Information you can trust from an experienced professional

Est. 2003


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HERBS FOR HEALTH


Want to learn about immune-boosting berries, first aid plants to ease bumps & bruises or traditional tonics to increase vitality? Herbal extracts are easy to make when you know how and some are absolutely delicious! Discover cordials, tinctures, syrups, oxymels, herbal vinegar, poultices, infused oils, ointments and much more.


HERBS FOR BEAUTY



Nature provides an abundance of plants that nourish and improve the health of the skin and hair. It’s such a joy to begin to use beautiful flowers such as roses, lavender and calendula to make your own organic skincare treatments. Learn how to make your own genuinely natural cosmetics at my classes (in Ireland and UK) or my new online course (launching in 2020). Do you have or are you developing a range of professional, natural skin or hair-care products for retail? If you'd like to learn how you can use herbs to enhance your products then I offer consultancy sessions, mentoring and specialist lessons. Contact me for details.

 

 

EDIBLE WILD PLANTS


Did you know that there are plants growing around you that are highly nutritious edible wild foods? The common daisy (Bellis perennis) contains nearly as much vitamin C as lemons. Nettles (Urtica dioica) are rich in iron, calcium and magnesium in a form that’s easily absorbed by the body. Enrich your diet and enhance your health by starting to include a few safe, edible, wild plants in your diet.


HERBS FOR A HAPPY FAMILY



Looking for and collecting wild herbs can turn a family walk in to an exciting adventure. Preparing the herbs and cooking them in to delicious drinks such as cordials is an activity that adults and children can really enjoy together. And at the end you all get to drink the fruits of your labour! A lovely way to spend quality time together, encourage the kids to engage with nature and make happy memories.

 

Why learn from Vivienne?

A LITTLE INFO ABOUT ME


There's plenty of information on the internet about herbal remedies, wild food and natural cosmetic-making but a lot of it is very unreliable! This is actually my profession, not an amateur blog or front for pushing a brand of products.

I qualified as a medical herbalist in 2003 and have worked in this ever since. I teach herbal medicine & wild food foraging. I'm also a professional natural cosmetic-formulator, consultant & teacher. I've given lectures at international conferences, talks at health shows, presented on national television, been interviewed for documentaries, written articles for journals and specialist publications etc. Over the years I've taught thousands of people. I'm a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and The Association of Foragers.
I love teaching people how to use local herbs safely, effectively and joyfully, whether you are a total beginner who simply wants to be able to make a few remedies at home in your own kitchen, or someone who wants to work with herbs professionally. The potential of working with native therapeutic plants has vast capacity to enrich our lives, prevent & repair environmental damage and improve life for everything on this planet. At a time where we are bombarded with bad news, this is something truly effective that we can all do to contribute to creating a healthy, thriving world based on respecting and caring for life in all forms. And I'm thrilled to bits that there's so much interest now! To read more click here https://theherbalhub.com/about-vivienne/

What people say about my classes, courses, talks etc.

  • "I have started to really begin to connect with plants through your course..as I go out every day to collect my nettles dandelions cleavers to make my tea....and I feel very differently now when I look out into random areas of wildness (or concrete in the city) and as all I see now is medicine everywhere and it's amazing!

    And it feels very nurturing and supportive like nature and plants have got my back. It feels very humbling."

  • Just a note to say how much I am enjoying the online course. It has been on my to-do list since I attended a day course with you ...a few years ago. Having the time to do the course was the silver lining of my recovery from back surgery in the spring. Being unable to do anything strenuous, I whiled away many hours picking leaves and flowers with a litter picker and a long handled shoe horn!
    I managed to collect and dry daisies, dandelions, nettles, selfheal, comfrey, thyme, calendula, camomile, mint, lemon balm, lemon verbena etc. I was actually blessed to be able to do all this outside my back door. Who knew what treasure was growing under my feet, unnoticed and unappreciated?!
    I am addicted to Barry's tea but have now replaced at least 4 cups a day with herbal infusions. My husband loves mint tea and my son is trying calendula tea to try to clear his skin. Now that the stove is back on for the autumn I have made my first infused oil and oxymel.
    Your course is medicine for me "a deep awareness of the gifts of the earth and of each other is medicine " .
  • "This lady is a force for green power!

    What an inspiring, energetic and contagiously enthusiastic talk.

    So grateful to be in the room."

    [Clare Robilliard, Aromatherapist

    talking about my lecture 'Using Herbs in Natural Skincare'

    for the Formula Botanica annual conference,

    2017, Covent Garden, UK]

  • “Can’t wait for next year’s additions. 

    The great thing is that you can look at all information in your own good time,

    and, you can’t get enough of a good thing!”

    Julie Stark, Scotland, 2016.

    Online course, Learn with the Seasons (herbal medicine & wild food)

  • “Thanks Vivienne, Very enjoyable and informative class.

    Looking forward to your internet classes”

    Stephanie, Herbal Medicine Class, 2015

  • “So interesting, hands-on and the spa treatments were a lovely ending.

    Vivienne is wonderful”

    Natural Cosmetic-Making Class participant, Ireland.

  • “Just finished that serum we made in your class.

    It was the best thing I ever used for my skin.

    My skin is so good now, I don’t have to use foundation any more.”

     Jana Callinan (serums, salts, scrubs and body butters class),

    Dublin, Oct 2016; Message sent in April 2017 about a class in Oct 2016

  • Cosmetics Class Participant, Ennis 2015

    “Informative, lovely atmosphere, great location, fun.

    Thank you.

    Can’t wait to get started.”

    Cosmetics Class Participant, Ennis 2015
  • Edit Varga

    "I am just sending an e-mail to you to say thank you for the 1st series of your E-course. I found it very interesting, full of useful information, easy to follow and profound in knowledge.

    And you know what? It turned out that I did not have to go further than our own garden to find all of the herbs... 

    I made Hawthorn syrup for the very first time in my life and it is delicious with ice cubes especially on a hot summer day. So thank you again and I am looking forward to the next series."

    [about 'Learn with the Seasons':

    my online herbal medicine and wild food course,

    from June 2015]

    Edit Varga
    Reflexologist
  • Kathy Locke

    "You've given us SO MUCH useful info in such a good, clear form.

    Your course is excellent!"

    Online course student

    Kathy Locke
    Online course student
  • Catherine Gallagher

    "I know I've said it already, but I'm in heaven with this course! Best thing I ever did.

    You're so enthusiastic yourself and so generous with your time and knowledge.

    It's great that people from around the world can access it too."

    [about 'Learn with the Seasons':

    my online herbal medicine and wild food course,

    from June 2015]

    Catherine Gallagher
    Teacher

Fields, woods, gardens, towns, cities, parks & coastline....

These areas are full of medicinal & edible plants

which you can learn to use simply and joyfully.

You just need a guide to show you how.

Change the way you see the landscape forever

Fall in love with your surroundings

Join me today