New Moon Herbal

10/08/2026

We know cold water swimming is good for us but what does it actually do for the body?….

It improves mental health and wellbeing by:
🌊 releasing endorphins like dopamine and beta endorphins
🌊 the initial cold shock helps to reduce stress as it teaches the body to regulate stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline over time
🌊 it calms the mind, improving focus as you concentrate on breathing and movement

Activates the nervous system by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system which promotes relaxation and improves sleep.

Improves physical and cardiovascular fitness by:
🌊 using almost every major muscle group and it is low impact on the joints
🌊 exposure to cold enhances circulation
🌊 lowers systemic inflammation which helps to speed up muscle recovery

Skin and immune system support:
🌊 absorption of nourishing minerals via the skin such as magnesium, calcium and potassium (sea swimming only)
🌊 calms irritation as salt water is anti-inflammatory, can soothe eczema and acne

Boosts immunity - regular immersion increases antioxidant processes giving you more resilience to minor infections.

🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊

10/08/2026

The herbs of Corfe Castle

Holiday in Dorset done, what a brilliant place to visit, so much to do and fabulous clear water to swim in in Swanage bay. We visited Corfe Castle which you can get to from Swanage via steam train! An eerie and interesting place with amazing views, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. The castle was blown up from underground during civil unrest in the 1600s and there the walls lie where they fell often at strange angles. There were quite a few herbs surviving in the dryness of the castle grounds though including valerian, an abundance of wild oregano, ribwort plantain, nettles and pellitory of the wall. I wondered whether any of them still grew there from the people who lived there in ancient times. An interesting insight into what they may have used or just what has appeared there since? 🌱

14/07/2026

One of the things I love about a hot summer is the opportunity to go bare foot as much as possible, it’s so much cooler than wearing any sort of shoe and has many benefits as it:
🦶strengthens foot muscles and restores natural gait
🦶 improves posture
🦶 enhances balance
🦶 reduces joint strain
🦶reduces stress and inflammation
🦶regulates circadian rhythm to improve sleep
🦶 enhances circulation
🦶 helps you to absorb natural energy from the earth which neutralises free radicals
🦶 improves mental clarity and focus by increasing tactile sensory feedback

Ditch those shoes and enjoy walking as nature intended. 🌱

14/07/2026

The Plants Around Us Ep 6: Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), renowned for its lovely scent. The flowers can be used as they are anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibiotic, induce sweating (useful for cooling an overheated body in illness or menopause)and antispasmodic and expectorant for the respiratory system so useful for colds and flu. It is also a nervine which means Honeysuckle can help to support, soothe and strengthen the nervous system. 🌱

11/07/2026

Had a wonderful restoring day with Rob and Eliza, my herbal college pals, on Wednesday at the Chelsea Physic Garden. What a beautiful place full of the most amazing plants. I’ve missed sharing ideas, life, thoughts and giggles with these two. Also spotted some Belladonna whilst walking around the streets of Chelsea! 🌱

11/07/2026

Came across this lovely mint on my walk by the river this morning which is apparently horse mint (Mentha longifolia), which means long leaves but I think the flowers are the notably long part as all mints have long leaves 🧐. According to my trusty Encyclopaedia of herbs it can be used internally to aid and calm digestion (a carminative) and externally for skin problems and dandruff. We know about uses for Spearmint and Peppermint as herbalists but it’s interesting to learn about the various different forms of mint. It’s a shame that these days we mostly look everything up on the internet especially for children who may never be familiar with encyclopaedias and the wonder of flicking through and picking up knowledge along the way. 🌱

04/07/2026

Lovely views on my morning run. We are so lucky to live in this beautiful country surrounded by so much nature (and so many wonderful herbs). Get out and enjoy to boost your physical and mental wellness. 🌱

01/07/2026

Today I made some Comfrey and St John’s Wort oils. I’m concocting a herbal cycling chamois cream to protect cyclists delicate areas with the comfrey oil (anti inflammatory, great for sprains and bruises and wound healing) amongst other herbs. The St John’s Wort oil is just generally for stock as it’s such a joy to see the oil turn from yellow to a beautiful orangey red from the hypericin constituents in the flowers. It can be used for nerve pain such as sciatica and shingles as well as cuts, burns, sores, sprains, varicose veins, ulcers and sunburn. 🌞 🌱

01/07/2026

01/07/2026

Ever noticed that nettles have different seeds? Some are male and some are female. The female seeds are wonderful for kidney problems and this is how you can make sure you have the right ones. 🌱