Herbaceous in Bellarine, Victoria, Australia | Alternative & holistic health service

Herbaceous

Locality: Bellarine, Victoria, Australia

Address: Bellarine Peninsula Bellarine, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.herbaceous.net.au

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• Medical and health
• Alternative & holistic health service
• Naturopath
• Meditation centre

25.01.2022 ~~Something light and bright for humpday! ~~ . Photo by @plantfolk

23.01.2022 ~~Meet my favourite herbs~~ Chamomile is one of my all time favourite herbs, and I dispense it in both tincture and dried form. (I use the German chamomile). The two widely known varieties are German chamomile (matricaria recucita) and Roman/English/Lawn chamomile (anthemis nobilis), the latter being a more bitter and stronger acting herb. The herbalist Matthew Wood describes chamomile as a folk medicine of great antiquity in Europe. Mrs Grieve states, "no plant was bet...ter known to the country folk of old, it having been grown for centuries in English gardens for its use as a common domestic medicine. The fresh plant (of anthemis nobilis) is strongly and agreeably aromatic, with a distinct scent of apples - a characteristic noted by the Greeks, on account of which they named it 'ground-apple' - kamai (on the ground) and melon (an apple) - the origin of the name Chamomile. When walked on, its strong, fragrant scent will often reveal its presence before it is seen. For this reason it was employed as one of the aromatic strewing herbs in the Middle Ages, and used often to be purposely planted in green walks in gardens. W.T. Fernie described chamomile as "a physician to the plant world. Nothing contributes so much to the health of a garden as a number of chamomile herb dispersed about it.if another plant is droopingin nine cases out of ten it will recover of you place a herb of chamomile near it. German chamomile is an excellent childrens remedy, and is gentle enough to be used across all age groups. It calms both the nervous and digestive systems. It can assist restlessness, tension and sleep problems. It is also an excellent herb for relieving muscular spasm, such as period pain, colic, and pain associated with constipation. I find it to be an incredibly relaxing herb to drink after dinner - it settles digestion, and makes for a calming pre-sleep brew. Photo via @ritual_botanica See more

22.01.2022 ~~Let them eat (plum) cake!~~ I bought some delicious plums yesterday from Tuckerberry Hill, Berry farm, Cafe and local produce market . How beautiful is their colour?! And I baked this cake.....you can see I ate a decent portion for breakfast! That’s what Sundays are for I say. Happy cake eating day to you. Recipe: (adapted from ABC Melbourne) 500 grams plums 125g butter (at room temperature)... 1/2 cup castor sugar 2 eggs 1 1/2 cups spelt flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup ground almonds 1/4 cup milk Method De-seed the plums and cut in half, add 3/4 cup of water in a saucepan. Drop in the plums and poach for about 3 to 5 minutes until they begin to soften. Remove and allow them to drain and cool in a colander or sieve. The skins will come loose, remove them if you wish. Preheat the oven to 180C. Cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, while still beating, until incorporated. Turn of mixer, sieve flour into bowl and add almond meal and milk, carefully fold together until incorporated. Spoon half of the mix into a 23-25cm buttered cake tin. Spoon the plum mix across the cake batter, then spoon the remaining batter carefully on top. Place into oven to cook for approximately 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool a little before taking out of the tin, serve at room temperature with yoghurt or cream. #letthemeatcake #cake #cakeforbreakfast #sunday

22.01.2022 ~~Meet my favourite herbs~~ Foxglove. Digitalis purpurea. Also known as: Fairy’s glove; Witches gloves; Fairy caps & Fairy thimbles. This magical plant has captured my imagination since childhood. Grieve wrote, the patterns on the foxglove blossoms are like the spots on butterfly wings, and on the tails of peacocks.and were said to mark where the elves had placed their fingers."... I recently planted some in my garden, and I’m waiting for the blooms to start appearing! Mrs Grieve wrote extensively about foxglove in her book, A Modern Herbal : "foxglove of the woods is perhaps the handsomest of our indigenous plants. It is widely distributed throughout Europe, and is common as a wildflower in Great Britainit is a favourite flower of the honey bee. It is worth noting that although foxglove is admired by bees and many insects, no animals will browse upon the plant, perhaps instinctively recognising its poisonous character. Foxglove is indeed a plant to be admired, but modern day herbalists are not allowed to dispense it. The powdered leaves of Digitalis purpurea have been used as medicine in Europe for hundreds of years, and it is mentioned in a list of plants from the time of Edward the 3rd. The earliest known descriptions of the medicinal use of the foxglove appear to have originated in Wales in the 13th century, where physicians used the plant to prepare external medicines. The foxglove was also used domestically in Wales, the leaves would darken engraving lines on stone floors! The leaves of the foxglove species contain several cardiac glycosides, digoxin being the most therapeutically important. Cardiac glycosides have been used clinically for many centuries, and are a group of chemical compounds that increase contractility of the heart muscle, and are used commonly to treat heart failure. Digoxin is a commonly prescribed cardiac glycoside, and is derived from the leaves of the plant, Digitalis lanata which belongs to the foxglove family. Now that my little scientific description of foxglove is finished, I encourage you to seek some foxglove magic this spring! You are bound to find her growing in a nearby garden. Photo via @birdsbeeshotels See more

21.01.2022 ~~Saturday strolls~~ Sending you some peace and calm from the beautiful Bellarine peninsula. Wishing you a very relaxing Christmas and a quiet, non-eventful start to 2021! I’m taking a little break until 4th January, then I’ll be back in Zoom-consult-mode. And from 8th January, you can book in for face to face appointments every Friday at Herbaceous’ ace new home @pointlonsdalehealth

21.01.2022 ~~I’m baaaack!~~ after taking a refreshing break, I’m back for 2021. I’m here to help you navigate your way through the new year. Who knows what’s in store?! Appointments are available Monday to Thursday via Telehealth, and I see patients face to face on Fridays @pointlonsdalehealth

19.01.2022 ~~Dry skin brushing~~ in the pursuit of sharing some naturopathic skin care wisdom, I’m happy to post a dorky pic!I bought this little gem of a brush from @thegreenstore.com.au at the start of the first lockdown. I’ve used it pretty much every morning, and have noticed that my skin is much smoother. I also have a larger brush for using on legs, arms and back. Dry skin brushing helps to slough off dead skin cells, as well as gently stimulating circulation of the blood and lymph. And it makes a gentle and calming addition to my daily care routine. Give it a try - your skin will love you for it.

16.01.2022 ~~Blueberry picking fun~~ @tuckerberryhillberryfarm with @haitchworld

13.01.2022 ~~Starting anew~~ I’m very excited to announce the next chapter in Herbaceous’ journey! I start at a new clinic today, in the seaside town of Point Lonsdale, @pointlonsdalehealth I also wrote a little blog post with some Herbaceous updates, and reflections on 2020 www.herbaceous.net.au/starting-anew/ Wishing you a happy Friday!

11.01.2022 ~~January yoga~~ I’m all set up and ready to start Breath , @adrienelouise ‘s 30 day yoga course. I found her yoga sessions to be beneficial on many levels during 2020. I would usually do 5 sessions a week, which I randomly selected according to how I was feeling. Yoga for Gardeners featured strongly! This is the first time I’ve decided to commit to a 30 day programme. I’m excited to see how things unfold. And also very thankful that this is a free resource, accessible to so many people across the globe. Are you doing anything new or different this January?

10.01.2022 ~~Stunning afternoon. Blue sky, sunshine and canola fields.~~

09.01.2022 ~~Silverbeet & rainbow chard for days~~ I picked this beautiful stash early this morning. These brilliant plants are a nutritional powerhouse, being rich in B vitamins, as well as vitamins A, C and K, plus calcium, iron, potassium and phosphorus! Here is a delicious recipe which is protein rich, gluten free and super easy to make. It’s ideal for lunch, dinner, or a healthy snack. Ricotta & Silverbeet Torte Ingredients: 1 bunch silverbeet (about 450 gram leaf weight wh...en trimmed) 400 grams fresh ricotta 6 tablespoons grated parmesan 3 eggs 1 large onion 2 cloves garlic 3 tablespoons olive oil Fresh herbs such as rosemary, basil or oregano Pepper & nutmeg Method: Wash the silverbeet thoroughly. Trim the stalks. Cook the leaves in a large amount of boiling water until just done. Drain. When cool, squeeze dry & chop finely. Dice the onion & garlic finely & cook gently in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil until very soft & golden. Allow to cool. Mash the ricotta with a fork & whisk well, before adding cooled chopped onion & chopped silverbeet. Add chopped herbs, then beat in the eggs. Add 5 tablespoons parmesan & mix well. Put in a round baking tin well oiled with the remaining olive oil, & bake in a moderate oven for about 50minutes, until cooked. It will cook like a cake, rising & with the edges pulling away when it is ready. Leave to cool enough to unmould, then serve, cut into wedges. As good warm as it is cold. Enjoy! Reference: Murkies, A & Erlich R Colour Me Healthy.

09.01.2022 ~~I feel we could all benefit from some sunshine, rainbows, and fun outdoor time this weekend~~ stick to the rules, and we’ll all be ok! illustration by @hillergoodspeed

08.01.2022 ~~Feeling exhausted and overwhelmed?~~ You’re not alone. As we enter December, I’m listening to more and more people saying they are tired, anxious and not sleeping well. This year has been a year like no other, and if you are in need of some herbal support, or someone to talk to, then do get in touch. http://www.herbaceous.net.au/#section-7 I’m available for telehealth consultations Monday to Friday, and face to face appointments every Friday afternoon @pointlonsdalehealth Image via @madison.safer

07.01.2022 Spring is here....yay! illustration by @madison.safer

07.01.2022 Such a beautiful piece.

06.01.2022 ~~Home grown goodness~~ A little sample harvest from my first herb bed. These chamomile beauties have been drying for the last few days. And the rose petals are from my Mum’s garden. I can’t wait to taste test them this afternoon. Wishing you all a happy weekend.

06.01.2022 ~~I couldn’t agree more~~ image from @thefarwoods

04.01.2022 ~~Sitting with calendula and chamomile~~ a very calming way to finish the working day.

04.01.2022 ~~Meet my favourite herbs~~ Continuing on with a true herbal gem....stachys officinalis. Also known as wood betony, this beautiful herb was once truly revered as a tonic in Europe. There is an old Italian saying "you should sell your coat and buy betony." These days stachys officinalis isn't as fashionable, but at the @herbaceousgabriella dispensary, I love keeping our old herbal traditions alive. This herb is an excellent tonic and friend of the nervous system. It helps to alleviate anxiety, headache, migraine and insomnia. As you can see, stachys officinalis is a wonderful old fashioned herb which can be applied to many modern day afflictions! Photo by @rowanandsage

04.01.2022 ~~Gardening goals in action~~ we have finished building and filling three big garden beds at our new home. Now it’s time to start planting herbs, vegetables and flowers. Happy days.

04.01.2022 ~~Meet my favourite herbs~~ Hawthorn If you have driven around country Victoria, you may have seen her growing along the roadside. The distinct red berries are a visual delight. Known as "the nurse of the old heart", hawthorn (Latin name : crataegus monogyna) is a true friend of the cardiovascular system. Hawthorn increases blood supply to the heart, prevents atherosclerosis, and strengthens blood vessel walls.Herbal folklore: in the Middle Ages, hawthorn was seen as a s...ymbol of hope. It was used in the old May Day festivals for protection from evil spirits.For a calming tea for the heart and nerves, combine chamomile and hawthorn berries. Delicious! Or, you might like to check out Caroline aka The Cottage Herbalist 's Love Potion No 9.a herbal tea blend infused with love. Go to: https://www.thecottageherbalist.com.au/shop References for this post:: @southernschool Materia medica lecture notes circa 2003; and A Modern Herbal by Mrs Grieve. Beautiful photo via The Cottage Herbalist See more

03.01.2022 ~~Lessons from nature~~ Patience and resilience. This little lady was holding on for dear life in the breeze....waiting to emerge as a beautiful butterfly or moth. Zoom in to watch her in more detail. She is doing mini chin ups! Check out those tiny little feet clinging to the branch.

03.01.2022 For all the butter chicken fans out there....this recipe is DELICIOUS! It can be adapted to suit veg and vegan palates too. https://www.quirkycooking.com.au//my-best-butter-chicken/

03.01.2022 ~~Meet my favourite herbs~~Elderflower (Latin name: Sambuccus nigra), used to be called "the medicine chest of the people", as it has so many uses. According to Mrs Maude Grieve (herbal guru!), "the elder, with its flat-topped masses of creamy-white, fragrant blossoms, followed by large drooping bunches of purplish-black, juicy berries, is a familiar object in the English countryside and gardens." There is a wealth of folk lore regarding this tree, and elder was often grow...n near houses to protect against the witches. In Denmark, where the tree was intimately connected with magic, it is believed that you should never cut the wood of an elder tree without first asking the elder tree mother! The wood of the young elder tree is soft and can be hollowed out to make whistles and pipes, whereas the old wood is hard and was once used by cobblers to make nails for the soles of shoes. Parts used medicinally : flowers and berries. It is useful for conditions of catarrh (fancy word for snot!)which has a creamy colour, not dissimilar to elder flowers. Although the flowers are much prettier than snot! I regularly dispense tincture of elderflower ,and I also make batches of yarrow, elderflower and peppermint herbal infusions for people to drink during the winter months, and for spring allergies. Lastly, have you tried elderberry syrup, and elderflower champagne? Drinking the syrup of the berries helps to manage colds and flu; and during summer the fresh flowers can be added to champagne (and to mineral water if you prefer no alcohol). They look so beautiful and taste delicious! Beautiful photo via The Cottage Herbalist and text references: A Modern Herbal by Mrs M Grieve, and Herbal Medicine Materia medica lecture notes from @southernschool Circa 2003.

01.01.2022 ~~Meet my favourite herbs returns~~ I’ll be profiling some of my favourite herbs in the coming weeks. Here is one I wrote about a few years ago - the magnificent Dandelion (taraxacum officinale). Enjoy! How delightful is this picture?! Now that it is almost spring, you will see dandelions popping up everywhere. The familiar large gossamer ball (thanks Mrs M Grieve for this description) invites us to blow the seeds into the air and make a wish! Or to tell the time based on... the amount of puffs required to disperse the seeds. Herbalists call upon the root of dandelion to assist with supporting liver function, whereas the leaves have an affinity with the kidneys. The roasted roots are made into dandelion coffee which is a caffeine free alternative to actual coffee. It’s bitter aspect supports liver function and keeps the bowel functioning well, without the stimulating effect that coffee has on the nervous system. As you can see, dandelion is a true herbal friend. I dispense it on a regular basis in the Herbaceous dispensary. And I also encourage people to eat the young spring dandelion leaves, which can be added to salads. They are also delicious if you boil them, drain off the water, and add some nutmeg, garlic and lemon peel. Yum! A fine example of food as medicine. The lion image is via @handmade_apothecary via iguanamouth.tumblr.com . See more