Root & Seed
Herbal Medicine

root & seed logo surrounded by an illustrated dandelion root curling round underneath to baby leaves and a bud giving way to larger leaves, a flower stem and a seed head almost completing a circle. One dandelion seed is attached to the seed head while another floats off.

Natalie Blechner
DipHM MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

My Work | Philosophy

My favourite medicines are often those seen as weeds. The unassuming, overlooked plants that push their way up through hostile ground, sending deep roots to anchor and adapting to unnatural environments. The dandelion is a ubiquitous 'weed' and a valuable medicine, a symbol of resilience with its long tap root and prolific seeds promising to continue growing through both root and seed - it is where I draw inspiration, hence Root & Seed Herbal. 

We all have our own stories and health journeys that have brought us to the present moment. While two people may share the same diagnosis, condition or illness, each will have arrived there with their own individual history from birth, through childhood, social and economic factors, genetics and family, relationships, lifestyle, work, play and stress all contribute to how we show up in the world in health and illness. As a herbalist I build a picture of who you are and how you got here and make a bespoke medicine and / or management plan just for you.

Herbal medicine can support acute or chronic conditions and herbalists are trained to work safely alongside conventional pharmaceutical medicine.

My practice is open to everyone and I particularly welcome and create space for people who may identify as either or at any intersection of being

*Black, Indigenous, People of Colour / People of Global Majority
I recognise that there are still issues with choosing the right language or terms that are not still othering but these are currently the most commonly accepted.

An image of a dandelion plant, leaves and flowers growing through cracks in concrete between a wall and the ground. The background is peeling dark orangey paint
Nikola Johnny Mirkovic
Natalie, a mixed heritage black woman holding an overflowing basket of rosemary branches in front of a still enormous rosemary bush. Natalie is wearing a yellow hat, turquoise scarf and burgundy hoody. She is smiling at the camera.

Natalie harvesting rosemary

Consultations are available online or face to face in South East London - East Dulwich / Croydon.

I offer herb walks, herbal workshops and medicine making for community groups. 

I studied Western Herbal Medicine for six years at degree level, graduating with a distinction. Medical knowledge, pathophysiology, pharmacology and clinical diagnostic skills are integrated with traditional herbal wisdom and recent scientific knowledge or corroboration. 

I continue to further my understanding of plant medicine, diving deeper into cultural connections and keeping up to date with CPD.

I also hold a Level 3 Certificate in First Response Emergency Care (FREC 3).

I am supportive of neurodivergent folks and will do my best to meet your specific needs, from a calm space with low lighting to movement breaks, please let me know what would make you feel more comfortable any time before, during or after we meet.

I aspire to work with a decolonising and intersectional lens and recognise people from these communities may not always feel their voices are heard. I offer a safe space to bring your full self. 

I'm continually learning and unlearning in my journey of decolonising. This extends to the ethical sourcing of herbs and I increasingly grow, forage and make much of my own medicines.

A close up of a dandelion seed head with just a few last seeds clinging on at the base. The round white head is dotted where seeds were attached. Remaining seeds look like feathers. Background of luscious green clover leaves.

TESTIMONIAL

I started seeing Natalie to help me with my healing from Long Covid/CFS.

Natalie is kind, caring and considerate in her consultations and follow up's. Communications and forms were easy to fill out and accommodations were made available to suit my needs.

Time and attention was applied to understanding my condition, my other health complications and the medication I am taking to ensure herbal preparations were safe and supportive - given all that I have going on this couldn't have been easy!!!

My herbal preparations were sent out in a timely fashion and ingredients and instructions were easy to understand and follow.

I purchased a bottle of joy - which is just divine!

It's too early to offer feedback on how the herbs have helped - but I definitely have seen an improvement in my energy levels and brain fog.

Victoria, Bristol