The Wild Sage

20/02/2026

Thought I’d cover testicular cancer today. This is a short video but there is more online at my cancer hub on courses.thewildsage.co.uk https://youtu.be/H5J7hI_GKZc?si=kcnXV9deDgtRo-8J

Worried about testicular cancer? Learn about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and holistic support—including herbs and lifestyle tips—in this Men’s He...

18/02/2026

Thanks Wendy for this response

17/02/2026

Well said.

SHE ISN’T A W**D. SHE IS A NITROGEN ALARM.

That patch of stinging nettles emerging in the corner of your paddock or garden isn't a random invasion. It is a precise biological read-out of your soil chemistry, flagging up exactly where the land is overloaded.

The Myth: We view the Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) as an aggressive "thug" that ruins soil and crowds out delicate plants. We fight it with glyphosate and strimmers, assuming it is the enemy of a healthy ecosystem.
The Reality: Nettles don't cause bad soil; they are a symptom of it. In ecology, Urtica dioica is classified as a Nitrophilous (nitrogen-loving) and Phosphatophilous (phosphate-loving) species. It cannot thrive in poor, balanced, or undisturbed soils. When you see a dense, vigorous stand of nettles, the plant is telling you that the ground beneath it is saturated with phosphates—often from historical manure piles, over-fertilisation, sewage runoff, or decomposing organic waste.

The Scientific Reality: The Rhizome Network
The visible plant is just the tip of the iceberg.

The Underground Map: Beneath the surface, the nettle relies on a vast network of creeping yellow Rhizomes . These specialized stems allow the plant to colonise nutrient-rich patches laterally, stabilizing loose, disturbed soil (ruderal habitats).

The Phosphate Lock: Nettles are exceptionally efficient at absorbing heavy metals and excess minerals. They sequester these nutrients in their tissues. By growing rapidly in early spring, they act as a "nutrient sink," preventing nitrates from leaching into watercourses during heavy rain.

The Sting: The famous trichomes (stinging hairs) are actually hollow silica needles acting as hypodermic syringes. They inject a cocktail of histamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin. This expensive defence mechanism evolved because the plant is so nutrient-dense that, without protection, it would be grazed to extinction by herbivores.

Seasonal Context: The February Flush
Why is this relevant right now?

The First Flush: While the old stems from last year are brittle and dead, look at the base of the clump. You will see the first deep green or purple-tinged shoots of the new season emerging .

The Overwintering Nursery: This early growth is critical. The Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and Peacock (Aglais io) butterflies are currently hibernating as adults in sheds and hollow trees. When they wake up in the first warm weeks of March, they will need these specific young nettles on which to lay their eggs. The caterpillars are monophagous—they feed only on nettles. No nettles means no Peacocks.

Why This Matters Ecologically
By waging war on nettles, we are often shooting the messenger.
If you spray them, the nitrogen remains in the soil, often encouraging rank grasses or docks to take their place.
Furthermore, nettles support over 40 species of insect in the UK, including some of our most declining butterflies. A "nettle-free" countryside is a sterile countryside.

Your Action

Read the Land: Instead of just cutting them, ask why they are there. Is that corner an old compost heap? Is there runoff from a stable? The nettles are mapping the pollution for you.

Eat the Problem: The young February tips (the top 4–6 leaves) are at their culinary peak. They are packed with iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. Pick them (with gloves), steam them like spinach, or make soup. Cooking destroys the sting instantly.

The "Sacrificial" Patch: If you must clear them, leave a patch in the sunniest spot for the butterflies. Nettles in the shade are ignored by egg-laying females; they need full sun to warm the developing larvae.

The Verdict
She isn't invading for fun. She is cleaning up a mess.
The nettle is an alarm bell ringing in green.
Don't silence the alarm; fix the soil.

Scientific references & evidence
Davis, B. N. K. (1991). Insects on Nettles. (The seminal comprehensive review of the biodiversity supported by Urtica dioica).

Olsen, C. (1921). The Ecology of Urtica dioica. (Establishing the link between nitrate/phosphate concentrations and nettle vigour).

Taylor, K. (2009). Biological Flora of the British Isles: Urtica dioica L.. Journal of Ecology. (Detailed physiology of rhizomes and nutrient uptake).

Butterfly Conservation. Gardening for Butterflies. (Highlighting the necessity of sun-exposed nettles for Vanessid species).

16/02/2026

Why the System Creates Chronic Disease.

You go to the doctor with fatigue. Tests are normal. They give you a stimulant. You crash. They add an antidepressant. You gain weight, so they add a weight loss drug. Your digestion falls apart.
Five years later, you're on six medications. You're more tired than you started.

This isn't a failure. It's the design.

The system isn't built to find root causes. It's built to manage symptoms. Root causes take time. Symptoms can be managed with a pill. Pills are profitable.

So the system is designed around this: identify a symptom, prescribe a drug, add more drugs when side effects create new symptoms, repeat forever.

This is called "disease management." It's not healing. It's indefinite treatment of an ever-expanding list of problems.

And it works perfectly.....

For the pharmaceutical industry.

When you address root causes: people get better. They stop needing drugs. Revenue drops.

When you manage symptoms? People stay sick forever. They become lifelong customers.

The system doesn't want you healthy. Healthy people don't generate revenue. The system wants you chronically ill and dependent on medication.

So it creates the conditions for chronic disease. It ignores root causes. It prescribes drugs that create new problems.

Here's what addressing root causes looks like: Why are you fatigued? Is it your sleep? Your stress? Your digestion? Your blood sugar? Your hormones?

A herbalist spends an hour asking these questions. A doctor spends ten minutes and writes a prescription.

One model creates health. One model creates customers.
The system has chosen. And it's not choosing you.

If you're stuck in symptom management, that's not because your condition is incurable. It's because the system isn't designed to cure it.

The root cause is still there. It's just being ignored.
And you can address it. But you'll probably have to do it outside the system that created the problem.

16/02/2026

Herbs for mental health are just as important as herbs for physical health.

Struggling with mental health? Discover holistic strategies, herbal supports, and practical wellness tips for men in this Men’s Health Hub episode.In this vi...

14/02/2026

Ever wondered what wild seaweed can do? Nature’s remedies are often hiding in plain sight.

Seaweed is rich in minerals like iodine, supporting thyroid health and energy. It’s also packed with antioxidants that help protect your cells.

Curious how to add local plants to your daily routine? Drop by the shop or message me for a tailored herbal tip. 🌿

13/02/2026

Tallow Balm: Nature’s answer for thirsty skin.

Ever wondered why our hands feel calmer after just one application? It’s all in the blend. Our Tallow Balm brings deep hydration, soothes sensitive skin, and is made from 100% natural ingredients—nothing hidden, nothing harsh.

Curious how it feels? Pop into the shop or message us for a sample. Your skin will thank you. 🌿

12/02/2026

Cardiovascular risk factors. What if we’ve been focusing on the wrong thing?

The Framingham study shaped modern cardiovascular medicine, yet it doesn’t fully explain why serious events occur suddenly—often in people who seem “stable.” This article examines the concept of vulnerable plaque and why it changes everything about prevention.

When we view plaque as a wound that hasn’t healed properly, the role of herbal medicine, inflammation control, stress modulation, and immune support becomes strikingly clear.

For more, read the full article here:
https://bit.ly/4ts0qRD

12/02/2026

Sensitive skin deserves gentle, expert care. What makes our Neroli & Rosehip Tallow Balm different?

Handcrafted with organic tallow, neroli blossoms, and rosehip oil, this balm nourishes deeply and helps protect your skin barrier. Perfect for anyone seeking calm, radiant skin—even if you struggle with dryness or irritation.

Curious how it feels? Visit us in Greyabbey

06/02/2026

Inguinal hernia….

Curious about inguinal hernias? Discover causes, symptoms, treatment options, and natural support—including herbal and nutritional advice—in this Men’s Healt...

03/02/2026

Why Herbalists Excel at Complex, Multi-System Conditions.

You have fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, and digestive issues. You go to the doctor and then they refer you to five specialists and not all at the same time. Ofen it means yo-yoing between one specialist and a GP before you get a referral to another. One says thyroid. One says gut. One says joints. One says mental health. One says it's all in your head.

None of them communicate. None of them see you as a whole person. And few see the bigger picture.

That's the problem with conventional medicine. It's built on the assumption that your body is a collection of separate systems.

A doctor can treat your thyroid. A doctor can treat your gut. A doctor can treat your joints. But a doctor seems to struggle in treating "you".

A herbalist can.
We ask questions; spend an hour with you. Try to understand your sleep, your stress, your digestion, your energy, your mood, your relationships, your work, your history. We are looking for the root cause.

Complex conditions aren't usually caused by five different things. They're usually caused by one thing affecting multiple systems. A chronic cough? Pernicious anemia. Hashimotos? Epstein Barr Virus.

A herbalist sees this.

Herbalist's address the root cause. Not five different protocols. One protocol.

And something remarkable happens: all of your symptoms start to improve. Not because each specialist finally figured out their piece. But because the actual problem is being addressed.

Herbalists excel because we are trained to see the body as integrated, we have time, and we use whole plant medicine, which is inherently multi-system.

So if you've been to five specialists and none of them have figured it out, that's not because your condition is unsolvable. It's because the system isn't designed to solve it.

A herbalist is.

Ready to explore a different approach? Book a consultation with us at The Wild Sage.