Benedicte Vannini, Herbalist

10/08/2023

I had a lovely coffee date with a friend the other day, and we started talking about tracking cycle apps, there is quite a few now. So it got me curious, how many of you use one?
Did you know than you can use it for more than just knowing if you are pregnant or not?
You can actually learn a lot about what is happening in your body by keeping track of your ''symptoms'', like headache, cramping, cravings, acne, sudden anger or sad days, etc.
And if you suffer from PMS or any other hormone imbalance, this can be a great tool toward healing. Learning to listen to what your body is telling you is the first step. It will allow you to identify patterns and anticipate.
So take action, seek guidance if you need it, and stay in touch, as I will dig deeper into this subject over the next weeks .

20/07/2023

You see that face? that was me not so long ago... And it was a good day! I could hide most of my acne under a heavy layer of fundation. In truth, those are the only pictures of me that I could find. I deleted all the other ones at the time, because the acne was so bad. I just couldn't bare it.

Adult acne is so nasty. Acne as a teenager is already no fun, but it is part of the process and you know it is going to stop at some point. But as an adult, it is another level of pain, partly physically, mostly emotionnaly. It ruins your confidence, how you see yourself, it can also be quite sore. And you can try all the creams you want, it always find its way back.

Does this speaks to you? Are you struggling with your skin and feel like it is never going to get better?

Well, I have some good news for you!
Adult acne is actually a symptom of a deeper hormonal problem that can be helped! It is not a disease of its own.
Through diatery changes, lifestyle and herbal remedies, lots can be done.
Today, I am free of it. So can you ❤️

29/06/2023

Did I ever tell you that Plantain is one of my favourite medicinal herb? So underrated, because it is a common w**d, it has many vertues!
Anti-inflammatory, immune modulator, bactericide, natural anti-allergy, broncho-dilator, and the list goes on. you can use it internally or extenally, it is very soothing on the skin, works wonder on wasp and bee sting.
Delicious in a warming tea or a green smoothie packed with vitamins and nutrients, for a healthy snack.

There is lots of natural option to help you restore your immune system, wether you suffer from low immune system or over reactive one. Don't wait to get help

15/06/2023

When is the last time you took some time for yourself?

As a mother, we always put our kids first, it is our primal instinct. Studies show that a new mother as the alert level of a soldier during war time, always on the look out for anything, any noises, and we don’t even realize it!
And this alert state never really stops… Our kids are the main reason for most of our decisions. They will get the right clothes, the right food and the best specialist when their health is in question. While we have the same clothes we bought 15years ago, the burned side of the toast and we keep pushing that appointment because ‘’it is not that bad, I can cope a bit longer’’. There is always something more important. We keep putting ourselves in second place.

Now, this is perfectly natural and always out of love (and we wouldn’t change it for the world) but it is absolutely exhausting!
I am sure I am not the first one to tell you this: You can’t be at your best if your health is not at its best. This little health issue that is annoying but not overly disabling: It is not going to disappear on its own! Don’t wait until it is too late to look after yourself.
Firstly, for yourself, so you can finally be the healthy person you dream of. Secondly for your children. The healthier you are, the better you can look after your family.

So, stop putting your health in second place, it is just as important❤️

08/06/2023

How well do we know our body?

Let’s take a minute to think about this. Truly, how well do you know your body? Do you notice when something is not as usual?
And as a woman, can you tell how your cycle is going? Or at what phase it is? Or if it not quite like normal? A woman that truly knows her body can usually tell when something is different.
But that demands a few years of observation. You can learn how to recognize every part of your cycle just by observing every physical and mental reaction. At first you do it with help of people with experience and with textbooks on how it is supposed to work. Once you know your body, you start to understand a lot of things; what can be a trigger to anger or deep emotions, how to avoid useless tiredness, what food to avoid or to favor, and basically how to be healthier and happier.

And this start from a young age, from teenage years.
Thinking back on my teenage years, I realize how clueless I was about what was happening to me, and that led to stupid decisions later on, regarding my health.

Educating our daughters on what is happening to them is crucial to help them understand and later on, how to look after themselves.
I listened to lots of testimonies and for lots of us it has been a long journey of trying to figure thing out on our own. Most teenage girls that turns to doctors with their confusion and pain leave their office with a : ‘’here, take a contraceptive pill and forget about it’’ kinda scenario.

Yes you are in pain, and yes your mind is a rollercoaster of emotion, and you need help. But what happen when you take ‘’the pill’’ at such young age : you stop your body from learning how to cope with this massive change. And years later, when you decide to stop, it is like reliving those teenage years. Your body just pick up where it left off and has to learn all over again, how to have a real cycle. It is a process that you can’t escape. And it is a crucial one that impacts all of your body, not just the ability to become pregnant.

So what if, instead of shutting our symptoms off to forget about them, we learned how to understand them? What if we provided the right education to our girls to help them understand what is fully happening? We need to educate our daughters properly and give them the support they need to become healthy woman.

01/06/2023

Thank you to all that came today to my winter wellness workshop today, I had a great time with you all!

25/05/2023

Can you guess what I am?
I will give you a hint! I am very popular in medieranean cuisine, I have been used traditionnaly for century as an immune modulator, anti-viral, anti-bacterian, anti-fungul and anti-inflammatory. I am like a magic herb! I taste delicious in tea and a must have in winter.
Now, can you guess?

21/05/2023

Today we are harvesting our yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) or Poire de terre en français.
This great plant is one of the easiest to grow, to store and it is delicious.
This sweet tuber is delicious cooked or raw, rich in inuline which is a great prebiotic. Yacon tuber is a good anti-inflammatory, immune booster and great alternative to potatoes for diabetic people.
It is as well full of water (yacon means ''root of water'') mineral such as potassium and magnesium, vit A, B1 and 2.
So many goodness in this forgotten veggie! So if you haven't yet, find some to try it and plant it in your garden!

11/05/2023

Only 2 spots left!!! So make sure you book it quick :
👉https://forms.gle/3L5CF9E7GY6azikz8

In the meantime, stay warm and drink tea!

25/04/2023

Something is happening.... I am very excited to start a seasonal series of workshop to give you the tool to look after yourself!
The first one is one month, a fun afternoon of learning and good conversation. There's very limited space so don't wait to book your spot!

21/04/2023

The kids are away for a few hours, this is the perfect time for my favourite kind of rest : a comfy jersey, my favourite book and a delicious lemon verbena tea. Making the most of the quiet time! This is how I find the balance between my passion for herbs and quality time with my kids. Chores will wait. Right now, I have an appointment with Dr Eric Lorrain and his captivating book on phytotherapy.
What do you do when you have the chance to unwind?

08/04/2023

This is in line with what I was sharing with you a few days ago. I couldn't have phrased it better myself! Those are great advices. And if you would like some help to push you in the right direction, you know where to find me :)

Develop an intentional approach to eating.

1. Start by setting realistic goals. Consider what you want to achieve with your eating habits and create a plan to reach those goals.

2. Make sure to plan. Take the time to plan out your meals for the week and shop for the necessary ingredients. This will help you stay on track and avoid unhealthy impulse purchases.

3. Eat mindfully. Take the time to savor each bite and pay attention to how your body feels after eating. This will help

06/04/2023

Happy Easter everyone! A time for joy and celebration 🎉🎉
and let's face it : over-eating.... I can tell that on my side we have been planning this meal for a good week now! the french way is usually to have a big meal plan and spend the day at the table, eating, laughing, having great conversation. And it is not going to be different this year 😋
BUT! this over indulgence often means heartburns, slow digestion and discomfort.... So how can we avoid this and still have a great day : - Take your time and chew your food properly! This will help you feel fuller (so you eat less) and help your stomach process things properly.
- Have some green leaves with your meal to provides enough fibre, your bowel will love you for this.
- As beverage, enjoy a nice cup of herbal tea : peppermint, lemon verbena, lemon balm, thyme ; even just lemon juice. This will give good support to your stomach and should avoid heartburn due to over-eating.
Now if you do suffer from heartburn on a regular basis, don't think you just have to live with it! there is long terme solution to stop this all-together, just send me a message to help you through it.

In the meantime, I wish you a very good Easter week!

26/03/2023

Today is all about preserves for the cold winter days. Blackboy peach sauce, thanks to Clive Seddon and Sheryl Stivens . Delicious black peach, perfect for desert as well or just as is. Those are very rich in antioxidants, anthocyanins and precious vitamin C, just to name a few. And they make a great treat 😋

22/03/2023

I have another question for you today : Who is in charge of your health?
In a way, we all know our health depends on our behaviors. But it is so easy to rely on someone or something else to do that for us.
We rely on our doctor to tell us what to take, we rely on medication to stop our symptoms, we rely on someone to find that miracle diet to lose weight, etc. We are always looking for an easy escape, a quick fix and rarely deal with the actual problem. And this also gives us something or someone else to blame when it is not working. I know I did this for years, until I realized no one could do it for me. My health was my responsibility; therefore, I had to change my behaviors and look for the right answers to get long term solutions.
So really think about this: who is controlling your health? What are you depending on? Are you avoiding the responsibility of your health?
It is time to take charge of your own body. No one and nothing can do it for you. You can look for guidance, and of course sometimes, medication and supplements are necessary. But if you have been struggling with the same symptoms for a long time and can’t see real improvement, then it is time to really think about this question. What are you trying to accomplish?
Take control of your life and of your health.
As a herbalist, my job is to give you the key and the guidance to do that, so get in touch if you feel like you need help to get started.

17/03/2023

How lucky your are in Nelson to have a place such as 185 farm shop! Pick you own veggies and get your freezer and preserves ready for winter! Flavourful veggies to make delicious meals. For us it is tomato passata, ratatouille and snap frozen capsicum to protect the vitamins and nutrient. It is so important to have good quality veggies with every meal, the famous quote ''let good be thy medicine'' is not for nothing!
If you would like to know more about this or need help to learn how to eat better for your health, get in touch!

10/03/2023

Why is it so important to find your happy place? Today, I'm gonna dig a little bit on this. Finding that space that makes you feel peaceful and lift up your spirit is a key factor of your mental health. The sea has always been mine, for as long as I can remember. Why am I insisting on this? Because I know first hand how crucial it is. When my daughter was born, like many women, I suffered from post partum depression. It is a very sneaky disease that attacks you when you most vulnerable. So everyday, I would go to the beach or find a spot to look at the sea. This was the moment of the day I could breath, let go of every feeling and emotion and allow myself to feel a bit of peace and quietness. I am not a mental health specialist, but as a herbalist and advocate of a holistic life, I can assure you that your mental health and physical health are deeply connected. And this is how I got out of my depression. I adjusted my diet, found some breastfeeding compatible herbs and good friends to count on. Yes, there is breastfeeding friendly medicinal herbs that can help with depression.
So if this post speaks to you, know that you are not alone! And that solutions exist! Reach out to someone, a friend or a health professional, and find your peaceful place ❤️🌊

06/03/2023

What is your happy place?
Living a holistic life is not just about what to eat and how to look after your physical health. It is also looking after your mental health. So my question for you is : what is your happy place? Where do you go when you need to recharge your battery, feel peaceful?
For me, it's the sea. When I'm on the beach or just looking at the ocean, I feel instant joy and peace, I can face anything.
So have a think about it, and if you'd like, share on the comment what it is :)
I'll talk more later about why we need to find our happy place. Right now, I'm enjoying the sound of the waves 🌊🌊