Holden Natural Health

16/02/2026

Pancake Day – 17th February 2026

Tuesday is Pancake Day in the UK (aka Shrove Tuesday), where traditionally butter, eggs and milk are used up to get ready for the 40-day fasting of Lent.

Although I don’t observe this Christian tradition, I do like to make pancakes occasionally, and as this week is half-term in many UK schools, this might be a fun thing to make with your kids – especially the chocolate version (as shown in the photo!)

Vegan Pancakes

Serves 2

Ingredients:
• ½ cup oat flour (made by grinding oat flakes to a fine flour)
• ¼ cup of ground almonds
• ¼ cup of chestnut flour
• 1 tablespoon chia Seeds
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• (optional for chocolate pancakes - 2 teaspoons chocolate powder)

• ½ cup plant milk (I used oat)
• ¼ cup coconut yogurt or coconut kefir
• 1 banana
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon of maple syrup – optional (the banana makes them sweet enough)

• Coconut oil to cook pancakes

Method:
1. Mix all dry ingredients together.
2. Place all the wet ingredients and banana in a blender and blend well until smooth.
3. Add dry ingredients and blend again until you have a thick smooth batter - (you may need to scrape down sides of blender to mix all ingredients well.)
4. Leave mix to rest for 10 minutes.
5. Put a little coconut oil in a shallow frying pan and heat until melted.
6. Pour a quarter of the pancake batter into the frying pan and cook until lightly browned and cooked on both sides.
7. Repeat until all the batter is used and serve with your favourite toppings (I used maple syrup, yogurt, blueberries, mango and raspberries!)

05/02/2026

Join us for this magical weekend. I'll be there!

https://theamh.uk/2025/12/09/amh-gathering/

11/12/2025

Are You Driving Blind or Refusing the Ride?
It is not an option to simply opt out of AI; that concept is now impossible!

The rise of Artificial Intelligence is the most significant technological shift facing modern healthcare professionals. AI is a force that already impacts your clinic, your research, and your clients whether you like it or not.

You can refuse to use AI as much as you want, but your patients will not. Furthermore, you are already using it so long as you use the internet, it is unavoidable. Whether you already use it or not, it is ultimately your responsibility to be informed enough about AI to keep both your practice and your patients safe.

This intensive, two-part workshop, led by Medical Herbalist Luke Ó hErodáin, who brings deep insight from his previous career in the technology sector, moves beyond the hype and fear to deliver the practical, ethical training you need right now.

AI is here to stay. Work with it, not for it.

This course is for the complete Luddite, the over-confident adopter, and anyone in between. By the end of this course, you will not just know about AI; you will be equipped to use it confidently, ethically, and strategically to become a more efficient and better-informed practitioner.

Find out more on our Eventbrite page:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ai-literacy-for-the-practitioner-tickets-1976009446447?aff=oddtdtcreator

16/05/2025

Wild Garlic Pesto
It’s that wonderful time of year again when the smell of Wild Garlic is filling the air on forest walks. Here’s my favourite recipe for Wild Garlic Pesto.
Ingredients:
• 2 large handfuls Wild Garlic leaves
• 160ml olive oil
• ¼ - ½ cup pine or pistachio nuts
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ¼ - ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Method:
1. Combine all the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor or high-speed blender and pulse until smooth.
2. Pour into a clean glass jar and cover top with a little olive oil to preserve.
3. Keeps for several weeks in the fridge as long as top is covered with a little oil.
4. Can also be frozen in small portion sizes.

19/07/2024

t seems almost everyone in our country is either depressed, anxious or both.

We live in a very stress filled time and society and the mainstream solution is to take a pill or talk to a therapist. Both of these approaches can work, but what if you don’t want to take an SSRI or anxiolytic medication or if orthodox therapies haven’t worked for you ?

In some cases there are other options to help restore our emotional foundations and improve our psychological state.
From a herbalist’s perspective we understand that impaired mental health is more than an imbalance of neurochemicals and in this class we will discuss the more than 14 underlying causes of depression (inflammation-induced depression, GI-based depression, blood sugar dysregulation-induced depression, hormonal depression, etc) and 11 causes of anxiety, (thyroid-induced anxiety, GI-induced anxiety, old-age induced anxiety, etc) and how mild to moderate cases can be often be effectively helped using the appropriate herbs.

The common misconception that St. Johns wort or any one herb is “the depression herb” is untrue.

David Winston will look at the specific indications of emotional dysfunction and the specific remedies to treat them in his upcoming workshop on Tuesday, July 23, at 7pm.

Link to register in our Bio.

19/07/2024

David Winston is an amazing Herbal teacher. Highly recommend his seminar for the Association of Master Herbalists next Tuesday 23rd @ 7pm. The link to book is in the post.

t seems almost everyone in our country is either depressed, anxious or both.

We live in a very stress filled time and society and the mainstream solution is to take a pill or talk to a therapist. Both of these approaches can work, but what if you don’t want to take an SSRI or anxiolytic medication or if orthodox therapies haven’t worked for you ?

In some cases there are other options to help restore our emotional foundations and improve our psychological state.
From a herbalist’s perspective we understand that impaired mental health is more than an imbalance of neurochemicals and in this class we will discuss the more than 14 underlying causes of depression (inflammation-induced depression, GI-based depression, blood sugar dysregulation-induced depression, hormonal depression, etc) and 11 causes of anxiety, (thyroid-induced anxiety, GI-induced anxiety, old-age induced anxiety, etc) and how mild to moderate cases can be often be effectively helped using the appropriate herbs.

The common misconception that St. Johns wort or any one herb is “the depression herb” is untrue.

David Winston will look at the specific indications of emotional dysfunction and the specific remedies to treat them in his upcoming workshop on Tuesday, July 23, at 7pm.

Link to register in our Bio.

24/05/2022

28/01/2021

I was feeling particularly cold one day last week, so made this delicious recipe to cheer up the chilly winter evenings:

Chilli Hot Chocolate
250ml Plant-based Milk (I used homemade Almond Milk)
½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 teaspoons Tahini
1 Medjool Date (pit removed)
1 Tablespoon Cashews
1 teaspoon Raw Cacao Powder
1 teaspoon Raw Carob Powder
¼ Chilli Powder
Pinch of Himalayan Salt (or use Celtic Salt, but not table salt)

Blend in high-speed blender for 5 minutes, or on soup setting if your blender has one . Pour into a favourite (pre-warmed) mug, curl up on a sofa with the hot steaming mug of Chilli Hot Chocolate and drink slowly, savouring every sip. Mmmmm!

07/09/2020

This was written in 1984, but I think a timely reminder for us all.

Symptoms of Inner Peace
by Saskia Davis

Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace. The hearts of a great many already have been exposed; and it is possible that people, everywhere, could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what, up to now, has been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Signs & Symptoms of Inner Peace
A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences

An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment

A loss of interest in judging other people

A loss of interest in judging self

A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others

A loss of interest in conflict

A loss of ability to worry

Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation

Contented feelings of connectedness with others & nature

Frequent attacks of smiling

An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen

An increased susceptibility to love extended by others and the uncontrollable urge to extend it

WARNING
If you have some or all of the above symptoms, be advised that your condition of inner peace may be too far advanced to be curable. If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting any of these symptoms, remain exposed only at your own risk. © 1984

02/01/2020

Happy New Year to all our Lovely Customers!🥳🤩

Super Tonic
by Kelly Holden

Many years ago, when I was training as a herbalist, Richard Schulze introduced us to his “Plague Formula”. When he was in herbal school, Dr Christopher taught a Plague Formula which was complicated and challenging to make (it also tasted awful!) I don’t remember all the herbs in the formula, but I do remember making it a couple of times after I graduated and vowing never to do it again!

Richard wanted a formula that was much less complicated and created his Plague Formula, which he later renamed “Super Tonic”. Looking back through my handwritten notes from that time, on Thursday 8th August, 1985, he gave us the following:

“Plague Formula” – antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, decongestant.

Ingredients - equal parts of the following fresh produce (1 cup of each chopped):
• Capsicum fruit
• Garlic cloves
• Ginger root
• Horseradish root
• Onions – white

Method:
1. Place in a large glass container with a tight-fitting lid (a Kilner or Mason jar is ideal – 1½ - 2 litres size).
2. Fill the jar with Apple Cider Vinegar, leaving a gap at the top to make it easy to shake the jar daily.
3. Stir the contents well and close the lid tightly.
4. Label the jar with the contents and date made, and place in a cupboard or cover with a towel to keep out the light.
5. Shake daily for 14 days and then press out and pour into dark glass bottles. Label and store in the fridge for up to 12 months.

So there you have it - Dr. Richard Schulze's famous "Cure-All"! No self-respecting germ will survive against this amazing tonic!! It is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. Has been used for everything from the common cold to plagues! Also makes a great salad dressing, when mixed with organic olive oil.

When my Sons were teenagers and still living at home, I paid them to make batches up for my shop and clinic and it was very popular, especially in the winter! We changed things up a bit by juicing the ingredients and mixing the juice with the pulp and cider vinegar to make a very potent formula! Nowadays I also add equal parts of turmeric root to make it even more powerful.

Many other people have produced this, or similar, including Rosemary Gladstar’s famous “Fire Cider”, to which she adds Honey to taste.

You can see Rosemary’s online video to watch her making her formula on YouTube.

05/03/2019

Although today is Shrove Tuesday, when traditionally pancakes were served to use up perishable ingredients before the fasting of Lent begins, these Healthy Vegan Pancakes can be served any day and are really quick and easy to make, so get your blender out and get cooking! 😋👩‍🍳👨‍🍳🍌

Quick & Easy Healthy Vegan Pancakes

Serves 2

Ingredients:
• 1 banana
• ¾ cup oat flour (made by grinding oat flakes to a fine flour)
• ¼ cup of ground almonds
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup almond milk (or your choice of plant milk)
• coconut oil to cook pancakes

Method:
1. Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend well until smooth.
2. Put a little coconut oil in a shallow frying pan and heat until melted.
3. Pour a quarter of the pancake batter into the frying pan and cook until lightly browned and cooked on both sides.
4. Repeat until all the batter is used and serve with your favourite toppings (I used maple syrup and blueberries!)

01/03/2019

Here's a delicious and tasty vegan recipe for the weekend. I created it several years ago but didn't take any photos unfortunately! Well worth making and a great dish to impress family and friends.

BAKED TEMPEH or TOFU
Serves 2-4

Ingredients:
• 1 pack of Tempeh or 1 block of firm Tofu

Marinade
• 8 cloves of crushed garlic
• 1-inch piece of peeled and finely grated ginger
• 350ml olive oil
• 50ml cider vinegar
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon of tamari or soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of Engevita Nutritional Yeast

Method
1. Blend all marinade ingredients and pour into a jug.
2. Cut tofu into ½ inch cubes or tempeh into thin slices.
3. Place in a loaf tin or similar deep container and pour marinade over to soak.
4. Cover with cling film and marinate in fridge for at least 24 hours and up to 4 days.
5. Heat oven to - Gas mark 6 / 200ºc / 400ºf.
6. Carefully lift slices out of container and lay them flat on a greased baking tray.
7. Bake in oven for 30 – 40 minutes, turning over halfway through.
8. Make a sauce of olive oil, corn/rice flour, plant milk and 2+ tablespoons of marinade.
9. Serve with steamed or roast sweet potatoes and steamed vegetables.