Upton St Leonards WI: With speaker Caroline Sheldrick, Medical Herbalist
SINCE time immemorial flowers and herbs have been used down through the ages for their healing, calming and medicinal properties.
Our speaker Caroline Sheldrick, Medical Herbalist, from France Lynch near Stroud, gave a stimulating and interesting talk on this subject saying universally we all love flowers for their colours, fragrances, as a ‘thank you’ to friends; giving us a sense of well being, a déjà vu experience against all the stresses and strains we encounter daily.
In beauty, joy and sorrow, flowers reflect healing, a symbol of life, from the cherry blossom festivals in Japan to the pageantry of Spalding flower festivals, Keukenhof display gardens in Holland, not forgetting our own gardens and the natural wild flowers of our ancient hedgerows and fields where insects, butterflies and bees seek out the nectar, pollinating the flowers, producing honey for us to eat.
Connecting to nature is essential for us all.
Our speaker said all members undergo a rigorous four year training following strict professional code of ethics with MNIMH or FNIMH after their names.
Lavandula officinalis, lavender, or rosemary, herbs brought over by the Romans could be planted near the house or along pathways for their fragrance to waft in the breeze, even near washing lines to help air the scented clothes.
Favourites, jasmine and roses were discovered by the Persians over 2,000 years ago and their essential oils are used in all the top fragrance houses around the world.
Psalm 51 mentions “Purge me with HYSSOP, and I shall be clean”.
Yes, flowers and herbs have always been with us, let us delight in their fragrances of healing and balm effect on our busy daily lives.
Caroline holds clinics at Stroud, Nailsworth and Cirencester making her own herbal creams, oils and tinctures, this fragrant talk was well received by our ladies with an appropriate vote of thanks from Marlene.
On Friday, April 8, we hosted our “Fashion Show”, as eight beautifully turned out models ‘strutted’ down the cat walk modelling Bon Marche clothes just like Kate Moss.
Our enthusiastic audience were spell bound as we faced them from all corners of the room; laughter and fun followed this fantastic evening, watch this space for more to come.
We welcomed Christine Whiting as a visitor and hope she comes again.
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