Suburban Herbalist

31/01/2026

Rose hips they are sustainable, rich in Vitamin C, great for your aches and pains and grow in abundance on native soil.

✨ MONTHLY HERBAL SERIES ✨
February: A vitamin-rich fruit that helps with aches and pains
Rosehip - Rosa canina and other species

This month in our Power of Plants Magazine (buy it here - https://nimh.org.uk/shop/8187/ ), National Institute of Medical Herbalists member and registered herbalist Forage Botanicals Ltd.discusses sustainable British healing herbs. One of these is the common dog rose (Rosa canina), a beautiful climbing shrub that produces gorgeous ruby red, oval fruit, known as ‘hips’ in Autumn. The hips can still be spotted in the hedgerows in January and February. Although they are no longer ideal for making herbal medicine at this point, they are an important source of winter food for birds.

Some people may remember being given doses of rosehip syrup as an immune-supporting source of vitamin C. Herbalists also harness its powers for aches, pains and inflammation associated with conditions such as arthritis. Clinical trials confirm that rosehip powder consistently reduces osteoarthritic pain and inflammation, outperforming placebo and without the digestive upset of a typical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Another study found that its galactolipid content offers targeted reductions in pain and rheumatic inflammation.

Many of the different types of British wild and cultivated roses have hips that can be used to make syrups. Have you made syrup before or do you remember being given a dose? What is your favourite rose to use? Tell us more in the comments 🌹🌿👇🏻

08/12/2025

Winter wellness see a herbalist 🌿

Winter Wellness: Herbs & Herbalists 🌿❄️

During the cold months, many people experience fatigue, lowered immunity, and seasonal illnesses, making winter wellness herbs an important natural support.

✨ Elderberry - prized for its antiviral properties and commonly used to reduce the severity of colds and flu.
🌿 Echinacea - helps stimulate the immune system, making it more resilient against infections.
✨ Ginger - warms the body, aids digestion, and reduces inflammation.
🌿 Turmeric - valued for its anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it supports joint health and strengthens immunity.

Herbs provide an integrative approach to staying strong and healthy through winter, offering both preventive and restorative benefits. While these herbs can offer powerful support, working with a qualified herbalist ensures they’re used safely and effectively, tailored to your unique needs.

Why see a Herbalist?
Professional training → Medical herbalists complete thousands of hours of study and clinical practice, ensuring safe and effective care.
Personalise support → Tailor herbs to your constitution, lifestyle, and health needs.
Navigate safety → Ensure herbs don’t interact with medications or conditions.
Deeper understanding → Herbalists are trained in pathophysiology, meaning they treat the root causes of illness, not just symptoms.
Expert Guidance → Learn to integrate herbs safely and effectively into daily life.
Holistic care → Herbalists look at the whole picture, diet, stress, sleep, and environment not just symptoms. 🌿

👉 Find a qualified herbalist near you using our tool: https://buff.ly/qJppP0R

07/10/2025

Hello Autumn lets bring out those pungent herbs to chase the colds and flus away, also warming & comforting helping the circulation and draining the lymph.

We can experience a change in ourselves when the autumn arrives, sometimes colds, sinus and breathing becomes difficult as the circulation + lyphm function is congested allowing mucus to be a problem.
Time to bring in pungent foods: etc
Also pungent etc
Pungent + Spicy flavours improve flow, stimulate lymph and circulation some have antiviral, antimicrobial + in some cases antifungal properties too.
Raw onion is pungent but when cooked is sweet, many others transform with cooking, and when fermented as in the pic in
Both pungent + spicy give clarity to the senses, they excite + stimulate, but we don't want to be overwhelmed and then be exhausted + irritable.
The same applies to our body, overstimulated nerves, muscles and mucus membranes will exhaust and dry out tissues.
Balance gives harmony, each individual is different, how much + for how long to take something, is dependant on the unique person.

14/08/2025

A show case by one of the members of the national institute of medical herbalists of the work herbalists do.

Great to see one of our members, Simon Mills , on Diary of a CEO showcasing the wonderful work of herbs and herbalists. A great way to find out more about herbal medicine. Steve Bartlett

Why not check out our podcasts resource, and find more of our members sharing their expertise. Visit https://buff.ly/u94gA9u

10/07/2025

Herb of the month!

🌿 Herb of the Month: Meadowsweet - Filipendula ulmaria 🌿

Where Meadowsweet grows, on a warm sunny day you can’t fail to smell those medicinal constituents on the reeze, which some compare to almonds, and others Germolene!

Meadowsweet has been found in Prehistoric graves all over Europe, and has been used medicinally for as long; primarily for relieving pain, fever, diarrhoea, and in the treatment of peptic ulcers. Its anti-inflammatory effects can be accounted for by the presence of several salicylate compounds, including salicylic acid.

To read the full blog written by Jenny Carden-Porrett, visit our website: https://buff.ly/t2kMLm1

Note: When taking herbs, we recommend seeking the advice of a qualified medical herbalist.

13/06/2025

Please look at event below!

28/05/2025

For all your health needs book in at the sanctuary. There are loads of practitioners to choose from.

23/04/2025

Herb Robert used to stem nose bleeds by making a plug with the plant!

🌿 Wayside Herb of the Month: Herb Robert - Geranium robertianum 🌿

Herb Robert likes to grow in shade, often along walls and the edges of woodlands, the stems turn a vivid red when the plant is exposed to too much sunlight or too little water.

Not often seen in the Herbalist's dispensary these days, Nicholas Culpeper mentioned that farmers used Herb Robert in diseases of their cattle, recommended it for green wounds, stopping bleeding, old ulcers in the privy parts and reminded the reader "consider it is an herb of Venus, for all it hath a man’s name". It was once carried to bring luck and fertility.

Head to our website to read the full blog written by Jenny Carden-Porrett: https://nimh.org.uk/herbal-resources/

Note: When taking herbs, we recommend seeking the advice of a qualified medical herbalist.

11/04/2025

Herb of the month!

🌿 Herb of the Month: Cardamom - Elettaria cardamomum 🌿

Aromatic and resinous, many people enjoy the scent of cardamom even if they aren't partial to the taste! Known as True or Green Cardamom, and from the 19th century as 'The Queen of spices' - it has been recorded for thousands of years as a useful digestive aid.

In the same family as Ginger, it is considered a more cooling alternative when an anti-inflammatory or digestion remedy is needed. A primary constituent α-terpineol and also 1,8-cineole, have been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-nociceptive (analgesic) properties, alongside mucus thinning effects, making it useful in clearing mucus and helping a weakened digestive system, or to give alongside digestive bitters to avoid 'griping' sensations.

Cardamom's antiseptic action has also made it a popular breath freshener, and a remedy for colds, tonsillitis and bronchitis, where it can also help clear mucus congestion in the lungs. Myrcene is also present, lending Cardamom a gentle relaxing quality, another useful component when stress and stomach are so closely linked!

Personally I can happily chew on the seeds and work with Cardamom a lot in clinic, but would love to know how other people feel about cardamom, do you consider her a medicinal herb or more something to be used sparingly in cooking?

Note: When taking herbs, we recommend seeking the advice of a qualified medical herbalist.

27/03/2025

Spring is with us! Do you feel you need a spring tonic after all the excess of the christmas season! Read below and make your own!

07/03/2025

See what ground ivy can do for you!

🌿 Herb of the Month: Ground Ivy - Glechoma hederecea 🌿

Despite its common name, Ground Ivy is actually in the mint family. It was historically taken for bronchitis, sore throats, digestive problems, as a diuretic, to help headaches, arthritis, menstrual disorders and topically for skin irritations. This apparent wide variety of healing uses could be due to the antioxidant properties from various phenolic compounds, including rosmarinic, caffeic, and ferulic acids, and flavonoids such as rutin, isoquercetin, genistin, and daidzin, among others!

Read the full blog written by Jenny Carden-Porrett here: https://buff.ly/7Zm2h2Y

Note: When taking herbs, we recommend seeking the advice of a qualified medical herbalist.