Episode 6

The journey to becoming a herbalist with Western herbal practitioner Helen Kearney

Published on: 9th August, 2022

Having completed a Permaculture Design course in 1997 and her diploma in 2000, Helen Kearney went on to teach Permaculture courses and helped establish LEEP (Langford Environmental Education Project). She completed her herbal medicine training in 2012 whilst working as a Forest School Practitioner. She lives at Elder Farm, a 5-acre organic off-grid herb farm, and currently helps to run The Betonica School of Herbal medicine, a community interest company founded in 2016.

Reminiscing on the moments in her life that connected and drew her to herbalism, Helen discusses the beginnings of Betonica and how it aimed to make the studying of herbalism more accessible. She lifts the lid to explain what’s involved in the rigorous training of Herbalism, how the learning can awaken the senses, and why servicing the community plays an integral part.

Helen talks on:

  • What is involved in studying Herbal Medicine.
  • Acute treatments and Herbal First Aid.
  • The progressions of Herbal Medicine training.
  • The relevance of conversation - seeking opportunities to speak about herbs.
  • Servicing the community with herbalism.
  • Integration and understanding all medical modalities.
  • Cooperation, not competition - the importance of learning together as educators.

Discover more about The Betonica School of Herbal medicine and book in with its community clinic on the website at https://www.betonica.co.uk/

Find out more about Herbal Reality on Instagram @herbal.reality or visit www.herbalreality.com 

Herbcast is produced by Decibelle Creative: @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com 


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About the Podcast

Herbcast
A voice for Herbal Medicine
Delving into the plant-powered world of herbalism.
A podcast for budding herbalist and botanical beginners alike, subscribe to the Herbcast and explore how herbs can be integrated in our every day lives.
Meet some of the world’s most renowned herbalists, here to inspire you to use herbs safely, effectively and sustainably.
Herbcast is a Decibelle Creative original podcast