Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you for opening this newsletter. If you like what you read, please consider subscribing. You can of course unsubscribe at any time, or indeed share with anyone who you think might enjoy it :-)
I’m Georgina, I live in a small village in the East Riding of Yorkshire with my husband, our daughter, an elderly guinea pig and two giant african land snails. I feel privileged to live in peace and relative plenty.
For the past thirteen years I have worked locally as a funeral and wedding celebrant - probably 50 weddings, and something along the lines of 3,000 funerals. Each one an honour to be part of and a powerful teaching on the mystery and power of love. I feel incredibly thankful to be able to support people at such significant times.
I’m also proud to have recently added another string to my bow, which will be the main subject of these substacks, although I’m sure the world of ceremony will seep in too :-)
Since I was a small girl I wanted to be a herbalist, after seeing a picture in a book of a man with a long robe, a long beard, with bunches of herbs hanging behind him and lots of jars and bottles tinctures and treasures. I loved lying in the grass and seeing the plants up close, delicate yarrow and shepherd’s purse.
Six years ago I decided I wanted to finally accomplish this childhood goal, whether or not it became a new career, a “side hustle” or simply an opportunity to stretch myself in a new way and go back to school. I enrolled with Heartwood Education, and began the journey. This May (2024) I completed it, with many, many hours of learning, clinic practice, exams, essays under my belt and was awarded a Diploma in Herbal Medcine with Merit. I am now a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH).
Going forwards I will be offering private herbal medicine consultations, an opportunity to tell your story, explore your health - both current challenges and past medical history - and understand how plant medicines can support you to accomplish a dynamic balance of health and wellbeing. A consultation will last about an hour and a quarter, and include a blood pressure check, examination of pulses and tongue, and a comprehensive case history. I will create a bespoke herbal prescription and blend your medcine, and we will then follow up periodically along the way.
All medicines are made from whole herbs, either by me from plants both grown and responsibly foraged, or by trusted UK suppliers. The Haven Herbal Dispensary is also stocked with a wide range of medicines for common ailments, and is available to registered patients.
Herbal medicine is truly extraordinary - just like people, every plant that we work with is different, with its own personality and gifts; each plant offers a unique and complex blend of chemistry that when well blended in formula, can help us heal on many levels.
So please do come along for the ride. I’ll share reflections, learnings, and offerings here over the coming months, and please reach out to me if you wish to book a consultation or register with the dispensary.
As of now, I offer consultations once a month at The Yoga Barn in South Cave, at CrossFit YO4 in Pocklington on Wednesdays and occasional Saturdays, and I also offer home visits in Bainton, North Dalton, Middleton on the Wolds, Lund, and other local villages. Please do get in touch if you are interested in exploring this.
September - back to school and immune tonics
The season has without doubt turned to autumn, and whilst there have been warmer days, there has also been lots of drizzle and mist. My daughter went back to school recently and before she did we made our annual batch of elderberry syrup together. My daughter does not like to take medicine in general, she once said to me, “I trust my white blood cells!!” when I tried to persuade her to take something. But she makes an exception for elderberry syrup, or as she used to call it, “Purple Medicine”. She appreciates it so much that she really enjoys joining in every step of the way - gathering the elderberries from the lane, using a fork to pop the berries from the stems, adding the spices (this year we used cinnamon, ginger, star anise, all spice, cardamom) to the pan and turning it down to simmer. Then after it has cooled the following day we squeeze it out together, our hands dyed pink and purple, and add the all important sugar - to make it sweet and delicious, but also as a preservative. And lastly, bottling up and making labels.
She takes a spoonful every day before school to ward off the coughs, colds, covid and flu. Elderberries are powerfully antiviral, and can protect us from catching viruses, and also shorten the duration of a viral illness. The spices add their own wonderful medicine, as well as making the syrup taste delicious!
Elderberry syrup is available in the dispensary, and I also blend tincture (alcohol extract) of Elderberry with other immune supportive herbs in a powerful immune tonic. Both of these amazing medicines are available at £12.50 for 100ml. To purchase medicines from me, please get in touch as I need to ensure they are right for you and your circumstances.
I’ll be sharing news, updates, herbal musings and more in the coming months, as well as an event that’s coming up.
But for now, many blessings of this season of mellow fruitfulness,
Very best wishes, Georgina