Bespoke Botanicals

18/04/2026

02/04/2026

https://www.herbalreality.com/herbalism/western-herbal-medicine/making-sense-of-herbal-dosing-how-much-is-enough/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAQ7hMNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeXH5q7G0nQlHzc4lJmzASp4v7UyXQ_1CsABnbaBo10lWv8Mtd9iqALMAJboE_aem_IKIfUh7zqFCydl1LP4GA1g&cookie-consent-set=true

Dosing herbal medicine requires navigating plant variability, preparation methods and individual response. Find out how to get the herbal dose right.

02/04/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWnmF3ZDF_C/?igsh=bDR6NXE1enh1bnE3

27/03/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWYxOrSiD86/?igsh=dWVoaTV0aHhoZHQx

09/03/2026

08/03/2026

And also worth a share for International Women’s Day! (Posted by another inspirational female herbalist)

International women's day 2026.

Wishing all women everywhere equality.

Why do we still need IWD in 2026?

Lets Just look at some of the thing my women patients have said to me in the 2 months 8 days of 2026.

*The doctor said no to a sterilisation because I might meet a man who wants to have children with me*

Lets deconstruct that: she's 30. Old enough to make up her mind. But worse than that A MAN SHE HASNT MET YET has rights over her medical decisions and autonomy.

*The doctor wont test my hormones, he says i'm over 40 so I must be menopausal*

I suggested she ask the same doctor for fertility testing because her husband wants a baby. He said yes right away. So wanting to know about her body was les important than a man's disappointment about progeny (her partner is a darling. Theres nothing like that going on just to be clear.)

* My periods are all over the place but the doctor tells me he tested my hormones 5 years ago so he wont test them again because we know whats going on *

Again I suggested she tell her GP she'd been trying to conceive forva couple of years and it wasnt happening. No problem getting all the tests plus an ultrasound. Surprise surprise, polycystic ovaries.

But why did getting pregnant open the door when pain and irregular menstruation didnt.

* I'm fairly sure its menopause. I've no energy, cant sleep, i'm struggling to concentrate. I've tried standard HRT but GP wont prescribe testosterone *

I suggested she tell the GP her husband was upset because her libido was absent. Et voila! Prescription for testosterone.

What all of these situations have on common is institutional s*xism. Once a man, who isnt even in the room, is inconvenienced by a woman's discomfort, distress or ill health, the testing a woman needs suddenly becomes available.

These are all educated, intelligent, professional women capable of advocating for themselves.

How much worse must it be for women who dont have advocacy experience or the option to seek private support?

Lack of equality shows up in so many ways. Inequality is far worse when you add Blackness or non traditional gender identity into the mix.

If these sound familiar or you or a woman you love or care for is experiencing this kind of discrimination encourage her to ask her care provider

" do you realise you just told me a man i dont know yet has rights over my body "

" do you realise you refused to do this till I told you a man was inconvenienced "

" do you realise you told me my comfort, concentration and sleep were less important than my husband's s*x drive "

Womens day is still relevant. SO relevant.

And, for the trolls out there. Its 19th November-International Men's Day

08/03/2026

Seems an appropriate post for International Women’s Day. Women tend to dominate the herbalist profession (though, if I asked you to name a famous herbalist I’m still going to hazard guess you’ll name a male one 🤯)

https://herbsociety.org.uk/2024/03/07/celebrating-women-herbalists-on-international-womens-day/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAQanHZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEegaTVfgqxoqC8y3EHnaJ02ChgPdCHlSraWD085eL24A1oFA0VuyMW2ml_F6s_aem_m8H0obwbCXMGF_FqybmNBQ

Celebrating Women Herbalists on International Women’s Day Laura Pardoe| March 7, 2024 | Figures of the Herb World, Herbalism International Women’s Day seems an appropriate time to acknowledge and bring thanks and attention to the many women herbalists who have kept the tradition of Western Herba...

28/02/2026

The answer to this week's Herbal Trivia question is Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). "Even though this anti-inflammatory herb contains aspirin-like compounds, unlike aspirin (which irritates the gastric mucosa) is used for gastric irritation with hyperacidity."

Meadowsweet is very effective for treating gastric irritation with hyperacidity, heartburn, and esophageal reflux (GERD) when combined with Licorice, Marshmallow, Chamomile, and Lemon Balm.

Meadowsweet is used as a mild herbal aspirin substitute for arthritic pain, bursitis, sprains, sciatica, headaches, back pain, and fevers.

It is an astringent and antibacterial, making it useful for diarrhea, especially in children, use it with Chamomile, Ginger, Strawberry leaf, and Cinnamon.

Herbs containing methyl-salicylate also act as antiseptics, anti-inflammatories, and analgesics to the urinary tract.

Although Meadowsweet contains aspirin-like compounds, it only mildly thins the blood. It does not cause gastric irritation or Reyes syndrome. Use cautiously with blood thinning medications.

The flowers and young leaves have a definite methyl-salicylate odor when crushed. They were used as strewing herbs in houses and churches in England to freshen the air and “make the heart merry”.

This blog is intended as an informational guide. The remedies, approaches and techniques described herein are meant to supplement, and not be a substitute for professional medical care or treatment. They should not be used to treat a serious ailment without prior consultation with a qualified health care professional.

24/02/2026

16/02/2026

Hay fever already? Yes, because hazel, cypress, alder and poplar trees are begining to flower in Cornwall. So if your hayfever is triggered by those pollens, you will begin to notice the itchy, sneezy symptoms, watery eyes and general feeling of irritation. As herbalists we treat hayfever with a comprehensive plan; working to improve the immune system by modulating its response; strengthening the nasal and sinus mucus membranes - their role is to act as a barrier to irritants; working on gut health, because most of the body's immune cells reside there and gut health is fundamental to good immunity. Hydration is important too because plump, well hydrated mucus membranes can resist pollen better than dry ones. Ideally, treatment should start before the pollen is released, but sooner is better than later.