Health and healing have always been important to me. I started out studying pharmacology and physiology at UCL and worked in publishing on drug discovery journals. But I gradually felt disillusioned with conventional medicine and its limitations. A few positive experiences with herbal medicine led to me studying herbal medicine at Middlesex University and launching my career as a herbalist more than 15 years ago.
Plants intrigue me. Despite looking, living and growing in very different ways to people, their biology has a lot in common with us. Our lives and culture are bound to them. I think that a lot of the problems with modern life stem from growing distance between humans and plants – whether in our diet or environment. Exploring this relationship led me to studying a Masters degree in medicinal natural products and plant chemistry at UCL, and inspires me to continue learning.
For 7 years I worked as a herbal science manager at Pukka Herbs. This was a great role where I used traditional understanding and researched the latest science to make sure we were producing herbal creations that benefit health. I also planned research projects with academic departments looking at the health benefits of herbs.
When I’m not doing herbal consultations or learning more about plants, I teach students pharmacology and research skills at Betonica School of Herbal Medicine. To satisfy my passion for research in herbalism, I am an associate editor for the Journal of Herbal Medicine.