Botanical Bloomhill

“I was in the middle before I knew I had begun” ~ Jane Austen

It’s funny, because I’ve always built things up in my head, put new ideas on a pedestal, daydreamed about what the first day of starting would feel like, waited till everything was perfect before I executed, so that the moment of beginning would then be “perfect.” I’ve always done so much preparation, that for the most part, it’s stopped me from even starting.

And now I’ve started something, but I can’t quite put my finger on the moment it started and it seems I’m already in the middle of it.

I can’t quite put my finger on the moment I fell in love with my husband, but before I knew it, I was in love and very much in the middle of a life that we’d now do together.

I can’t quite put my finger on the moment I became a mother, you’d think it was when I gave birth, but I’ll tell you, it wasn’t. It was months down the line.. or maybe the moment my baby was conceived.

What I’m trying to say is, beginnings are not tangible. Neither are endings. We have no idea when it will be the “last time” we did x y z

When you’re not anticipating beginnings and endings, you are present, and then you wake up one day rather astounded by where you are, what you’ve done, and who you’re with.

CHRONIC STRESS (elevated cortisol levels over a prolonged period of time) have been shown to: ➡️increase adrenal androgens - a hormone that causes sebaceous hyperplasia (the oil glands in your skin get bigger) which leads to acne. ➡️the HPA axis, which is heavily impacted by emotional stress, signals increased levels of cortisol production, which leads to acne. ➡️CRH, another hormone linked to the HPA axis, is also activated in response to stress, and it increases sebum production (your oil glands to produce more oil!) which leads to acne. ❌These are just a few ways that stress / unprocessed emotions / trauma (post or present) lead to SKIN ISSUES. Therefore, our STRATEGY in treating acne, or any skin issue, has to take into account STRESS and the nervous system if it is to be effective; some of my favourite NERVINE HERBS are: ✅passion flower (passiflora incarnate) ✅motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) ✅oat straw (avena sativa) ✅lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) ✅lavender (lavendula angustifolia) ✅California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) ✅skull cap (Scutellaria lateriflora) 🌿My preference for taking herbs for the skin is through at INFUSION (a strong, steeped herbal tea) and in this video I’ve made an infusion of lavender, motherwort and oats straw to drink throughout the day. CONSISTENCY is key with herbs. Once a week won’t do anything. 💫Supporting the liver, lymphatic system and digestive system are key in healing acne. There are wonderful herbs to do this - dandelion, burdock, red clover, cleavers, nettles… to name a few. 💫But if you’re focusing on these aspects and still not seeing improvement, it’s most likely because your skin issues are linked to stress and dysregulated nervous system.

🐯My son is big big energy and when he wakes up, he wants to conquer the day. Although I’m a big advocate for sitting down and eating your food mindfully… this little guy is on the go, and breakfast has gotta come with. He loves something he can hold onto easily and munch while he’s busy being busy - that’s usually in the shape of a pancake or a muffin! ✅So I try to make everything as nutritious and gut loving as possible whilst maintaining the yummy levels or it just won’t cut it: 🥧Almond Cinnamon Muffins: Dry ingredients: 1 Cup almond flour 2 tbsp ground flaxseeds 1 tbsp coconut sugar 3 tsp cinnamon powder Pinch of sea salt 2 tbsp oat flour or blended ground oats (normal flour works too) Wet ingredients: 1 organic egg 2 tbsp melted ghee or coconut oil 1 cup almond milk 1 tbsp Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt (instead of baking soda to help the muffins rise) Mix everything together and bake for 20-30 minutes at 240 degrees Celsius. Top off with some chai spiced ghee (from @aluaghee) or almond butter or normal butter! ✅try to get organic almonds or organic almond flour if possible as these delicious nuts are unfortunately heavily sprayed. Almonds: amazing source of protein, fibre, magnesium, vitamin E, folate, feeds the gut microbes, strengthening the good guys. Cinnamon: helps regulate blood sugar levels, improves digestion, provides antioxidants. Ghee: contains fatty acids that feed the gut microbes responsible for maintaining the delicate gut lining Egg: good source of protein Flaxseeds: amazing source of fibre, acts as a gentle bulk laxative to support bowel elimination, helps balance hormones, high in omega-3s

A note to my 19 year old self… “Don’t let uncertainty scare you, you’re right on track”🤎

At 19, modelling, using accutane to keep my skin clear, antidepressants to just get through every day life, struggling with disordered eating and gut issues, unable to see a way out, terrified of “exposing” myself and what was actually going on - disempowered by my environment and pharmaceuticals.

At 21, stepping away from all medication, severely depressed about the state of my skin but had the tools to cope (mindfulness, yoga, family support etc…). Didn’t step out the house. Ashamed. But Brave. Determined that my body could heal. Scared but persistent. A change in diet, a change in mind, a change in living. Going back to earth medicine. Back to our roots. Unveiling past traumas. Deprogramming. Rewiring.

At 24, a mom, glowing skin, healthy relationship with my body and food - a relationship I don’t even think about because it comes so naturally. No more chronic symptoms. Still eat clean but much more relaxed. In love, with myself. My life. Because I didn’t give up. And the path I chose wasn’t easy. But being sick and dependent on medication was worse.

There is light, there is light. You hold the power. Step away and step in. “Perhaps you haven’t been buried but rather planted. Bloom.”

In a world that makes slowing down feel like falling behind, that makes presence feel like missing out, in a world that’s onto the next big thing, in a world that has you wanting more, more, and more. Becoming a mother can feel like resistance, turning against the man-made clock, lagging behind as the world moves ahead.

I stop and I remind myself, that my clock is nature, that with the seasons I will flow, that the work I do is sacred and the balance that this world so desperately needs - kind, loving, compassionate souls that live with open hearts, open eyes and open arms, with secure attachments and no room for fear. When I leave this place, I want to say I gave it my all. That I was the woman they needed.

Autumn dreamscape 🍂🤎

“This season of you has passed. The wind whispers ‘I am free to fall in different ways’”

Just as the leaves began to take on their burnt orange hue, I became a mother. My son was born. And I was born too. I’m not sure there’s anything that can quite prepare you for that transition - from Maiden to Mother.

It’s a lot, and it happens instantly. No gradual change, no slow introduction. I’ve always wanted children; but even in myself, I have found resistance to this new way of being. It is the greatest change of your life. And change is uncomfortable, I remind myself. So I grieve what I have let go of, to make room for what is.

And what is, is otherworldly. A love I have never known. And an opportunity to come back to mySELF every single moment. To shed the layers that truly, do not serve me. To be present. To be selfless, to be humbled and deeply empowered. To put everything I have ever learnt into practice and to learn again. This is my Dharma. So if I’ve been a little absent on here, it is because I am still navigating these new waters. Holding space for myself and my family.

Sending so much love to you all, wishing you ease and flow as the seasons change.

Raw Plant-based Carrot Cake 🥕

Details:

1 C of shredded carrots or carrot juice pulp (about 4 large carrots in total)
3 tbsp blended rolled oats
2 tbsp coconut flour (or almond flour)
4 pitted medjool dates
Handful of walnuts (or almonds)
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp ginger powder (or a thumb of grated fresh ginger)
Pinch of ground clove
3 tbsp melted coconut oil
Splash of oat milk

Blitz the medjool dates and walnuts in a food processor. Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Combine everything well. The mixture should not be runny. It should be a little crumblely but moist enough to stick together when rolled in hands.

I lined a bread tin with parchment paper and pressed the mixture in with a spoon. The parchment makes for easy removal as you can just pick it up out of the bread tin.

For the frosting, I mixed 2 tbsp of melted coconut oil, 1 tbsp maple syrup, 3 tbsp coconut yogurt (or coconut cream), juice from half a lemon. Mix well until a creamy texture has formed. A tbsp of tahini is great addition to this frosting as well but is optional.

Pour frosting on top of base and set in the fridge for an hour or so. Keep stored in fridge and enjoy as a snack, desert or even as breakfast like I did this morning lol.

“Wellness has no formula. It is not about preforming or pretending. It’s a messy, disgusting, awe inspiring journey to hell and back”

Happy world health day ♥️ words that speak by ~ swipe to be moved ♥️

Herbs for Acne

In Herbal Medicine, skin disease is often treated with "blood cleansers" or "blood purifying" herbs. This is based on the understanding that where there is skin disease, there is an accumulation of toxins in the body + the eliminatory pathways are not functioning as they should.

Herbs help bring the body back into balance, igniting the body's ability to heal itself.

Herbal Depuratives (cleansing herbs) I love:
•Burdock root
•Yellow dock root
•Cleavers
•Nettle
•Red Clover

These herbs can be consumed in a infusion/decoction/tincture. An infusion is used for soft plant matter (leaves) and a decoction is used for hard plant matter (roots). View my Acne highlights to see how I use some of these herbs daily for clear skin.

I think there's something incredibly empowering about knowing that your health is very much in your control, that not everything is "genetic" and that your body truly holds the ability to heal itself.

Sometimes it just needs a little helping hand, the right tools to set it on its path again.

And what's pretty cool is, these tools don't require tons of money - just a little prioritising and willpower.

🥑Getting out in nature more.
🥑Eating foods made by the earth, not man.
🥑Moving your body daily.
🥑Sweating.
🥑Taking cold showers.
🥑Exposing yourself to sunlight.
🥑Surrounding yourself with good people.
🥑Hugging harder and longer.
🥑Crying, laughing, singing.
🥑Having great s*x.
🥑Drinking plenty water.
🥑Getting 7 to 8 hrs of sleep.
🥑Surrendering to your healing journey and enjoying the process of discovery.

I could go on and on 🍋

You hold the power, your body has always had your back, it never abandoned you, its time to stop abondaning it.