Trudy Norris FNIMH, MBACP - Herbalist, Counsellor

28/01/2026

Lunchtime thought walk and workshop planning for March, I would really value your input, with a focus on hormones..

27/01/2026

This is such an important area that we all need to be part of, I always encourage people to ask questions in of me and other Health Professionals. Although we come from a history of this being discouraged you will get much more out of the service if you ask the questions that come up for you be they about health, diagnostics, treatment, medicines.
Some good points in this post, I would add Learn to forage and use plentiful native plants as foods and medicine.
I will be offering a walk/talk at the end of April beginning of May depending on how climate change impacts on our plant friends.

Sustainability is the theme for this season’s Power of Plants magazine. Our editor Jenny Carden-Porrett interviewed Ann Armbrecht of the Sustainable Herbs Initiative (SHI) to find out more.

As an anthropologist by training and then a herbalist student with Rosemary Gladstar, Ann has a deep interest in the relationships that we have with people and plants. According to Ann, the aim of SHI's work is “to be a North Star” and help guide people inside and outside the herbal industry to source and buy herbal products that support health in its widest sense. Ann has some suggestions of where we can all start, whether we are herbalists, herbal product companies or consumers.

- Grow and harvest some of your own herbs. It gives real insight into the work and the costs involved to produce high quality medicinal plants.

- Take a deep dive into one herb - where it grows, how it grows, who produces or harvests it and its conservation status. Follow its journey and share that with others, whether in your herbal practice or herbal community.

- Ask questions of the companies that you buy herbs, herbal supplements or herbal products from. Do they know where their herbs come and if not, why not? Let them know why this matters. SHI is also producing a new consumer guide to help with this.

- If you are a company sourcing medicinal plants, join an SHI Learning Lab. They bring together stakeholders from across the global supply chain to explore how to make meaningful change in the herbal industry.

The next Learning Lab starts on January 27th, DM for more information.

22/01/2026

What a beautiful mushroom is Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolar), often seen in gatherings of steps, like these I spotted today.

Research has shown the main therapeutic indication is for a number of different cancers.
There are also studies showing poitive restults for Herpes, ME (influencing immune system activation) and demonstrating hepatic protective properties. More research to be done.
We are surrounded by gems!

21/01/2026

Mid week pick me up?

I love trees in winter, their lifestyle, their architecture, their potential for growth and regeneration.

I especially like Eucalyptus which are still displaying their beautiful flowers where they are in sheltered spots, in other areas they have seed which are also beautiful.

I use Eucalypus mainly as a Tincture and Essential Oil.
For home use Eucaplytus oil is really helpful in the tail ends of a virus, to help ease and clear congestion of sinuses and to ease the tickly cough that feels as though it is never going to go.
Use the oil and place 2 of drops in a hanky, pillow or a drop just behind your clavicle or collar bone. Make sure you wash your hands after as if you rub your eye by mistake that will be very uncomfortable. Do this twice daily until your symptoms resolve or you forget (this usually means you are feeling better).
If your cough is worsening or you are feeling more poorly make sure you get your chest checked for infection by a GP or a Herbalist trained in western orthodox clinical science (The National Institute of Medical Herbalists).

Eucalytus has a broad range of actions and applications depending on the condition and symtoms we are seeking to resolve.
One thing to watch is the oil is not a dilution, I have seen this with Tei Tree too.
I am happy to supply Eucalytus. Do get in touch if you need some and keep a look out for the trees, there are more about than you might think.

I hope your week is going well.

20/01/2026

I did my Horticultural Therapy qualification with Thrive, this really contributed to how I work work people outside ...they do some great work in horticulture and learning...here is an example of that. If you know someone you think might contribute please pass the information on.

Share your views - gardening with Parkinson's

We are creating information about gardening with Parkinson's and want this to be as helpful as possible.

If you have Parkinson's, or are supporting someone with it, we would really value your feedback. It doesn't matter if you're an expert gardener or a beginner.

Find a link to the short survey below. Thank you!

https://bit.ly/49FJL5J

19/01/2026

Hi everybody, someone I spoke to today described January as pea soup which made me smile...if January were a food what would it be?

I hope you had a good Monday....mine started off pea soup but I found some ladders and it gathered a good pace.
Here is our thought for the week....check in on your mind, body and breath....

17/01/2026

'Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food'.
When I studied for a Degree in Health and Communiry Studies (definately had my name on it) one of my Dissertations was Nutritional Factors in Western Diseases with a focus on diet and coronory heart disease, diabetes and related dis ease of western civilisations - like the one we live in.

I gained a lot with this learning which nurtured an enquiring mind relating to diet amd human health.
This interest stretched across culture, gender and socioeconomic status and gave me a relatively deep dive into an area I was already passionate about after working in an innovative Healthfood coop at an early age.

That was a long reflection which began as ' not much time on social media this week'.

So, here is my catch up post as I always make time for nourishing food which nudged me to share a recipe.
I also checked in on a couple of people where I had made a series of dietary recommendations alongside prescribing herbs. Pleased to say very good progress made in a short period of time.

Back to the recipe. You know how much I love legumes and would go as far as recommending everybody has a daily dose. This might be hummous, tinned beans or your own cooked butter beans...all are good (see previous posts) and are the enemies of western diseases (together with exercise and stress management).
Add to this the hypoglycaemic action of leeks, onion and garlic you are onto a tasty dose of preventative medicine.

Here is the recipe...
This can be pan cooked or popped in a slow cooker
1 tsp cumin seed
3 tsp coriander seed
1 tsp mustard seed
1/2 tsp turmeric
25 g grated fresh ginger
2 - 4 garlic cloves
3 tbsp olive or flaxseed oil
400g mushrooms
500g carrots, sliced
50g brown or green lentils
500g leeks, sliced
175g of red lentils
250ml stock
Fresh parsley

1. Crush all the seeds in a pestle and mortar or use the back of a wooden spoon.
2. Peel and slice all of the yummy vegetables.
3. Heat the oil in a heavy pot and lightly fry the veg for 5 mins. Add the mushrooms and spices and cook for a further 5 mins.
4. Add the lentils and stock. Bring to the boil, stir well and cook for 45 mins on your cooker or pop in a slow cooker ( I use high setting for 3 hours then drop down).

When cooked (adjust seasoning as you like it) add freshly chopped parsley to benefit from taste and great nutritional profile (see previous post).

Once you have made this, like me you will probably make it again.
Have a great weekend and make time for your good things!

15/01/2026

Midweek rejuvinate, did you know even a small dose of awe will shift your whole physiology? Lift your mood, relax your body...keep a look out, it might be where you least expect to find it. See previous posts on Hellebore 🌱😉

12/01/2026

Nice post, thankyou.

I am a pleased to be a member and on the speakers list for The Herb Society which has some great opportunities for learning and sharing.
I would certainly recommend membership if you would like to deepen your knowledge.

From my practice I would estimate 40 % of people I see take, or have taken proton inhibitors or are regular takers of Rennies and this is often not the main reason for booking an appointment ( they have just got used to managing the symptoms).

The majority of reflux_/indigestion type pictures will improve by 80 % with dietary and lifestyle adjustments.

The main side effect of this? you will be eating nutrient rich rather than nutrient deficient food - so your health and mood improves.

Herbs can be used to safely to regulate gastric function, ease tension in the autonomic nervous system and influence the liver and gallbladder.
Unless someone has a hernia I would expect good outcomes and no need for long term use of herbs.

11/01/2026

Hello, I hope you had a fine (freezy?) weekend. Here is our thought for the week ahead, I love this...sometimes we need to remind ourselves so pop it in your pocket with the blue bubble.

Wishing you a fine week wherever you may be.

09/01/2026

Good morning, today I have a lovely blend of appointments and dispensing prescriptions.

Earlier in the week someone made contact to ask if I could help with their chillblains.

This seems fairly straightforwards from Herbalists perspective.

I communicated as such but said we would need a short discussion to to check in we had the best herbs, if there might be any contraindications for the herbs.

We arranged a time to speak and with just a few questions we identified a much more complex and deep rooted health issue and also that the person is taking medication.

Medication is fine with herbs but you need to work with this, safely.

I asked the person did they want to work with the chillblain picture, the bigger issues, or both.

The decision was to treat the underlying health issues amd also to use a topical application for the chillblains.

As well as dispensing herbs we discussed dietary and lifestyle recommendations, the more the person can do to improve things, the better.

One herb in their prescription is the lovely Ginger, to influence the circulation and digestive systems. In a months herbs I used 3ml of a strong extract (1:3).

Including Ginger in your diet in cooking or a tea is a good way of gaining some benefit but it needs to be taken regularly.

If yiu have been to one of my workshops you will know I suggest a tea 3 x daily if you are looking to manage or improve a symptom.

If your symptoms do not respond to self help, or you want to cut through all the wonky info out there, then see a herbalist