About Thyme Breaks … shortcut version…
Thyme Breaks is Me! I am a BSc (Hons) qualified Medical Herbalist and Clinical Aromatherapist, originally from Scotland and now living in the Aude, south of France.
I love nature, the mountains, the sea and particularly medicinal plants.
If you want the longer version read on…
Background
My passion in natural and complementary therapies began over 30 years ago. Initially, my interest was essential oils. Skin and respiratory reactions, to synthetic perfumes and deodorants, led me to those little bottles of heaven!
After learning massage and studying essential oils, a curiosity in medicinal plants arose. From this, I became fascinated with the very energy of the plants and the relationship of this energy to the science or chemical constituents of the plants i.e. pharmacology.
Initially, I practised as an aromatherapist and Vodder MLD practitioner. If interested in either of these therapies please visit my other website.
Following completion of my herbal degree, I expanded my clinical practice to include herbal consultations. In addition to running my therapy and herbal clinic, I spoke on herbal medicine for established clubs and groups. I ran regular herb walks and workshops. Teaching others, and being able to share my passion for medicinal plants, I particularly enjoyed. I made natural products for my patients and also to sell commercially at markets.
After moving to France, I began the Thyme Breaks blog. This started essentially as a personal collection of plant images, some personal musings, articles and some notes from various plant and herbal books and research papers. Information and knowledge I have collected over the years.
One day chatting about my pre-France life, I was asked to do a herb walk and so Thyme to Learn began…
On the Thyme Breaks Blog
A little more about the blog…
Occasionally I return to previously posted profiles and add to them if I find something further of interest. A Bibliography is included and, if I remember, I add any sources to this list.
The blog has categories and tags to aid navigation and search. Categories are fairly straightforward. Tags include interests such as magic or witchcraft or astrology, kitchen herbs or wild foraging among others.
The Medicinal Plant Finder includes a listing of some of the plants discussed on this website. Scientific and common names are included to simplify search.
In addition, there is a search facility. You can use this to search for a specific plant (Scientific or common name) or specific keyword(s) (e.g. ‘cough’ or ‘sore throat’) dependent on the information you seek.
Thyme Breaks News
Finally keep up-to-date and sign up to receive the Thyme Breaks Newsletter. There are options to sign up for information on medicinal plants, herbal courses and workshops or, should you prefer, all of them! Subscribers to the newsletter are always first to be notified of any herbal events. You can also follow Thyme Breaks on Facebook and/or Instagram.
The cheerful flower image is that of Calendula officinalis, more commonly known as marigold. One of my personal favourites from the Asteraceae (daisy/sunflower) botanical family.
In the final image, taken in Montpellier, I am standing next to a Gingko biloba tree. A long-living tree, the leaves of which have centuries of traditional use as a medicine.
Enjoy reading Thyme Breaks and perhaps we will meet on a future Thyme to Learn event.
“For every human illness, somewhere in the world there exists a plant which is the cure.”
Rudolf Steiner
