The Hillfoots Herbalist

01/08/2025

https://youtube.com/watch?v=S8SHvgM1bMc&si=pVjed3EhaxkMHeOb

A short, fun, educational, animation about the use of medicine plants through the ages. Produced and written by medical herbalist Julia Behrens, direction...

16/07/2025

Lavendula angustifolia

I think lavender is one of our most recognisable and loved herbs. Used for centuries, lavender possesses valuable and useful medicinal properties.

Prized for it's antibacterial qualities and ability to repel insects, lavender has been used in bathhouses or placed between sheets to deter lice and fleas since Roman times, its' name is derived from the Latin 'to wash'.

In the first century AD, Dioscorides prescribed it for plague protection and to heal wounds. Elizabeth the first was said to carry a posy of lavender wherever she went to repel plagues, migraines and bad smells!

Sachets of lavender, known as smellies, were used to soothe wounded and dying soldiers during the First World War, particularly those affected by gas gangrene. The calming scent of lavender reminded the men of home and masked the odour of illness (1).

Containing volatile oils, flavonoids and sterols, lavender is antibacterial, analgesic, anxiolytic and sedative. Lavender soothes the nervous system and is used for anxiety, depression, insomnia and exhaustion. Under the direction of a Medical Herbalist it can be used internally for indigestion and bronchial complaints or externally for rheumatism, scar healing, neuralgia, postoperative and menstrual pain, bites and head lice.

What are your favourite uses for lavender?

1. Clark, J.L., 2024, “Lavender for Lads”: Smell and Nationalism in the Great War, available from: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-british-studies/article/lavender-for-lads-smell-and-nationalism-in-the-great-war/DB37B88A0A4033656919B6E2827F3E74

Photo by Mario Mendez on Unsplash

31/08/2024

A w**d is just a plant growing in the wrong place.

Herbalists love dandelion. This cheerful wee anti-inflammatory plant stimulates digestion and excretion of waste products. Dandelion leaf has a diuretic action hence the nickname ‘pee the bed’, but unlike pharmaceutical diuretics which can deplete potassium, dandelion leaf replaces the potassium lost when urination is increased. Their bitter taste stimulates appetite, increases bile production and supports the liver. Eating the young leaves in a salad provides nutrients including vitamins A, C, K, potassium, iron and calcium. The roots contain inulin, a useful prebiotic which feeds good bacteria in the gut. Roots taste sweetest in autumn when inulin levels increase from just 2% in spring to 40%. Sesquiterpene lactones in the plant stimulate bowel movement and are an effective, gentle laxative. The flowers make lovely syrup if you remember to remove the bitter green calyx at their base.

Dandelion is used in herbal medicine for constipation, digestive complaints, fluid retention, rheumatism or prevention of renal gravel. During menopause it aids excretion of hormones, reduces bloating and balances gut flora.

Although gentle, its stimulatory effects mean it should not be used during acute gallbladder inflammation or blockage of the bile ducts or intestinal tract. And professional supervision is required during pregnancy or with young children.

The dandelion celebrates life. Its bright flowery resilience reminds us of the sun and offers a reliable source of food to pollinators at lean times of the year. The moon like seed-heads feed small birds before the individual seeds are swept off like stars to spread their love. The roots themselves aerate compacted soil and offer nutrition back to the earth when they decompose.

So if you can tolerate a wee patch of wildness somewhere in your garden, dandelion will offer you and your garden much back in return.

11/06/2024

Coming soon!

Junior Herbalist Club (JHC) is a 2-year extracurricular course for children (aged 7-12) which runs for 90 minutes, once a month, for 10 months of the year. The aim of JHC is to help children learn about the healing plants around them in a safe and supervised environment. The children are taken on a journey of discovery, engaging all their senses with playful practical skills.

The course includes:
• Identification of common herbs growing all around
• Safety – which herbs are safe to use and which are poisonous
• Folklore – taught through stories and songs
• How to grow and harvest herbs
• Medicinal uses of common herbs
• How to use a variety of common herbs for first aid
• How to make a variety of herbal preparations to keep and take home
• Respect for all plants and their environment

All classes run by Medical Herbalist and NIMH registered JHC leader. Places are strictly limited, early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.

For more information and to book your child’s place, please contact: lesley@thehillfootsherbalist.co.uk

21/05/2024

Junior Herbalist Club leaders training. Herbal love 💜

Junior Herbalist Club coming soon! More information @ juniorherbalistclub.com

24/03/2024

04/01/2024

Make 2024 your year for better health and book an appointment to see a Medical Herbalist.
We specialise in treating you as an individual, exploring factors that might contribute to how you are feeling such as poor sleep, stress and lifestyle, as well as taking a full medical history.
Book an appointment in January to receive a free gift of a selected herbal tea blend.
Tel: 07767 502672
e-mail: hillfootsherbalist@outlook.com

15/12/2023

Here's part two of our for series!

Most of you will probably be familiar with ! 🌿

Native to Asia, ginger is closely related to turmeric and is a warming which can help to give our circulation a boost. Readily available, this herb can be used for coughs and sore throats and is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Ginger can also help with nausea and is known for helping to settle the stomach.

Next up, we have ! As well as a wonderfully fragrant herb when roasting vegetables, it can help to ease a sore throat, coughs and even asthma. No wonder Shakespeare referred to the bank of wild thyme in A Midsummer Night's Dream!

We'd love to know how you use ginger and thyme. Why not tell us in the comments below?! ⬇️

IMPORTANT: Always seek professional advice and consult a medical herbalist for a full consultation if you'd like to use herbs to help manage your health/a medical condition. To find out more and locate your nearest herbalist, head to our website - https://buff.ly/3EuY8bj 🌿