Category Archives: Approach to healing

Writing about how I treat patients with herbs and what patients can do to help themselves

Cramp Bark Harvest

Posted on Tuesday, 5 January, 2016 by donaldpurves

I have a Cramp Bark bush in my back garden.  This plant is otherwise known as Guelder Rose or Viburnum opulus.  It has palmate leaves a little like sycamore but is, in fact, related to the Elder bush, Sambucus nigra … Continue reading →

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The pros and cons of Frequently Asked Questions

Posted on Saturday, 14 February, 2015 by donaldpurves

When I first started looking at the internet, which was later than some and earlier than others, I naively thought that the Frequently Asked Questions (or FAQ) on websites was literally that, the most frequent questions people ask.  How wrong … Continue reading →

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A liverish week…

Posted on Tuesday, 23 September, 2014 by donaldpurves

Had a patient the other week where I thought – “you need some dried dandelion roots for your liver, to boil up with other herbs.” But – conniptions – none in stock! Fairly frantic digging on my (chemical free) allotment, … Continue reading →

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Lesley and Michael Tierra in UK

Posted on Thursday, 15 May, 2014 by donaldpurves

URHP AGM I’ll be going to the Unified Register of Herbal Practitioners AGM and Conference (link above) in Warwickshire from 20-22 June 2014.  Promises to be a good weekend with Lesley and Michael Tierra on tongue and pulse diagnosis.

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Torpor, congestion and what to do about it

Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2012 by donaldpurves

I’ve just been to an inspiring professional conference of the URHP.  It was an encouraging get-together of practising herbalists not least because my presentation on lessons learned from patients over 20+ years in practice was well received!  The highlight of … Continue reading →

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Hearty Medicine in May

Posted on Tuesday, 15 May, 2012 by donaldpurves

Now that I am (temporarily) off the treadmill of University lecturing and clinical supervision, I had a rare cycle ride along the Leeds-Liverpool canal yesterday and found the perfect Hawthorn tree in full bloom. Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna and Crataegus laevigata) … Continue reading →

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Peach buds!

Posted on Tuesday, 28 February, 2012 by donaldpurves

Ooh exciting!  My little peach tree is well in bud with both leaves and flowers. The leaves I use as a sour, bitter refrigerant, useful in fevers etc.  You only need a tiny amount and in fact I still have … Continue reading →

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Athelas

Posted on Wednesday, 15 February, 2012 by donaldpurves

I am just re-reading The Lord of the Rings and have hit on the chapter called “The Houses of the Healing”.  Three important characters are mortally ill from their wounds after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.  These wounds are … Continue reading →

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Fear is the key

Posted on Monday, 5 September, 2011 by donaldpurves

Is fear the key to why we get ill? We are surrounded by more stimuli than we can possibly control or assimilate. At a certain point your whole organism says, stop that is enough. Depending on your background history, medical, … Continue reading →

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Addition of thesis on Tree Remedies

Posted on Tuesday, 8 March, 2011 by donaldpurves

I have uploaded my MSc thesis on Tree Remedies which I did for the legendary Scottish School of Herbal Medicine (may it rest in peace) in 2003. https://wildindigoherbal.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/sshm-thesis.pdf My initial question was “is there a difference between tree remedies and … Continue reading →

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