1pm. See you there!

06/09/2025

Rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) is more than just a pretty scent 🥰

It’s been used to soothe anxious hearts, balance hormones, and calm the nervous system. Folklore tells us it was planted near doorways to keep sorrow away, while modern research shows its essential oil has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory powers – making it just as valuable in skincare as it is in emotional support 😉

A bridge between heart and science, garden and apothecary 💕

⚠️ Contraindications: The essential oil may irritate sensitive skin if used undiluted. Avoid internal use. Use caution with diabetes medication due to its potential effect on blood sugar.

Follow for more herb stories and join me inside The Crafty Herbalist Academy if you’re ready to truly learn the people’s medicine.

06/09/2025

The past six years have reminded us just how fragile things can feel. Systems wobble, the news shifts daily, and sometimes it’s hard to know what to trust.

That’s why I believe herbal knowledge matters more than ever. Herbs offer resilience, sovereignty, and healing, the kind of grounded support that keeps us steady when the world feels uncertain.

And this is exactly what we explore together inside The Crafty Herbalist Academy. It’s not just about learning recipes (though you’ll have plenty of those).

It’s also about:

• Knowing which plants to reach for when your child has a cough or you can’t sleep
• Feeling confident enough to make your own remedies instead of relying on shop shelves
• Building a connection with the plants around you, so you always have support close at hand
• And stepping into a tradition that has always been “the people’s medicine” ie knowledge that belongs to all of us

Whether you’re brand new to herbs or deepening your path, the Academy is a safe place to grow your skills and your confidence.

My students often tell me that what begins as curiosity soon becomes daily practice, cups of tea, jars on shelves, and the deep satisfaction of knowing how to care for yourself and your loved ones with plant medicine ☺️💕

The doors are now open for a short while. If you feel called, I’d love to welcome you in this autumn season.
Explore The Crafty Herbalist Academy here: www.craftyherbalistacademy.com

You can join us from anywhere in the world - I have students in the UK, Australia, America, Sweden etc 🥰

Warm wishes,
Kristine x
Medical Herbalist and Teacher
Founder of The Crafty Herbalist Academy

PS: the photos are of a little harvest of hops from my small garden - you really don’t need that much space to grow medicinal plants ☺️

05/09/2025

The hawthorn berries have turned red already, too soon really, but a sure sign autumn is here. The kids are back to school, the house feels a bit quieter, and it always reminds me that this season isn’t just for new pencil cases and packed lunches… it can be our time to begin again too 🥰

That’s why I open the Crafty Herbalist Academy at this turning point each year. Autumn has that energy of coming back to the roots, settling in, and starting something that feels steady and nourishing.

If you’ve been wanting to learn more about the herbs, make your own remedies, and follow the seasons with a bit more confidence, the Academy is now open for a few weeks.

I’ve also shared a little blog about hawthorn, with my simple ketchup recipe (a favourite in our house). You can read it here: https://craftyherbalistacademy.com/hawthorn-berry-a-simple-ketchup-and-heart-medicine-notes/

If you give the recipe a try, do let me know!

Kristine x