Herbs Archives - Alchemilla Apothecary

What Do Herbalists Do With Stinging Nettles?

Sep 4, 2020

For obvious reasons, stinging nettles are one of the very first plants children learn to identify. As they grow literally everywhere and are safe* for most people to use, nettles are a great herb to experiment with if you’re new to medicine making or foraging....

A Practical Guide to Anti Viral Herbs

Mar 17, 2020

What is a virus? Viruses are billions of years old. They’re among the oldest organisms on the planet, and are exceptionally good at what they do. Over time, they’ve learned how to bypass many of our immune responses, the aim being to gain entry to a human host so they...

Homemade Elderberry Syrup for Winter Wellness

Nov 1, 2019

There are many beautiful plants and herbs that can serve us well over the cold winter months. One of my favourites comes from the native elder shrub. This beautiful tree grows right here in Cornwall, and as if by magic, the berries are ready for harvesting just before...

Ashwagandha: One Of Nature’s Best Remedies For Anxiety

Aug 9, 2019

Anyone who knows me will vouch for the fact I don’t subscribe to a “this herb is good for that” school of medicine. I rarely recommend a single, stand-alone remedy for any particular condition, because herbs are not like drugs. Unlike the isolated, active ingredients...

Are Herbal Medicines Safe?

Jul 17, 2019

This week I received a number of emails from worried clients in response to an article which had been published in a well-known national newspaper. The bold headline? “Health risks of herbal pills. Warning on remedies that react with statins and cancer drugs to cause...

How to Make Rose Hip and Elderberry Syrup

Jul 9, 2019

As a child, I was an inquisitive forager. Despite growing up in a relatively urban area, most of my time was spent outdoors, something I believe paved the way for the unusual career path I later followed. My favourite pastime involved hopping on my bike to go hunting...