A ray of hope for January ‘Blues’; Case study Treatments & Special Offer

Following a ‘Blue’ themed party at a friend’s house on Saturday, to cheer us up from ‘Winter Blues’ l am adding my very own Seasonal speciality; a Special Offer for all those who felt the pinch a week ago, on the unpleasantly titled ‘Blue Monday’, as it was deemed the day which many may have abandoned their health aims & left their New year’s resolutions by the wayside…

This time of year is ideal for beginning our own, personal challenges to conquor and to find some assistance to assist us in these, where necessary.

Recent Case Study: I have spoken to 2 patients in both my Central and South London Clinics, who wish to have just that; support during times of their lives when their health issues are really crying out to be addressed and can be ignored no longer. Both had been prescribed medications through conventional means, though neither had proved effective.

A 1 hr consultation each later and both patients feel satisfied to accept the Naturopathic approach to their Treatment Plans complete with wholesome, easy to follow, individualized recipes sent to them post-session by email.

A new beginning could be just what the doctor ordered & if this is timely & relevant reminder for you, please take advantage of our Special Offer for January 2015.

An initial Naturopathic Nutrition Consultation for 1hr at either my Central or South London Clinic for the price of £64.00 (* 20% saving on standard clinic fees) (90 mins appts by practitioner discretion)

Home Visits from £50.00 (within London)

FREE 15 min consultation available NOW! 

For further details and appointments, please contact the clinics directly, or myself via email or phone (or message me on my blog here)

Friday and Saturday afternoons http://www.healthwisetherapy.com/

Weekdays (Mainly available Wednesday) www.londonnatural.co.uk

Alternatively, visit my main website www.kitchenbuddy.eu for all other routes of inquiry.

** Sessions may vary in length and duration, depending upon the individual medical & symptomatic conditions treated and assessed.

DISCLAIMER 

This information is for guidance only and is not to replace medical appts or advice. This therapeutic approach is unable by regulation, to claim to treat or lay claims to ‘cure’ any diagnosed or undiagnosed disease or condition.

Theresa Webb BA Dip NT. has enjoyed enabling many patients to experience better health through Naturopathic Nutrition appts for over 6 years and qualified from College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2013. She has attended several clinics and also works from home visits, out of regular clinic hours.

Contact experienced Nutritionist Theresa for a non-obligation FREE 15 min consult now! 

Medicinal plants wild food foraging Walk

The morning was wet but fortunately, the rain did not dampen our spirits and it stopped as soon as the group gathered at the station :). Our group comprised of G, an author & old ecologist friend. We’d first (& last met) in Switzerland circa 1991! After 22 yrs+ he’d trekked over to be part of our local foray. At the time, we’d briefly shared our mutual nature interests but hadn’t really had an opportunity to meet before now. He’d also travelled the furthest away, other than M & B, a young Czech couple! Add to this, S, a new local, completed our group.

Walking along the Embankment with our identification books, sheets and info, we found Cleavers (Galium aparine) for detoxing the Lymph and Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris)  for its leaves & white flowers. We collected Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) and Elderflowers at the station and then, garlic \ hedge mustard from the community garden. Wild Food foraging rules: leave 2\3 of a plant intact, to continue to grow, so to pick carefully. Stay clear of anything suspicious or poisonous (Hemlock…) and to only collect from the healthiest parts of the plant.  Throughout the year, different species bloom and become more edible, so there is something usually at many times of the year. After a heavy week of rain, the cow parsley had bloomed early and gone to seed in some places and it is not unusual to find a rotation during the Spring\Summer\Autumn months. When one plant finishes it’s main season for leaves and stems, another is still present.

We took off along the route towards Mansfield park, admiring the neighbour’s broad beans & spiky artichoke plants  and then to a small patch of Chickweed (Stellara media) by the roadside which we did not collect from but noted for later. Another neighbour’s garden contained a Strawberry tree (Arbutus) yet unripe and on private land.

Shepherd’s purse and plantain (Plantago major) were in the former hospital site where the residential block is now situated. At the park, we found cherries ripening, Hawthorn (good for the heart; for love and to support cardiovascular concerns). The area is rich in diverse wildlife;  there is a pair of Mistle Thrushes, Goldfinches and long-tailed tits. There is another small patch of Chickweed (topical uses inc. for skin conditions) towards the Brownhill Rd entrance\exit by brambles for blackberries in the late summer \ autumn and more hawthorns. The chickweed makes a light, refreshing salad leaf.  Dandelions (Taxonomia) have a bitter flavour but are used in herbal medicine to support the kidneys as a diruetic. We walked around the perimeter and along a natural pathway found nettles (Urtica dioica) for iron, magnesium which helps female hormone balance and strengthens the immune system, elder flower, alkanet (prickly but with small, pretty deep blue flowers), jack-by-the-hedge (hedge mustard) and a variety from the rocket family. Along the back section by the ornate metal gate, there is a large Burdock and a few Mallows not yet in bloom (their soothing properties make them ideal for digestive and stomach settling purposes). Their pink, slightly floppy flowers, taste deliciously light, sweet and soothing.

Further along at the bottom\back of the perimeter is Yarrow (Achillae millefolium) which is used as a blood clotting agent, to prevent bleeding. It was used during the war (WW1 and earlier) to heal soldier’s wounds and to stem the bleeding. It is a long, green, feathery leaf, with a fronds texture.  Finally, we collected young, green, lime leaves from the trees bordering the edge of the woodland at the back, for canapes.  Then we took all our collection back up to St Swithun’s Church on Hither Green Lane.

Medicinal Plant Menu

Fresh Nettle Tea, Wild pesto, Courgette & Lime leaf Canapes, Mixed leaf salad, followed by Chocolate Orange Cream with Strawberries.

Others in the church came up to view our lunch and expressed great interest in the benefits to these foods.

We made a refreshing Elderflower water from immersing freshly picked elderflowers into a pot of water and the results were delicious.

“I was surprised how quickly a few elder flowers could flavour a glass of water so well and make it look so appealing!” G.Down

Serves 6 glasses

Ingredients

4-5 clusters of Elderflower blossom

1 pt fresh water

2 slices of fresh ginger, grated or chopped

 

Method

1. Immerse the flowers on the stems in a container of water eg.a jug for half hr min.

2. Add the ginger pieces.

3. Serve into wine glasses. The flowers may fall into the glass but are harmless & edible.

4. Refill the container with fresh water and replace the stems once again, to produce another batch for later.

5. Stems may be used for up to 2-3 times.

Lime Leaf & Courgette Canapes with Wild Pesto Dressing

Wild Food & Medicinal Forage Walk Participant responses:

“I did feel enlivened this morning, and I’d like to think yesterdays diet helped with that! Evidently works for you! I am certainly going to try and work some wild foods into my diet now 🙂 ” G.D.

Cleansing with Cleavers: A Fresh Springtime Tonic

This morning I went out locally to collect the first batch of fresh, wild Cleavers and Chickweed of 2014.

These are plentiful and will become more so as Spring progresses into Summer.

To make a Springtime Tonic; simmer the sticky-hairy leaves & Cleavers stems in water for 5 mins to make a tea for cleansing out internally.

Supports and assists the Lymphatic system by (ridding of mucus etc) as it is shaped like a chimney-sweep brush! (Doctrine of Signatures).

Chickweed is a lighter textured leaf and more suited to eating directly eg in fresh salads. Chop or tear into small pieces and add into your favourite salad vegetables. Their small white flowers are budding and both plants can be gathered to grow back again shortly, so collect wisely and leave plenty (2\3) to continue to grow.

 

Superfoods for Super Health Workshop Neals Yard Remedies

Here are details about an event I’m running in conjuction with Neal’s Yard Remedies.

 

For an optimistic approach to life, a botanical approach to stress and sleeping better.

Please circulate or forward to anyone who may be interested to attend.

 

                                              WAKE UP FROM YOUR WINTER SLUMBER!

Neal’s Yard Remedies in Blackheath and Nutritional Therapist Theresa Webb BA.Dip.NT invite you to a delicious workshop on

                                                  SUPER FOODS FOR SUPER HEALTH

You will find out what they are and how they can make you feel more relaxed, more alive. We will show you how to blend them with Omega oils, herbs,  fruit and veggie juices into delicious smoothies. In no time those healthy drinks could become a part of your daily routine. Why not combat fatigue and stress in a tasty way.

The workshop will take place at Neal’s Yard Remedies At 32 Blackheath village, Blackheath SE3 9SY

on Wednesday the 2nd of April 6.30 pm – 8.30pm

Cost: £10.00

We will offer 20% discount on all NYR products on that evening so it is a great chance to stock up on your favourites.

Booking on 0208 318 66 55

Visit. http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/blackheath-store

Chelsea Fringe Foraging Walks

For Foraging enthusiasts everywhere: I am planning 2 walks this Spring as part of the Chelsea Fringe festival, details to be online soon.

They Include learning about up to a dozen edible species, with recipes and tuition in a shared meal.

Dates: Saturday May 25th and Sunday June 2nd 

Prices Adults £11.00. Children go FREE.

 

Wild Food Foraging Walk

http://ourhithergreen.com/events/forage-walk/ My first group outing this year includes the following: A 2 hr guided walk through a local nature reserve and woodland as part of ‘Hither Green Week’. The collection of wild foods: Identify and taste local wild herb varieties and learn about their culinary and medicinal uses in salads, teas and tinctures. For old and new ecology, environment and nature lovers. Suitable for all ages. Complete beginners and current foragers welcome. We’ll discover the edible plants that this hidden haven has to offer. This outing combines the insights gained from personal, private and public tours which is made possible with thanks to: Effat (Iranian Wild Food expert), Rob Hull (Funky Raw) and Tim the ‘Wiltshire Wizard’ amongst others, inc my flora and fauna loving parents to whom I owe my early interest in science and medicine 🙂 me out to play