Land Natural Health

Spring foraging workshop 🌿 such a fun and enjoyable workshop with a lovely group of keen foragers!
Forgot to take photos of the actual foraging part of the workshop but luckily took some pictures of the beautiful food she prepared for us all 🧡
Just one more workshop to go before I take some time off and prepare for the arrival of our little one 🌱
I'll definitely miss running these workshops for a wee while as I absolutely love doing them and connecting with like-minded nature enthusiasts, but for now it's time to start preparing for our final workshop, which is going to be a very special one - a foraged inspired high tea! 🌸

🌼 Calendula is more than just a bright and cheerful garden flower. This vibrant bloom has been celebrated for centuries for its medicinal properties! One of my favourite herbs for skin conditions - let’s dive into the healing powers of calendula and explore how you can use it 🌼

Calendula has incredible anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, lymphatic and vulnerary (supports wound healing) properties. It is often found as an active herbal ingredient in topical ointments/creams to alleviate minor cuts, burns, rashes. Its anti-inflammatory and vulnerary action reduces swelling and promotes healing.
Calendula can also be used as an internal tonic herb that aids in cleansing the lymphatic system. If you’re experiencing symptoms of lymph congestion, like swollen glands, dark circles under the eyes, fluid retention, stiffness, slow wound healing, chronic infections, or fatigue, calendula can be a very gentle yet effective herb to support lymphatic drainage 🌼

If you’ve ever picked calendula flowers, you might’ve noticed the sticky residue that the plant gives off, this is actually an indication of the therapeutic properties of the herb! This resin contains strong antimicrobial properties and is a key source of its healing power. Much of the resin is concentrated in the green base of the flower heads, so make sure you use those parts too in your tea infusions, salves, salads etc.
Also, feel free to harvest calendula flowers generously; the more you pick, the more will bloom! ✨
You can make your own calendula infused skin oil by infusing dried calendula blooms in a carrier oil (like almond, jojoba, olive) for a few weeks. This oil can be applied directly to the skin or can be combined with melted beeswax to create a healing salve. I’ve currently got a jar of calendula blooms infusing in rosehip oil, and will make myself a belly rub to support my stretching pregnant belly 🤰🏼
To make a herbal tea infusion, steep a few fresh or dried blooms in hot water and steep for a few minutes. You can also add the petals to literally any meal, to add a cheerful (and medicinal) garnish! 💛🧡

Young blackberry leaves - a beginner friendly introduction to foraging medicinal wild plants 🌿 I’m sure many of you are familiar with blackberries and have picked them before to make pies, jams, crumble etc 🥧 But did you know that the young blackberry leaves are also edible, and medicinal? The best time to harvest the leaves is now, in the spring!
The leaves are very astringent, what this means is that it can help to dry, draw or tighten up tissues. This herbal action makes it particularly useful for things like diarrhea or mouth ulcers. Traditionally blackberry leaves have been used to aid digestion, and as a mouthwash for soothing gum inflammation and sore throats.
The blackberry shrub is easy to identify, with its thorny stems. It grows in clusters in hedgerows, woods and sunny areas. The thorns can be hard to avoid when picking the leaves or berries, but do try to be careful.
When harvesting the leaves, pick the fresh growth. Look for fresh, bright green leaves that are tender and soft, with no thorns. Young leaves are smaller and have a serrated edge.
The best time of year to harvest the leaves is in the Spring when the leaves are vibrant and there is plenty of new growth 🌿
You can make tea with fresh or dried leaves by steeping them in hot water for about 5 minutes. It will have a pleasant fruity flavour, with a slight hint of bitterness.
You can also eat the young leaves raw or add them to a salad or a smoothie, just double check that there are no little thorns on them as that can irritate the throat.
You can also use a cooled down tea as a mouthwash or gargle if you wanted to use it for mouth ulcers or inflamed gums.

Excited to teach this little one all about foraging 🌿(although that might still be a year or two away 😉)
My partner and I are absolutely delighted and looking forward to meeting our little one in February 💛

🍃What this means for Land Natural Health 🍃

💚 FORAGING WORKSHOPS & WILD FOOD PICNIC
If you've been wanting to attend a Foraging Workshop and haven't done so yet, this is your chance!! I've got 2 more Foraging Workshops scheduled for this year (19 October & 16 November). Book your spot for one of these today! They will both be Spring themed - the most beautiful time of year to learn about foraging in my opinion!

💚 FORAGED HIGH TEA
My final workshop before taking a break will be a one-off Foraged High Tea. It's going to be a beautiful day filled with foraging, herbal crafting, and a delicious foraged inspired high tea. It's happening on the 7th of December and filling up fast, only 6 spots left! This workshop will also be great for those that have already done a foraging workshop with me.
More details about this workshop on my website.

💚 CONSULTATIONS
I'm not taking on any new clients for initial consultations (expect if you've already booked in for the month of October). However, acute consultations are still available.
For all existing clients, I will continue to support you with follow-ups until the end of the year and then make sure you're in good hands after that if you still need support.

Don't worry, the foraging and herbal workshops will continue - I'll just have a little helper with me 🌱

🌿 GIVEAWAY! 🌿
I am giving away 2 tickets to the upcoming Spring Foraging Workshop, for you and a friend to attend!

To enter:
🌸 tag a friend that you'd like to attend the workshop with.
🌸 Make sure you're both following to be in to win.
🌸 You can enter multiple times, tagging as many friends as you like.

Winner will be drawn on Monday the 14th of October at 6pm
(This giveaway is for the Spring Foraging Workshop on Saturday the 19th of October, in Wellington, New Zealand. The workshop is from 10am - 1pm and includes a wild food picnic lunch.)

Seasonal allergies - The arrival of spring brings with it for some people stuffy runny noses, itchy eyes and repeated sneezing 🤧
Luckily our herbs are here to support us through this seasonal transition! And what’s even better, some of the herbs that help ease allergies grow in the wild or maybe even in your backyard. You can make an 'allergy relief' tea using 3 accessible herbs; Nettle, Plantain and Elderflower 🌿

💚 Both Nettle and Plantain are anti-inflammatory herbs, and may block the production of histamine. Plantain also helps to soothe irritated linings of the respiratory tract (such as itchy throat and nose associated with hayfever) and dry up excess mucous - like runny noses.
Elderflower helps to tone and strengthen the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, and supports the immune response in its defense against allergens 💚

DIrections: Use equal parts of each dried herb to make your blend. Pour one large cup of freshly boiled water over 2 heaped teaspoon herbs, cover and allow it to steep for 5 minutes. Aim to have 2 cups a day. This tea is most beneficial if consumed daily, ideally starting a month before the onset of seasonal allergies. 

Herbs like Baical skullcap, Echinacea, Eyebright, Goldenrod and Garlic are also wonderful for supporting the immune system and reducing sensitivity to allergens. You could also take these herbs as a tincture, do talk to a herbalist prior though as there may be interactions with medications. 

Supplements such as Vitamin C and Quercetin can also be helpful in reducing inflammation and excess-histamine associated with allergies. Food sources of vitamin C include kiwifruit, capsicums, citrus fruits and tomatoes 🥝🫑🍅 Quercetin food sources include onions, apples, citrus fruits, green tea and berries 🍋🍵🍏
None of the herbal & supplemental remedies mentioned above cause drowsiness like some of the over-the-counter antihistamines. 

If you suffer from seasonal allergies and are wanting a personalised naturopathic & herbal approach, you could book in with me for an acute consultation.

🧡 If you love herbal medicine, foraging, nature, food and creativity then this workshop is for you! 🧡
Join us for a foraged high tea, we’ll celebrate the arrival of summer with an wild elderflower soda in hand, whilst crafting beautiful and delicious herbal creations 🌿🧺
The workshop will start off with a wander through nature, where you’ll learn about the abundance of edible & medicinal summer plants, we’ll then go on to incorporate some of our foraged finds into creating a variety of herbal creations that’ll nourish your mind, body and soul! 🌿
Indulge in a selection of sweet and savory bites, each created to highlight the essence of summer. Alongside these culinary delights, enjoy a tasting experience of invigorating herbal beverages🍹
✨ Leave inspired with your very own herbal creations, a full belly, and the confidence to continue infusing herbal medicine into your daily life! ✨
(What you’ll be making will remain a surprise until the day, but will include herbal goodies that you can use in your kitchen, on your body and for self-care rituals)
This one-off workshop is sure to be a sell out! Book your spot through https://www.landnaturalhealth.co.nz/
🧡🌼💛🧡🌼💛
Date: Saturday 7 December, 10am - 2pm
Cost: $150
Location: Wellington

🌿 Spring foraging workshop 🌿
My first workshop back after my Europe travels, and what a beautiful time of year to re-start these workshops! 🌱 Spring is well and truly here, nature is blossoming and everywhere you look there is vibrancy and fresh growth.
Back in my happy place organising and running these workshops 💚 A beautiful morning with the loveliest group of ladies, followed by a delicious lunch: soup with onionw**d flatbreads, wild pesto and for dessert we had dandelion root tiramisu and dandelion flower cupcakes. A real celebration of spring 🌿🌸 and I are feeling inspired and have a few exciting offerings brewing that we'll announce soon!
The next foraging workshop is on the 19th of October, visit my website to book your spot!

Onionw**d flatbreads 🌿🧅

There is so much onionw**d around at the moment, I love finding creative ways of using it in the kitchen 🌿 Onionw**d are a great alternative to spring onions or chives, and have a mild onion/garlic-like flavour.
They are also super easy to identify. It has grass-like leaves with a very distinct onion smell when picked. The stems are triangular (which is where it gets its other name from; three-cornered leek). Every part of the part can be eaten, the bulbous white stem, vibrant greens and pretty white flowers 💚🤍
Onionw**d could be confused with snowdrops (a toxic lookalike) so to be sure you have onionw**d, look for a stripe down each petal of the onionw**d flower (snowdrops don't have this stripe) and also make sure you smell the lovely onion-like fragrance when you pick it 🧅

These gluten-free onionw**d flatbreads are super easy to make, with only a handful of ingredients needed!
The flatbread recipe is inspired from the lovely .greig 's cookbook 'Sunday Cantina'. I added a large bunch of chopped onionw**d to the batter before frying them. I served them with a garlicky yoghurt dip, and it was a delicious combo! 👌🏼

RECIPE:
1 cup chickpea flour
1 cup water
1 TSP baking powder
1 TSP salt
Bunch of chopped onionw**d (white stems & greens)
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

Mix all ingredients together. Heat a small sized pan on a low heat with some oil/butter. Ladle in a scoop of the batter and cook until the flatbread is bubbling. Flip and repeat on the other side or until browned.

Have you guys found any yummy ways of incorporating Onionw**d into recipes? I'd love to know! 🌿💚

🌿 Herbal Vinegars 🌿
Herbal vinegars are a great way of extracting minerals from plants and incorporating new and medicinal flavours into your diet, plus they're super easy and cheap to make!

This herbal vinegar is inspired by folk herbalist Rosemary Gladstar's 'Fire Cider', and packs a bunch of immune boosting invigorating herbs & spices 🌶️🫚🧅🧄 It also contains freshly dug up dandelion roots, Dandelion is a bitter herb and prevents stagnation in the digestive system, this action will come in handy once the vinegar is ready to use and we celebrate the arrival of spring! 🌱

To make a herbal vinegar, gather whatever fresh or dried herbs & spices you want to use and put in a jar, cover with unpasteurised apple cider vinegar and leave to infuse for at least 1 month (if you want a stronger flavour you can infuse it for longer).
This herbal vinegar contains: dandelion roots, fresh ginger, fresh turmeric, garlic, onions, cloves, mustard seeds, pine needles, chilli, lemon & orange peel, rosemary, and cinnamon quills 💥

My favourite ways to use herbal vinegars are:
💚 salad dressing
💚 mix into your guacamole
💚 drizzled over steamed veggies
💚 diluted in some warm water to aid digestion
💚 added to soups/stews

🌿🧅 Parsley & Onion W**d loaf 🧅🌿

No doubt that if you’ll go for a nature walk in the Wellington region, you will come across an abundance of wild italian parsley! A lovely culinary herb but did you know it’s also an incredible medicinal herb.
Parsley is a very nutritive herb as its packed with antioxidants, and minerals; in particular a great source of iron, vitamin C, & vitamin K 💚
In herbal medicine, parsley is considered a tonic for the kidneys and bladder, and has been used when there is retention of excess fluid in the body.
Parsley is said to be very refreshing and cleansing for the digestive system, and can help reduce excess gas. Many people even swear by chewing some fresh parsley after a meal to eliminate bad breath 😁
🧅 Onion W**d is now also in season, a generous and delicious alternative to spring onions or chives. The whole plant is edible - bulb, stem, & flowers. It’s a very easy one to identify with its triangular stem (which is why its sometimes also referred to as three-cornered leek), and has a very strong onion like smell when picked - unlike it’s lookalike - the non edible snow drop.
These two wild herbs together, create a delicious green herby loaf, made even more yum with an onion w**d butter spread on it! 💚

*Note: Avoid therapeutic doses of parsley in pregnancy, as some of the constituents in parsley are uterine stimulants.

🌿 Recipe:
Large bunch of fresh parsley
Bunch of fresh onionw**d - the whole plant
¾ cup olive oil
2 ⅓ cup almond flour
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking powder
4 eggs - room temperature

Roughly chop the wild herbs and put in blender or food-processor, blend until its pesto like texture. Pour in the oil and blend for a few more seconds.
Mix together the flour, sea salt, and baking powder in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whip the eggs on high speed, until they look pale and creamy. Mix in the herb-oil mixture.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold together.
Pour the batter into a container and refrigerate for a couple of hours, this will enhance the green colour!
When you’re ready to bake, pre - heat the oven to 180C, and grease a loaf tin. Pour the batter into the tin and bake until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean, approx 15-20 minutes.
To serve, slice the loaf and generously spread some softened onion w**d butter on a slice.
(Onion w**d butter is simply a large handful of onion w**d stems, finely chopped and mixed through some softened butter)

Autumn Foraging Workshop 🍃 such a beautiful fresh Autumn day in nature with a lovely group of foragers!
There's such an abundance of lush greens, medicinal roots and dried seeds to be foraged at the moment 🧺
We had a delicious & well deserved lunch after a morning of walking up and down the hills! The menu included a nettle & lemon cake, and dandelion root tiramisu (!!) as well as an autumn soup with fresh bread, wild carrot seed dukkah and herb butter.

I'm heading to Europe in early June, for a 2 month solo adventure (will be heading back to my home country, The Netherlands, for the first time in 19 years as well as exploring Norway and Scotland). I'll be back in August and will announce dates for the next workshops then. In the meantime I'll continue posting plenty of herbal & foraged goodness and maybe some travel adventures too!! 🌎

I loved yesterday's Autumn Foraging Workshop 🍂 it's such an abundant time of year, and such a joy being out in nature on those calm & fresh autumn days 🧡
The wild greens are so lush at the moment, and the medicinal roots are getting ready to be dug up.
We enjoyed a picnic under the pines; seed crackers with chickw**d pesto and wild carrot seed dukkah, feijoa & apple galettes and roasted dandelion 'coffee' 🍂

The next workshop is on the 18th of May, that'll be my only workshop for the next few months as I head overseas for some exciting adventures, so if you've been wanting to come along to a workshop this is your chance! 🧡

💛 Gorse flowers can be picked all year round, and are easily identifiable by their vibrant yellow flowers 💛 The flowers have a butterfly like shape, which is characteristic of the pea family that gorse belongs to 🦋 Gorse flowers have a subtle coconut-like aroma with a sweet almond-like taste. You can use the flowers as a colorful addition to salads, garnishes, desserts, cordials, or herbal tea. However don’t over indulge in them as they contain slightly toxic alkaloids.
When harvesting, pick flowers that are fully open, on a dry day. Carefully pluck the flowers, being mindful of the prickly stems.
Gorse is also one of the Bach flower remedies, and is indicated as the remedy for people who have given up belief and hope. It is believed to restore hope and resilience in times of despair or despondency ✨ Harnessing the essence of gorse flower in a infusion or simply placing a few flowers into your water bottle can offer emotional support and inner healing, serving as a gentle support for the spirit ✨💛
and I tried to capture the subtle aroma and taste of gorse flowers for my workshops participants a few months ago, by infusing a lemon cake with gorse cordial (swipe to see the gorgeous cake 🌼)

I love combining my passion for herbal medicine and creativity, and one way of doing that for me is by crafting herbal tea blends 🌿
I made myself a couple of blends today; one to support the nervous & reproductive system (raspberry leaf, yarrow, oat straw, red dates, nettle, calendula) and one sleepy blend (hops, passionflower, chamomile, skullcap).

The hands-on experience of blending isn't just about making tea, it's about tuning into your body’s needs. With every sip, you’re attuned to what your body craves - whether it's a burst of energy, a moment of calm, or a boost to your immune system. It really is an act of self-care and self-discovery. As you blend, you’re not just mixing herbs; you're immersing yourself in a sensory adventure. The aromas that drift through the air, the colours and textures as your crush and mix - it’s a symphony for the senses 🍃

I love taking herbs in their liquid form, whether that is as a tea, tincture, or syrup, as opposed to swallowing a herbal capsule. I love experiencing the smell and taste of the herbs, and find that this sensory encounter sets off a series of reactions that strengthens the bond with the herbs and their source; nature. Herbal teas are also an affordable and accessible way of incorporating herbal medicine into your lifestyle.
For these reasons, I often suggest herbs in their liquid form to my clients, also; as a liquid the herbs have a much greater absorption rate and are more easily digestible.

Have you got any herbal tea blends that you love or are part of your daily ritual? I’d love to know! 🌿

Today was the first workshop for 2024, with 14 keen foragers 🌿 we had such a wonderful time together, wandering through the town belt; exploring and tasting all the summer plants, seeds, and berries. We finished off with a delicious lunch and a blackberry chocolate tart for dessert! Thank you to my gorgeous sister for the beautiful food.
I love doing these workshops and sharing my passion for plants and nature 🌿 But maybe what I love even more, is bringing a group of like minded people together that often then create their own connections with other workshop participants. That truly brings me so much joy! I know these workshops won't cure the feeling of loneliness that's so prevalent in our society nowadays, but maybe they make someone's day a little brighter, through being in nature and with like minded people 🌱

Next workshop is on the 9th of March, which will be Autumn themed! 🍂 You can book your spot through my website 🌿
📸 Photos by 🙏🏼

🌲 Unlocking Nature's Bliss with Pine Forest Bathing🌲

Ever heard of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)? its a fascinating regulatory system in our bodies that plays a crucial role in maintaining balance, or homeostasis. While the ECS is primarily influenced by cannabinoids produced within our bodies, there are certain foods and drinks that may interact with it, such as cacao, certain spices (black pepper, cinnamon, cloves), Echinacea, and Essential Fatty acids such as eggs, chia seeds, and oily fish. Aromatic compounds, like terpenes, also influence the ECS.

Let's talk about pine trees and how they can influence the ECS and help bring your mind and body into homeostasis 🌲 When you stroll through a pine forest, you're not just taking a walk — you're giving your ECS a treat. Pine trees release aromatic compounds called phytoncides. These compounds interact with our ECS, which influences the nervous system, promoting a sense of calm and relaxation 💚 have you ever experienced a sense of bliss when wandering through a pine forest?
So, next time you're surrounded by towering pines, know that you're not just in a forest; you're in a natural therapy session for your mind and body. Take a deep breath and soak in the pine goodness! 🌲

Corn silk is the shiny thread-like fibers that grow around a corn cob. It's such a wonderful healing botanical that we often throw in the compost! 🌽

It has traditionally been used for kidney and urinary tract issues, due to its diuretic and demulcent actions.
The mucilage in corn silk may be useful for soothing any irritation or inflammation of the urinary mucous membranes. This action makes corn silk a great choice for alleviating the discomfort associated with urinary tract infections.

Corn silk is best taken as an infusion🍵Just take a pinch, cover with boiling water, and let it infuse for 15 mins before drinking it. You can also dry the corn silk and store in a jar to enjoy the benefits all year round
We are in corn season at the moment, So, the next time you peel back the husk of fresh corn, don't discard those silky strands! 🌽💛