Hedgerow Healing

Hedgerow Healing Helping animals to re-balance and flourish with holistic therapies 🌿
✨ Healing begins here!

Hi there, I’m Kirsty, at the heart of my practice is a belief in offering animals unconditional love, respect, and choice. With years of expertise and training in complementary therapies for animals, I specialise in creating personalised wellness plans for animals all around the world. I will help you understand the root cause of the problem and support you to solve it naturally with botanical self-selection (zoopharmacognosy), natural nutrition, TCM 5 element acupressure and simple management changes to bring them back in to wellness.

Spring Shedding: What's Normal, What's Not!If your animal is currently leaving fur on every surface you own… this one's ...
31/03/2026

Spring Shedding: What's Normal, What's Not!

If your animal is currently leaving fur on every surface you own… this one's for you. 🐾

In this blog I cover:
→ Why spring shedding happens (and why it can feel so dramatic)
→ How to tell the difference between normal seasonal shedding and a sign something's off
→ What Traditional Chinese Medicine says about skin, coat and seasonal transitions
→ Simple, calm holistic steps to support your animal right now
→ A full FAQ section covering the questions I hear most from clients

Whether you've got a dog who's scratching more than usual, a cat who won't stop grooming, or you're just swimming in fluff and wondering if that's okay — this blog is for you.

Link in bio 👆

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, your animal's skin and coat aren't just about grooming. They're a window into what's ha...
29/03/2026

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, your animal's skin and coat aren't just about grooming. They're a window into what's happening deeper in the body.

The skin and coat are linked to the Lung system — the Metal element — which governs the body's protective outer layer. When that layer is strong and supported, the coat tends to be steady and the skin calm. When it's under strain, you often see bigger seasonal wobbles, dryness, sensitivity, and itch.

And spring? Spring brings Wood energy. Movement. Wind. Which in TCM can show up as itch that comes and goes, flares suddenly, or shifts around the body.

So when I'm looking at a dog or cat who seems to be struggling through shedding season, I'm thinking about three things:
🍂 Metal — skin and protection
🌱 Wood — spring energy and tension
🌍 Earth — digestion and what the body can actually nourish itself with

It's not about labelling your animal. It's about making sense of the patterns you're already seeing.

I go much deeper into this in my new blog, dropping this week. 👇

Save this post and watch this space. 🌿

Spring shedding is normal. But there's a difference between your animal going through a seasonal coat shift… and their b...
22/03/2026

Spring shedding is normal. But there's a difference between your animal going through a seasonal coat shift… and their body trying to tell you something.

Here's a quick guide:
✅ NORMAL SHEDDING looks like: → More hair on the brush and bedding → Coat looking a bit dull or "in between" for a while → A little more scratching (loose hair is irritating!) → Everything else steady — eating, sleeping, mood all fine

⚠️ WORTH LOOKING INTO: → Red or inflamed skin underneath the coat → Bald patches, hotspots or scabs → Obsessive licking, chewing or scratching → Shedding alongside mood changes, restless sleep or appetite shifts
If you're seeing any of the second list — that's not something to file under "just spring." That's your animal communicating.

I'm sharing a full blog on this at the end of March, covering what to look for, what it might mean, and simple holistic steps to support your animal through the season.

💬 Which list sounds more like your animal right now? Let me know in the comments!

Hello March. 🌿Spring shedding season is officially here, and if it feels like your animal has gone into full tumbleweed ...
15/03/2026

Hello March. 🌿

Spring shedding season is officially here, and if it feels like your animal has gone into full tumbleweed mode, you're not imagining it.

Here's the thing most people don't know: it's not just temperature that triggers shedding. Day length plays a huge role too. As the light shifts, your animal's body gets the memo that winter is on its way out, and the coat starts responding.

For some animals it's a slow drift of fluff. For others it's full-on fur everywhere.

Either way, it's usually completely normal. 🙌

But how do you know when it's just spring being spring… and when something else might be going on?

👉 I've written a full blog on exactly this, dropping at the end of March.

Save this post so you don't miss it.

🐶🐱 Does your animal go full tumbleweed in spring?

Drop a 🌿 in the comments if this is your house right now!

I’ve just published a new blog exploring something we rarely talk about, but that underpins everything.Cell health.Insid...
08/03/2026

I’ve just published a new blog exploring something we rarely talk about, but that underpins everything.
Cell health.

Inside the blog I cover:
• What cells actually do in your animal’s body
�• How chronic stress affects cellular function�
• What oxidative stress really means�
• Practical, natural ways to support repair and resilience

If your animal feels “not quite right”, or you simply want to understand the foundations of long-term wellness, this is a beautiful place to start.

You can read it here 👉 https://hedgerowhealing.co.uk/blog/f/cell-health-in-dogs-cats-how-to-support-it-naturally

And if you haven’t already downloaded it, my free guide “The Truth About Stress” pairs perfectly with this.

Let me know what resonates most once you’ve read it 🌿

When people hear “cell health” they often think supplements.But most of the time, the foundations matter more.Cell suppo...
01/03/2026

When people hear “cell health” they often think supplements.

But most of the time, the foundations matter more.

Cell support looks like:
✨ Enough protein
✨ Appropriate fats
✨ Mineral-rich nourishment
✨ Hydration (especially for cats)
✨ A gut that can actually absorb nutrients
✨ A nervous system that feels safe enough to rest

You can feed a beautiful diet, but if the nervous system is constantly on guard, the body won’t prioritise repair.

Deep rest.

Predictable routines.

Gentle movement.

Choice and consent.

Small changes, repeated consistently, are often where the magic is.

If you had to pick one area to focus on right now, what would it be?

What does chronic stress do to the body?Stress isn’t just emotional.It’s biological!When an animal lives in ongoing stre...
22/02/2026

What does chronic stress do to the body?

Stress isn’t just emotional.

It’s biological!

When an animal lives in ongoing stress > poor digestion, inflammation, unresolved fear, chronic pain, unpredictable environments, the body shifts into survival mode. When in survival mode, repair gets deprioritised.

At the cellular level, that can mean:
- Higher demand for nutrients
- More inflammatory signalling
- Increased oxidative stress
- Less efficient recovery

This doesn’t mean “stress equals disease”.

Bodies are clever, protective and adaptive.

But it does mean that long-term wellness often comes back to something simple:
- Reducing daily stress withdrawals.
- Increasing gentle daily deposits.

What would reducing stress look like for your animal this week?
- More sleep?
- More predictability?
- Less overwhelm?

Small shifts matter!

The foundation most people skipIf your dog or cat feels “not quite right”….. low energy, itchy, reactive, slow to recove...
15/02/2026

The foundation most people skip

If your dog or cat feels “not quite right”….. low energy, itchy, reactive, slow to recover, we often look at behaviour, food brands, supplements, or diagnoses.

But what if we went smaller?

Right down to the level of the cell.

Your animal’s body is made of trillions of cells. Every heartbeat, every breath, every immune response, every emotion… it all starts there.

Cells create energy.
Cells repair tissue.
Cells communicate.
Cells protect boundaries.

When cells are well resourced, the whole system feels more resilient.

When they’re under strain, things can start to feel a little… off.

Sometimes supporting your animal doesn’t mean adding more.

It means going back to the foundations.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing more about how to gently support cell health in dogs and cats, in a way that feels practical and calm.

Tell me, what’s one thing you’re currently noticing in your animal? 🌿

Hello lovely humans (and animals), I’ve been a little quiet on here, not because Hedgerow Healing has gone anywhere, but...
13/02/2026

Hello lovely humans (and animals),
I’ve been a little quiet on here, not because Hedgerow Healing has gone anywhere, but because I’ve been deep in study.

Over the past 8 months I’ve been training with the College of Naturopathic Medicine. I’m now in Semester 2 of Biomedicine, and I’m really pleased to have passed my Semester 1 exam.

Semester 1 covered the foundations: cells + histology, basic genetics, and the core body systems. This semester, I’m excited to dive into the nervous, reproductive, and immune system, infections, pharmacology and lab work.

It’s taken time, energy, and a lot of brain space, but it’s been genuinely fascinating. I’m weaving what I’m learning into my holistic work so I can support animals (and their people) with even more clarity and confidence.

So… I’m back and ready to share again.

What would help most right now? Let me know in the comments below!


🎉 The wait is over!My brand‑new blog is live: “If Animals Can Self‑Medicate—Why Do They Poison Themselves?”💬 Drop “BLOG”...
13/07/2025

🎉 The wait is over!

My brand‑new blog is live: “If Animals Can Self‑Medicate—Why Do They Poison Themselves?”

💬 Drop “BLOG” if you want the direct link.�

✅ Save it for smart, informed pet care!�

“Elephants roam miles to find the clay they need to help counter dietary toxins, and birds line their nests with pungent...
06/07/2025

“Elephants roam miles to find the clay they need to help counter dietary toxins, and birds line their nests with pungent medicinal leaves and so improve their chicks’ chances of survival.” — Cindy Engel, Wild Health

These words beautifully capture a truth we often overlook. Animals instinctively seek out nature’s remedies to heal, protect, and thrive.

Whether it’s an elephant trekking for detox clay or a bird layering its nest with protective botanicals — this is nature’s medicine in action. This is zoopharmacognosy.

But here’s the catch...

Even the most instinctive healer can be thrown off when:

⚠️ Their environment is limited
⚠️ Their access to wild remedies is blocked
⚠️ Human-made toxins and processed foods interfere

That’s when our role as guardians becomes vital.

We can’t teach animals instinct — but we can support it.

By offering natural choices, clean environments, and real connection, we help them reconnect with their inner wisdom — their inner herbalist.

Nature’s wisdom is profound. But it works best when we protect and nurture it.

Inspired by Wild Health by Cindy Engel

Follow for more stories of instinctive healing

💬 Tag a friend who loves learning from animals

Ever wondered why a clever animal might still get it wrong?�1️⃣ Hunger overrides caution�2️⃣ No natural choices nearby�3...
03/07/2025

Ever wondered why a clever animal might still get it wrong?
�1️⃣ Hunger overrides caution
�2️⃣ No natural choices nearby�
3️⃣ Sweet treats mask danger
�4️⃣ Accidental exposure

�Which one surprised YOU most? Tell me below 👇

Address

Southend-on-Sea
SS13SL

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

https://linktr.ee/hedgerowhealinganimaltherapy

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