Over the past ten years I have been fortunate enough to go on many courses. I just love learning about anything to do with healing, health and wellbeing. My intrigue for how we can turn to nature to support a holistic approach, to a balanced mind and body has lead me to herbal remedies, plant medicine, nutrition, fermenting, Auyervedic and Chinese medicine, meta physics and energy medicine to list just a few. I have learnt so much from some amazing teachers, tried and tested many things out over the years, and now use what I think are some staple, simple and effective ways to keep healthy and happy. I can not remember the last time I went to a chemist, I love turning to the garden for a herb, my cabinet for an essential oil or knowing what food my body needs to eat or drink to boost my immune system, nourish and heal.

In today’s fast paced world, more people are starting to realise that a convenient, quick fix doesn’t always work long term and often has other negative side effects. The movement towards turning to a more natural lifestyle, avoiding chemicals and synthetics and replacing processed with homemade is ever growing. I feel now is the time to share some of what I’ve learnt and trust to work.

Fortunately, I have just the place to do it, as I’ve realised the Retreat is not just the perfect space to TREAT but also to EAT. My friends love it when I set my big table up in the Retreat and cook a healthy nourishing meal. My days as a chalet girl put me in good stead for hosting and I’ve always loved cooking for people. I cook a nutritious homemade plant-based meal and sweet treats full of natural goodness. There will be herb teas, tonics and tinctures to try. I will cover the top essential oils to have in your home, the herbs to grow in your garden and share ideas for tinctures and tonics to infuse, explaining the health benefits and where possible give you the chance to make your own. I want to give you the confidence to give things a go at home, so you too, can become your own little home herbalist. 

There is a lot to cover, so I’ll break it down into the different topics such as; the immune system, hormones, sleep, anxiety, allergies and heart health. First there will be the Digestive system and how we can heal our guts, as this really does seem to be at the base of it all. Western Herbal Medicine, Eastern Aurveydic and Chinese medicine all agree that it is the most important system to take care of. It’s like the engine room, it needs to have a good flow, to take in the good and extract the waste, to get the most out of our food and to really absorb the nutrients we put in it.

“We are not what we eat but what we digest” Francis Bacon

This is where having a good healthy ‘gut’ comes into it, I’m going to explain the importance and ease of how we can nourish and repair it. I will serve you some delicious plant based, gluten free breads, fermented, pre and pro-biotic dips, pestos and salads, nourishing dahls and drinks you can incorporate into your daily diet and teach you simple ways to do this at home for you and the family.