How I came to herbal medicine and what herbs can treat

13 November 2025

Over the coming weeks I will be sharing more on what herbal medicine treats. But first I thought I’d start with how I came to herbal medicine myself, as like many people I came from a place of being unwell and using herbs to help my health.

I went through a phase of repeated problems which I struggled to manage, where medications didn’t seem to work and had negative side effects. Repeated courses of antibiotics, antihistamines for allergic reactions, steroid creams for skin eruptions, plus other medication.

I began to realise the conventional route wasn’t working for me when it came to these things, nor did it provide the deeper understanding I was looking for. A turning point came after using an immune suppressant cream prescribed for severe chronic eczema. I caught a virus a few days later – and had the worst viral infection and inflammatory reaction I’d ever experienced. Recovery took months if not years.

I felt there had to be another way to approach things and wanted to get to the bottom of it. I began a lot of reading and research and saw a nutritionist and naturopath. I started to improve my diet, drink some herbal teas and forage for local plants like wild garlic and nettle. I eventually visited a herbalist and their approach really resonated with me. They were centred on understanding my story, symptoms and bigger picture in a way that was not overly formulaic or checking off a tick list. They didn’t put me on a standard protocol. They gave me an information sheet about my condition which summarised much of what I’d been looking into for many years, but couldn’t quite get to the crux of. I finally felt like I had clarity about what was going on and had a way forward to support my symptoms with herbs which were safe and gentle, without detrimental side effects.

These experiences led me to formal training in herbal medicine with Betonica, followed by The Plant Medicine School. I completed over 500 hours within their busy student clinics, observing and seeing patients. Whilst training I underwent surgery which went badly wrong, and again I came to herbs to aid my recovery, though this is another story!

After qualifying I founded Flower & Root with the aim of offering a complimentary approach and to raise awareness of holistic approaches to healthcare. All based on what I wished I had access to at the start of my journey.

I’m now a member of the Irish Register of Herbalists a professional body for qualified herbalists. I abide by their code of conduct which ensures high standards of ethics and practice for clients, and continuing professional development.

So what does herbal medicine treat? Well many non-urgent health concerns that you might take to a primary healthcare provider can also be supported by herbal medicine and nutrition. I aim to help people with a variety of health conditions to feel better, including:

🌿 Digestive problems such as reflux, bloating, indigestion and IBS

🌿 Low mood or anxiety

🌿 Memory, focus and concentration problems

🌿 Fatigue, low energy and stress resilience

🌿 Insomnia

🌿 Heart and circulation including palpitations and high blood pressure

🌿 Infections such as cold, flu, cough

🌿 Recuperation from illness or recurring infection

🌿 Hay fever and allergies

🌿 Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions

🌿 Hormonal and reproductive health

🌿 Joint pain including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

🌿 Muscular pain, tension, injury and wounds

🌿 Skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis

🌿 Swellings or cysts

If you’re experiencing an health concern I can offer a free discovery chat to explore how I can help. Just click contact and send me a message.