What initially sparked your interest in herbal medicine?
I was in my late 20s when I came across herbal medicine and I became really excited about studying it. Nature connection underpins a lot of the decisions I’ve made in my life and I felt like I’d run off course. There were aspects of myself that I wanted to heal. I was stressed, anxious, depleted and I was looking for meaning in my life. It turns out that a lot of good things flowed into my life after that point.
I believe healing ourselves means healing the Earth. Fundamentally we are nature. I also want to model these values to my child. Working with plants has given me a solid life purpose and the more I learn about holistic healing, the richer my experience of life becomes.
I work with all ages, mostly with gastrointestinal, stress and hormonal conditions. The way I work and formulate medicines is a fusion of East and West and I’m devoted to seeing my clients regain harmony and happiness. The conditions I see more regularly are menstrual disorders, perimenopause, adrenal fatigue, weight gain, sluggish digestion and liver disorders. I see lots of little people, too. That’s a real treat!
After I graduated, I practised as a naturopath for a decade or so, then I went back to university for post-graduate studies. When I look back, I realise we need to develop ourselves on all levels; my heart was happy, my body was strong, but my brain was hungry for more. And the health industry is changing all the time, so I wanted to dive into evidence-based complementary medicine and be the best therapist I could be. What I love about herbal medicine is how it’s constantly evolving.
Tell us, what do you teach at Nature Care College?
I teach lots of practical and theory subjects at Nature Care College from botany and manufacturing herbal medicines to materia medica (the study of medicinal ‘materials’ aka plants), plant chemistry and clinical diagnosis. I’ve also supervised clinic practice.
I also write courses, which began as an interest but has turned out to be really rewarding experience, so I’m still doing it. There isn’t a better way to learn something than to have to explain it! I run courses in making herbal medicines and I have a mentorship program for herbalists and naturopaths in their final years of study.
What are some of the things the students learn in your classes?
My students learn how to use nature to heal and how to detect signs of disharmony and disease. The emphasis is always on helping clients regain their natural balance. Their training is strongly practical and prepares them for clinical practice or for further studies and research in health if that’s where their interest lies.
They’re training to become therapists but they’re also being initiated into the healing arts. Learning herbal medicine is a journey, a personal and professional one, and if you like, a spiritual one, too. I love seeing my students grow as we move through the terms and courses. I see them becoming immersed in a deeper connection with the natural world and it fulfils a soul purpose. What they call “Dharma” in the East. This is really about cultivating a life path. You can do that with this sort of profession.
It’s so rewarding on all levels. Subjects where you’re in direct physical relationship to plants such as botany are food for the soul. All your senses come alive in those classes. More theoretical or clinical subjects such as holistic diagnosis, materia medica and evidence-based practice are food for the mind. This is training that develops you as an individual in many ways.
What initially sparked your interest in herbal medicine?
It all began more than 30 years ago when, out of curiosity, I had a consultation with a herbal medicine practitioner. At the end of the consultation, the practitioner opened the door of her pharmacy cupboard to begin formulating a liquid herbal blend for me.
When she opened the lid of the first dark brown bottle the most magical aroma filled the room. As I inhaled those sweet, subtle earthy tones I felt a mixed sense of curiosity, familiarity and remembering.
I took the herbal medicine as prescribed for the following six weeks and it was immensely helpful with my health priorities at that time. The mixture was a blend of herbal medicine for my physical body and flower essences for my mental and emotional wellbeing. From my own experience with taking that herbal blend, I learned that plants are effective medicine when prescribed correctly. My interest in plant and herbal medicine was well and truly sparked and I began studying for my first Diploma of Herbal Medicine.
Tell us, what do you teach at Nature Care College?
I’ve been teaching for Nature Care College for 22 years and have taught herbal, naturopathic, communication, business and professional development subjects.
In terms of plant medicine or herbal medicine subjects, it’s been my pleasure to teach Bach Flower Essences, Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, Herbal Medicine for the Female Reproductive System, Botany, and Traditions in Herbal Medicine.
I’ve also enjoyed running weekend workshops for Nature Care College to teach about Plant Consciousness, Plant Spirit Communication and Shamanic Connection with the plant world.
I have trained in shamanic practice and communication with the shamanic nature of the plant world. I connect with the consciousness and sentient nature of plants through a deep and reciprocal relationship. This work resonates with my Celtic spiritual heritage and I find great joy in teaching others how to develop these relationships with plant beings.
What are some of the things the students learn in your classes?
In the Bach Flower Essences subject, students learn about Dr. Edward Bach and how his philosophy on healing differs from orthodox medicine. Students learn how he discovered his extraordinary remedies and how they work.
The Herbal Medicine Materia Medica subject is a full-year course where students first learn about the history and philosophy of herbalism, including key historical personalities and movements. From there, we cover foundational plant pharmacognosy and the various types of herbal medicine preparations. This lays the foundations for the ‘materia medica’ where students study more than 70 amazing medicinal plants throughout the rest of the year.
Students learn to speak a new language of Latin botanical names and a fascinating dialect of chemical constituents. They learn about the therapeutic effects and specific situations for using medicinal plants.
When I teach workshops about Plant Consciousness, Plant Spirit Communication and Shamanic Connection with the plant world, I provide an introduction to engaging with the sentient consciousness of plants. Students receive an overview of plant communication techniques emphasising Heart Perception, Entrainment and Felt Sensation. Students learn how to use these Shamanic techniques to deepen their relationship and communication with the plant world.
