Blackrock Herbal Clinic, Cork

16/08/2025

18/05/2025

Had a lovely weekend catching up with herbal colleagues at 2025 in Wexford

11/05/2025

Crampbark (aka Guelder Rose, Viburnum opulus) draws the eye constantly at this time of the year. Along with Hawthorn (aka Whitethorn, Crataegus monogyna), I think of her as Queen of the May. Her scent pervades the air, both sweet, floral and musky. Although she attracts the most attention now, from pollinators as well as humans, it is not the time to ask if we may harvest her healing gifts. Instead sit with her and the scent alone will relax body and mind, dropping into beingness on these languid, sun-soaked days.

Bark is best harvested as the sap rises and falls, so in autumn or early spring and only by pruning, never stripping bark from the trunk or major limbs.

The inner bark of Crampbark works to relieve cramping in smooth muscles, so is equally useful for menstrual cramps, neck tension, whiplash and intestinal cramping. I use her internally in decoction and tinctures, as well as externally in creams and compresses. Gently effective, tension unwinds soon after application, leaving space in the body for healing.

04/04/2025

***TWO PLANT EVENTS THIS WEEKEND ***
On Saturday, I'm leading a family-friendly all-ages biodiversity cycle along the Marina. Meet at Central Hall Marina Park at 1030, returning there at 12. FREE

I'll be exploring the "good weeds" of the Glen River Park in Cork city this Sunday 11am -1pm, come and join us! Meet by the tiled "snake" FREE (Donations in aid of St Luke's Community Garden welcome)

Google map links in comments to aid the algorithm

25/03/2025

I was out on Saturday exploring Doman's Wood with Douglas Tiday Towns, a lovely steep wooded stream valley with bluebells and wood anemones showing up well under a canopy of oak, beech, hazel and holly. Plenty of medicinal plants in evidence too - Valerian and Meadowsweet amongst them. There was evidence of red squirrels being in residence too (look out for neatly halved hazel nuts; wood mice just chew a hole in one side). The echo have covered the event (see link)

03/03/2025

The truth is that being one with the wild is a threat to those societal structures which depend upon our disconnection from our natural, wild selves, and that those structures feed off the demonisation of our wildness (through both subtle and overt means, “research”, articles, “experts”, apparently unbiased writing, interviews, etc).

This demonisation and “othering” of nature and humans as part of nature is necessary to prevent these structures from crumbling.

So eating wild food is more, so much more than it appears on the surface. It is an attempt to embody and consume that which has the power to take down the systems which enslave all beings in a web of control and disconnection.

Foraging in reverence and respect is actually a big ‘screw you’ to the establishment. And that is why it so incredibly important to reconnect and to remember our natural ways if we are to become real, natural, free Beings-of-Nature once again.

09/12/2024

*** Clinic Christmas Hours ***

Blackrock Herbal Clinic will close at 5pm on Friday 20th December. Please submit requests for repeat prescriptions by Thursday 19th.

The clinic will reopen at 830am on Thursday 9th January.

Repeat prescriptions over the Christmas break must be submitted by Sunday 29th December and will be poured on Monday 30th December

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy, healthy and peaceful winter holiday 🌲🌺

20/10/2024

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03334-0?fbclid=IwY2xjawGCO85leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRK7SXmyVr3aVtNxa9g5q0HERwSGSj1FmDZWbw7P1DChXcFdrA4tBfNNSA_aem_YCaSMXmUURTSX59rkkPFXw

14/08/2024

Join me this Sunday 18th August for a herb "walk" around the Herb Garden in Douglas Community Park and taste some of the herbs that grow there - think digestive vinegars, cough oxymels, pates and pestos 😋 no need to book, just turn up!

14/08/2024

Sadly I have to cancel my afternoon workshop on Saturday 24th August at HydroFarm Allotments due to a clash with another event there. Anyone booked in can contact me for a refund or a change of date - 14th September and 5th October are available

Alt text: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) a white-pink composite flower with feathery green leaves - used to treat bleeding, reduce blood pressure and improve circulation

09/06/2024

Only you can decide who you feel safe with, but I aim to provide a safe therapeutic space offering herbal medicine and kinesiology where you can be yourself.

LGBTQIA+, neurodiversity, chronic illness and home education affirming.

📷 A Gay Day

I am a safe person

Coming out, navigating your day, or just needing to talk.

I am a safe person and will hold space for you.

25/04/2024

A quick reminder that I'm teaching about spring herbs (Nettle, three-cornered leek, cleavers, raspberry leaves and more) at HydroFarm Allotments this weekend. There's a few spaces available if you'd like to join in!