Herbalist Scotland

20/02/2026

Five days to go for the Running a Business webinar for herbalists and therapists. Join me to find out how to run a business, and get enthusiastic patients and clients, without all the faff, headaches, and sleazy sales pitches!
Link in the comments 🌿💚

19/02/2026

My uni mate Emma wrote her dissertation on this. It’s true. Mushrooms are amazing. The ones you buy in the supermarket.

Mushrooms are the only produce item that can synthesize Vitamin D from sunlight, much like human skin. They contain a precursor called ergosterol. When exposed to UV light, they convert it into Vitamin D2. Studies show that even "store-bought" mushrooms will skyrocket in nutrient density if you just put them on a windowsill before eating them. You’re essentially "charging" your food with solar energy.

18/02/2026

If you are ever so slightly worried about what it would be like to go back to university (or the equivalent), Kim is absolutely lovely and will take good care of you. She is also a red-hot researcher 🔥

🌿 MEET THE TEACHER: KIM WALKER

Kim is one of the core educators at Betonica - Director, Head of Year 1, and Lead Teacher for our Direct Access & Online Home Herbalist Courses.

She’s a bio-cultural historian, medical herbalist, and award-winning author, best known for the bestselling The Handmade Apothecary. Her work blends solid research with hands-on herbal practice, helping students understand plants in real, meaningful ways - from history and culture to everyday healing.

Kim brings a huge depth of plant knowledge to Betonica, but what students love most is how grounded and real her teaching feels. She has a rare gift for making complex topics clear, relevant, and connected to everyday life. Expect learning that’s thoughtful, evidence-informed, rooted in tradition, and always practical.

In the classroom, Kim creates a collaborative, inclusive learning space - meeting students where they are, encouraging curiosity, and supporting everyone to build confidence, and find their own voice as practitioners.

✨Applications for Year 1 and the Direct Access Course are now open.

If you’re feeling called to study at Betonica and train as a medical herbalist, we’d love to hear from you. Places are already filling up, so we recommend getting your application in as soon as you can. Link in profile.

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16/02/2026

I've never had anyone yet ask me for a 400mL bottle of organically grown herbs in a 40% tincture. Or for a 50 minute session to really work out what they need. Or even for an accurate diagnosis. Even though I supply all that.

What they ask me for is something for their persistent cough, or their cystitis, or whether I can do something about their flagging energy levels.

And that's what I talk to them about. We need to get used to talking to people about what they want, not about what they need. That's what they appreciate, and brings them back to us.

Join me for the Zoom webinar on how to run your business so you get enthusiastic paying clients and still enjoy the work you do 💚.

https://www.annecheshire.com/herbal-business-zoom-webinar

13/02/2026

I'm running this webinar again in 11 days time. 90 minutes to help you with organising your business, getting clear on what you offer, finding the right clients and patients, and having them delighted to be working with you. DM me if you are interested or have questions 💚

12/02/2026

I’ve been chatting with people about joining the Running a Herbal Business webinar in two weeks - the one where I show you how to actually earn a good living from your business.

The main questions are ‘does this work for any kind of herbal business’ and ‘what if I already have one, can I reorganise easily’?

And the answers are yes, and yes. Organising your business so it works for you is the same whether you are seeing patients, making tinctures, selling soaps and creams, or growing herbs.

You still have to have your basic structure and processes in place, know who you are selling to, how to make them aware of you, how to price and charge, and how to make it a win-win for them to buy.

In fact, you need that for any business, whether you are a herbalist, a massage therapist, a counsellor or a shopkeeper. The details change but the path to earning a good living is the same.

You can reorganise one element at a time, and I’ll show you which to do first. You’ll find it intuitive, because it makes sense in the real world.

Let me know if you want to join us. Just drop an emoji in the comments or message me.

It costs £22 (around $30 USD) and you have access to the 90 minute recording for a whole month. 💚 🌿

09/02/2026

Asking for money as a herbalist?

Providing people with what they want and what they need, and asking to be paid for it, is not greedy or money-grabbing.

It's essential. Everyone needs an income to pay their bills, buy food and clothing, have somewhere nice to live, and have a little bit of fun.

As herbalists, we often shy away from the grubby business of asking for money, as if we were somehow 'bad' or 'selfish' for demanding payment. This doesn't get our bills paid.

We don't go into medical herbalism to make money, and in many ways, money doesn't mean much to us. BUT, when there isn't enough, it suddenly means a lot.

This is why I advise medical herbalists, and other one-to-one therapists and small business owners on how to make a living ethically. This happens by structuring your business effectively, and making yourself known, liked and trusted in your community, so you are valued for who you are and what you do, and can earn a decent living.

It's easy, it makes sense in the real world, and there's no faff or sleazy sales. None at all.

How to do that? I'm running a Zoom webinar on exactly what to do, and how to do it, with Q and A time for individual questions (there are always masses!)

If you want to join me, it costs £22 (around $30 USD), and you can access it for a month if you can't join us live. Drop me an emoji in the comments if you're in for making a decent, ethical living for yourself 💚

29/01/2026

📣YEAR 1 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN📣

Why Study at Betonica?

Choosing where to train as a herbalist is a big decision. At Betonica, we believe learning herbal medicine should be deeply rooted, carefully taught, and connected to plants and people.

Here’s what makes studying at Betonica different:

🌿 A strong, grounded foundation
Our accredited four-year programme balances scientific understanding with traditional herbal knowledge, giving you the confidence to think clearly, practise safely, and work with integrity.

🌿Learning that stays close to the plants
From the very beginning, learning is rooted in relationship and lived experience. In Year 1, you’ll spend time getting to know plants in a direct and meaningful way — foraging, identifying them, and learning how to work with them.

As you move into Year 2, this relationship widens into clinical practice, including dispensing and pharmacognosy, where plants, people, and context come together.

🌿Thoughtful, supportive teaching
You’ll be part of a community guided by experienced educators who value connection, shared discussion, and learning together, with plenty of space for questions and reflection.

🌿 A learning community
Studying at Betonica means becoming part of a committed, supportive community of students and practitioners, walking this path together.

If you’re looking for a place to study herbal medicine that is thorough without being rigid, nurturing without losing rigour, and deeply connected to plants, people, and practice, Betonica may be the right place for you.

🔗To apply for a Year 1 place, click the “learn more” link in our profile or head to the programme application page on our website > https://www.betonica.co.uk/programme-application-page