Trudy Norris FNIMH, MBACP - Herbalist, Counsellor

22/04/2026

Here is our midweek pick me up...one of my favourites and fits with my need to and want to do lists.
I hope your week is going well so far

21/04/2026

Lovely to be back in the UK!
​Hello,

After a great break, I am now back in both the inside and outside offices.
I will be up to date on any messages by Thursday 23rd. If I haven't responded to you by then there is a chance the message has got lost in the New Zealand ether so could I ask you to resend your message if you have not heard from me by then.

Today, in the outside office I had a stroll to check out the local flora and fauna locally in part as preparation for the Foraging and Plant Id walk on the 10th of May.
Miners Lettuce for tea then....

14/04/2026

One plant that is exceptionally common (a non native w**d) in New Zealand is Mullein...I met a cluster recently...

11/04/2026

By addressing underlying issues we can enable healing to take place...this applies for physical and emotional symptoms.

09/04/2026

I have worked with many people who have not received clear information about blood lipid and cholesterol profiles and options, infact they are not always told they do have options.

I recently worked with someone over 70 who was 'told' they should take statins.

After some research I discovered that there is much less research into this age group and rising blood cholesterol levels and whether this is clinically a good or bad thing...this is an ongoing debate (as is much of the information relating to cholesterol).

Whether you choose to take statins or not lifestyle and diet are the best medicines and improvements will have a steady but secure impact.

If I am working with someone using herbal medicines I usualky suggest an initial 3 month period before blood tests are retaken and most GPs are happy with this.

07/04/2026

Here is an early mid week pick me up I thought I would share....because you can have as many as you choose....I am going to keep this with me...I hope you enjoy some sunshine...

04/04/2026

Hello and I hope you are looking forward to the long weekend.

I recently had a benefit of seeing a wonderful exhibition of quilting which is very popular in New Zealand and Australia.

This piece was the artist's reflection on their personal experience of grief.

Why am I sharing this? Because, for the person who is grieving long weekends can feel like a suffocation...a toil, emotionally draining, disorientating, laboured.

So, if this is you I want to fully acknowledge that the 'work of grieving is exactly what it feels like.

Keep your metaphorical armbands blown up, do what you need to reach the otherside and keep a look out for hope returning.

If things are unbearably dark, harness your vulnerability and reach out for help.

Artist Wendy Ward NZ.

02/04/2026

Good morning,

I have yet to meet some nettles in New Zealand and quite miss seeing them!

The native nettle can grow upto 3 metres high and if yiu are stung yiu may feel the impact for a number of days.

Shout out to Urtica dioica as our common nettle in the UK.
You can use bettle at any time but it is particularly good when the plant and leaves are young.

Make an infusion and you will substantially increase your intake of Calcium, Boron, Magnesium and Iron.

Use Nettle as you would Spinach (but not raw!), as a vegetable it has a good texture and taste.

Include Nettle in your diet for one of it's prime actions as a plant with anti inflammatory properties (non salycilate based)...much better to prevent inflamnation through diet and lifestyle where possible.

If you look in the Archives you eill see some recipes using nettle, especially the nettle and lemon cakes.

I will let you know if I meet the New Zealand variety!

01/04/2026

Eucalyptus trees vary a lot in appearance and chemistree.

This is a huge E fastigate I met recently in New Zealand. A tree able to cope with low temperatures and harsh climate.

If I crush the leaves of this tree I get very little scent as the oil is low in Cineole.

In the dispensary I use a 1:3:tincture of Eucalyptus and an essential oil from Eucalyptus globulus...70 % cineole.

My favourite oil is from E. Smithii, great for using with children and adults.

I hope your week is going well.

31/03/2026

This might be of interest to some...always good to share resources.

In case you've not seen it yet, here is a really interesting resource for you. The World Herb Library, is an exciting website that will include almost 8,000 books and writings on botanical medicine. The digitised library, founded by Robert Brucia, Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D., L.Ac., and Ed Smith, D.Sc. (Hon.), will include rare and hard-to-find books and literature that provide the wisdom and history of herbal practice as documented by international herbalists, pharmacists, physicians, and scientists.

To learn more, visit https://worldherblibrary.org/

29/03/2026

As the clocks are changed and humans adjust here is our thought for the week...

26/03/2026

So amongst a forest of 200 metre pine trees you meet a small cluster of Birch trees...
Where there are Birch you can be pretty sure to find Amanita.
This is the largest Amanita I have had the pleasure of meeting...