Hay fever season is upon us once again and those who are sensitive to tree pollen will already be aware of the abundance of pollen floating in the air caused by all that glorious blossom which comes shortly after the new seasons greening leaves. Then of course come the spring flowers and summer blooms which slowly produce more pollen in order to reproduce the next generation. While the changing of the seasons are welcome after winter and we can warm ourselves and enjoy longer days, for some people the annoying symptoms begin and can range from annoying to completely debilitating. 
I'm concentrating on the help the plants that grow in the countryside can give us! There are many plants which we pass by every day in our streets, gardens and rural areas which can be used to alleviate many of the symptoms caused by hay fever. We have natural anti-allergenic's, anti-inflammatory's, mucous membrane strengtheners, immune boosting and respiratory cleansers at our disposal, all of which when used in plant medicine from do not produce side effects. I'm talking about nettles, elder flowers & berries, plantain, yarrow, mint and thyme to name but a few.   
You can harvest many of these for yourself if you know where to find them or you try my hay fever tea or have a tincture made specifically for you and your symptoms. I do advise drinking the tea every day during your hay fever season and of course short term courses of tincture are always advised to be taken regularly as well. 
The new stock of my hay fever tea is now available at £4 per pack.
If you would like an individual consultation for a tailor made prescription of plants that can help, please contact me.

Elder is one of my absolute favorites, first the green growing small bud heads which are edible and absolutely lovely in a salad, then these beautiful bunches of frothing white flowers followed by juicy immune boosting berries. Whats not to love!!

I was inspired to write this after a very good friend contacted me from Scotland to ask how she should use fresh gathered Dandelion for tea. I began thinking about the wide and varied uses of the humble dandelion if you want to gather it from your own doorstep. 
Taraxacum officinale, to give its botanical name, is not only a staple medicine of the northern hemisphere but as any good forager knows, its a wonderful inclusion in a salad too. In addition to its medicinal uses, dandelion for me evokes memories of blowing clocks and an old fashioned fizzy drink. I love the connection to these memories alongside the idea that this beautiful plant is not a weed but a useful plant that we can reconnect with if we choose.
The young leaves are deliciously tangy and can be used raw or treated like spinach. The petals can be used too and if you're feeling really ambitious you could make wine from the flowers! The root is a traditional liver medicine and as we're talking culinary uses this is the part of the plant used to make dandelion coffee. If you want to make tea, brew fresh or dried leaves as a gentle diuretic and stomach herb. 
My advice is to harvest the upper parts of young plant and wash carefully, gently remove the bright petals to scatter on top of your feast and carefully tear the leaves into your salad or spanakopitakia and enjoy the early leaves you've foraged.

The Foxglove Clinic refurbishment in Westcliff-on-Sea is complete,
the space is looking bright and beautiful and I'd love to see you here one day soon.
If you'd like to come along for a welcome therapy and receive and £10 discount simply contact me
and quote 'welcome discount'. You might be thinking about trying herbal medicine, treating
yourself to some reflexology or maybe ear candles and take away a specially blended tea.
​If you have any queries get in touch and I hope to see you soon,
Jane 

Refurbishment of the Foxglove Apothecary is under way and I'll soon be inviting you to come and see me in the updated clinic space. Its been a bit cramped around here so I want to thank my loyal customers who've visited during the past months. The plans are ongoing as work on building the brand new Apothecary will begin in the summer but in the meantime my clinic space is having a transformation which will see us through until the garden clinic's ready.
​I hope you'll come along and visit me soon.
Peace and love, 
​ Jane x