My journey into herbal medicine has been a rather circuitous one.

From an early age, I've been curious about the natural world with childhood memories of guzzling elderflower cordial, picking dandelion flowers and devouring blackberry and elderberry crumble - but I was more of an enthusiastic taste - tester, revelling in the delicious flavours of wild food rather than a child herbal prodigy!

At the age of 18, I studied Russian Literature and Classics at Oxford University, specialising in Russian comedy and Roman oratory - a far cry from what I do now! But it was whilst studying at Oxford that I spent two years abroad, in Russia and in South America, and serendipitously rediscovered the joy of plants. In Russia, I learnt about fermentation, learnt to become a regular at the banya, and marvelled at some of their resourceful herbal traditional remedies sold in the markets. And in South America, my conventional way of seeing disease was challenged - I learnt just how dynamic herbs really are, their huge array of applications and the imperceptible spiritual and energetic aspects of healing that many of us underplay.

The mysteries of plants were firmly imprinted in my mind, but I shrugged it off in pursuit of work, and in my mid - twenties, I suffered from mild burnout and was forced to take stock. After seeking many answers from conventional medicine, I began to feel disenchanted with the limitations of treatment.

I'd like to say it was a lightbulb moment - but it was a year of muddling through, reading and discerning between different treatment modalities before I decided to study herbal medicine more formally.

In 2017, I enrolled into the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London and studied a 4 - year Herbal Medicine and Naturopathic Medicine course in 3 years, where I became particularly interested in women's health and autoimmune diseases after seeing so many people struggle in clinic.

While I am a qualified medical herbalist and naturopathic practitioner, I'd mostly describe myself as plant and seaweed enthusiast, passionate about teaching people about wild food, and encouraging people to forge a connection with the natural world, however that looks for them.

I created Be Nutriful 4 years ago to inspire people to rediscover their relationship with what's around them, seeing the natural world with fresh eyes and a deep appreciation. The natural world is truly extraordinary.

I run foraging courses to give people the confidence to engage with wild plants, reawaken wonder and curiosity for plants that are often dismissed as 'weeds' and see their landscape through the world of the senses. And as a herbalist, my aim to encourage others to integrate accessible herbal medicine into their daily practice, to equip themselves with knowledge so that they can feel empowered to become an active participant in their healing journey.

Oxford University, Russian and Classics, 2008 - 2013

College of Naturopathic Medicine, Herbal Medicine and Naturopathic Medicine, 2017 - 2019