Patient Testimonial: Stress, Depression, Menopause, Inflammation, Joint Pain, Anxiety, Memory Problems & Fatigue

“Having reached a point in my life where I was merely existing as one ball of inflammation and stress, with both my physical and mental health struggling to the point of not being able to get the basics done let alone any other kind of life, and having tried the modern medicine route to always come back to the same point, looking at Jonny’s website felt like the light at the end of the tunnel, and that was before I even contacted him to see whether he would work with me to try and fix myself. Luckily for me, after our initial interview, that light felt a lot nearer when Jonny said he was happy to work with me towards my recovery.

During those first weeks of treatment, Jonny prescribed a herbal prescription which made a huge difference to my physical health, but he also opened my eyes to the way I had been living my life up until then, and how my lifestyle was having a very negative effect on my physical and mental health. The whole process opened my eyes to what habits etc were not serving me, recommended tools and suggested possible new habits that I could use to improve my lifestyle, but mostly he made me aware that I needed to take stock of my life, change my habits forever and committing to constantly improving my way of life would be the only way of ensuring that I never go back to how I was. He suggested a “sleepy tea” that I could use when my middle-of-the-night-brain wouldn’t let me go back to sleep, as well as a “lung tea” that helps with my chronic respiratory issues. As the weeks passed, Jonny tweaked my prescription as various physical and mental elements changed with the treatment. Even though I was aware that herbs could help with different medical issues and had done so for centuries, I am now in awe of how powerful herbs are.

I know I still have work to do on myself, looking back to where I was 6 months ago I feel like I am well on my way. My close family are amazed at the “new” me and how much of a changed person I have become over the past few months. The inflammation has disappeared, my gut has improved significantly and so has my skin problems. I’m glad that I decided to invest in my own health in this way as it has been worth every penny. I now look at Jonny as my first point of contact when it comes to anything to do with my physical and mental health – he is a very educated and learned person, who has reached where he is today whilst fixing himself, and that gives me confidence in his advice and guidance.

I am grateful to Jonny for what he has done for me and I am grateful to myself for having the courage to reach out for his help, and for making myself a priority. Thank you Jonny – I hope you know how grateful I am to you for giving me back my life. Diolch”

Megan Allport (Wales - UK)

This patient completed my 3 month Pattern Transformation package.

At the start of treatment this patient filled in my symptom questionnaire sheet. This asks patient’s to score their symptoms from 0-10 in terms of how debilitating they feel.

The patient scored 88 at the start of the program. Dropping to 10 at the end of the program. A decrease of 88.6%.

Megan was severely exhausted, depressed, anxious and stressed. Her body was suffering inflammatory joint pains and her digestion was completely off balance. Our focus on treatment was not only providing herbs that calmed her stress response but giving her the tools and awareness as to how her life had become chaotic. Many of our calls included conversations about the behavioural dynamics of her life and how to properly untangle them so that she could live a more authentic way with far more balanced human interactions.

Jonny Woodall
Medical Herbalist and Flower Essence Therapist
BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine
National Institute of Medical Herbalists

Contact me for help with your health problems and illness

PHONE: +44(0) 7525827558

EMAIL: jonnyapothecary@gmail.com

Patient Testimonial: Depression, Anxiety, Memory Loss, Poor Concentration and Chronic Pain

“I contacted Jonny after being diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I was also suffering from memory loss, poor concentration and other pain issues. I didn’t want to go down the usual medication route as I felt a holistic approach would be better for me. I had been suffering on and off for years but had never been able to get rid of symptoms fully through the usual doctor, pharmaceutical medication and counselling that is offered.

I had my first initial consultation with Jonny, during this he was very helpful and understanding, he explained packages, prices and what would happen during our meetings, Jonny asked me some questions regarding my health and from there on this profound and deeply healing journey begun.

Jonny sent tinctures to me which I started straight away. These tinctures were very powerful with assisting me to heal core wounds which I hadn’t previously been aware of, these tinctures along side Jonny’s scheduled calls have changed me on such a level that I now feel like a new person. I have healed parts of me which I did not believe would be possible.

I can not thank Jonny enough for the support, kindness and understanding given whilst embarking on the 3 month transformational package, I can now say that I do not have symptoms of depression, I feel happy and settled in life.

Thank you so much!!”

Aimee (UK)

This patient completed my 3 month Pattern Transformation package.

At the start of the program Aimee filled in my symptom questionnaire sheet. This asks patient’s to score their symptoms from 0-10 in terms of how debilitating they feel.

Aimee scored 120 at the start of the program. Dropping to 10 at the end of the 3 months. A decrease of 92%.

Aimee contacted me with a good awareness of the factors that were involved in her mental and cognitive health problems but was struggling to find a way out. She responded very quickly to the medicine which was at first working too fast and causing some turbulence with the changes the medicine was helping to bring in. Aimee called on the extra support offered in the Pattern Transformation package and further herbs helped her body transition into a healthier state of balance. Her mental health improved significantly within the first month of treatment and has been sustained ever since.

Jonny Woodall
Medical Herbalist and Flower Essence Therapist
BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine
National Institute of Medical Herbalists

Contact me for help with your health problems and illness

PHONE: +44(0) 7525827558

EMAIL: jonnyapothecary@gmail.com

Patient Testimonial: Hypothyroidism, Stress, Headaches, Anxiety & Depression

“I had been considering using a herbalist for some time when I stumbled across an article Jonny had written in a herb magazine. It was a case study which could have been written about me. I took it as a sign and got in touch.

I had been suffering with stress, anxiety and depression for years. I couldn’t remember ever having had a good nights sleep, I was having severe headaches several times a week, my memory was terrible which became a running joke at work. I was desperate to get better!
Jonny was completely open with me about what to expect and the costs etc. I am a single parent and this was a lot of money for me. I rationalised that I couldn’t put a price on my health and it’s an investment in my future. Besides that, I’d spent a lot more on counsellors in the past and had always fallen back into the same destructive cycles.

I was completely honest with Jonny, I gave him all the information I could think of to give him a clear view of my background and any symptoms I had, big or small. I started my treatment programme just before Christmas. I followed Jonny’s instructions to the letter, taking my tincture, teas and herbal baths. I began to slowly unwind from the inside. My sleep improved, I was calmer, more able to deal with difficult situations. My headaches have gone completely now, which is such a relief.

I was consumed with anxiety before I started my treatment, I felt I wasn’t coping with anything, I couldn’t take anything new on and the slightest things would make me so angry. People have always said to me ‘you’re so strong, I don’t know how you do it’. I have always just got on with life and done what’s needed to be done but inside I was dying.

Jonny has been amazing, he explains what’s happening in great detail. This made the experience more fulfilling. He sent me links to videos and articles to watch between sessions. He has always been available if I’ve had any questions. I can’t recommend this programme enough. If you decide to embark on this journey, open your heart and mind to the process and enjoy it, I certainly have.”

Meg (UK)

Meg signed up for the 3 month Pattern Transformation package after reading a case study of mine that was published in the Herb Society magazine.

At the start of the program Meg filled in my symptom questionnaire sheet. This asks patient’s to score their symptoms from 0-10 in terms of how debilitating they are.

Meg scored 118 at the start of the program. Dropping to 56 at the end of the 3 months. A decrease of 52.5%.

Recent bloodwork through her doctor showed her thyroid hormones are now back to normal.

Meg will still need treatment but we will now only need to speak once a month. I expect her score to further improve as the months and treatment continue to work.

Jonny Woodall
Medical Herbalist and Flower Essence Therapist
BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine
National Institute of Medical Herbalists

Contact me for help with your health problems and illness

PHONE: +44(0) 7525827558

EMAIL: jonnyapothecary@gmail.com

Patient Testimonial: Postnatal Depression, Fatigue & Stress

“I first contacted Jonny after being diagnosed with postnatal depression. My GP had prescribed antidepressants and I wanted to explore other more natural options before going down this route and I’m so glad I did. We had an exploratory discussion and I felt immediately that we had a connection and that Jonny was someone I could work with and open up to.

It’s been a really transformational process for me. Jonny was very good at getting to the bottom of why I felt how I felt and about all the different factors at play. Jonny asked questions about my life, my experiences, relationships, physical and emotional symptoms and was interested in me holistically. As I was talking in our sessions I began to connect dots with his guidance to really understand myself, my patterns and things that had never occurred to me before. I’d had a previous trauma and Jonny helped me realise I’d built lots of coping mechanisms that had worked ok for me in the past, but weren’t working for me now. This was leading to me feeling like I couldn't cope, hyper vigilance, over worrying, inability to feel negative emotions, masking how I was feeling to everyone around me, exhaustion and sleep issues.

The herbs Jonny prescribed worked like magic and helped with my depression but also helped me get to a place mentally where I felt strong enough to face what was going on and my past trauma. Something I’d never been able to do before.

He has a very calm and patient style and builds rapport and trust quickly and easily. I didn’t ever feel judged or like I needed to hold anything back. It was a very freeing experience. Jonny is very knowledgeable about women’s cycles, hormones, how trauma can affect a person, what different symptoms mean and what herbs to prescribe to help with all of this. He also recommended a few books/websites to look at in between sessions which was great as I didn’t know where to start.

I’d recommend Jonny to anyone to help with physical health, mental health or wellbeing. It was definitely money very well spent and I’ll be forever grateful that I’m now in the place I am. I feel able to use what I learnt to help myself in future. I wasn’t sure if I’d get here or feel like my normal self again but I absolutely do, and feel like a better version because I understand myself so much better.

So thank you Jonny, I'm very grateful for your help and the work that you do.”

Anonymous (UK)

This patient was looking for help with depression, exhaustion, worry, sleep issues and a number of other symptoms. Through the consultation process we managed to connect past experiences with the present day list of symptoms. Identifying patterns between the mind and body, past and present, we used herbal medicine and a holistic approach to help the patient transcend out of illness into a state of health that has been a fantastic success story.

Jonny Woodall
Medical Herbalist and Flower Essence Therapist
BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine
National Institute of Medical Herbalists

Contact me for help with your health problems and illness

PHONE: +44(0) 7525827558

EMAIL: jonnyapothecary@gmail.com

SKYPE: jonnysapothecary

Patient Testimonial: Acne, Addiction, Depression and Anxiety

“It is with deeply felt gratitude that I am writing about my herbal journey and the healing that Jonny has brought into my life.

As I started, I lacked a sense of self and my connection with my masculine energies. Moreover, I lacked clear boundaries in general.

The symptoms were a truly messed up biome in my guts which lead to more mental and physical issues.

On the one hand, I had terrible acne, which reminded me of the wounds and inflammations which not yet have healed.

On the other hand, I was displaying a lot of spiritually incontinent behaviour such as eating lots of sugary food and having lots of casual sex.

Having no orientation but the certainty that my life had to change in some way, I lived in constant fear.

The process: The first appointment that I had with Jonny seemed very similar to the experience which I had with my former therapists. 

As a result, I was a little sceptical since a lot of issues I still had not been able to resolve yet through psychoanalytical and behavioural therapy which I already had made at that point.

So I got my first tincture a few days later, and I was no longer allowed to have caffeine after the morning.

My old way of life came to an end and there now was a big free space which I needed to integrate into my new life.

Through all of this, Jonny provided me with sound advice and new and healthy modes of being and coping mechanisms.

My fear transformed into anger, and I finally got the energy required to end my life in the comfort zone and entering the new and fruitful territory.

I joined a men's group and thus felt a sense of belonging and started to not only help myself but also helping others and became an active member of society.

Also my skin not just looked better, but it became less and less itchy, and I started to like the man I saw in the mirror.

Especially in such times of profound changes, we need a pure and strong basis upon which we can build our lives.

Jonny has helped me to do exactly that.

I assure you that he is worth every penny you will spend on him because:

• He is committed to his work.

• He is honest with his patients.

• He is genuinely open-minded and wants to get a better understanding of his patients.

• He delivers his work on time.

• He keeps all his promises.

• He wants to see his patients flourish.

• He is understanding of his clients' issues and challenges.

• He is joyful when he sees his patients succeed in life.

So if you are still struggling with issues, you have not been able to cope with get your free trial on his website and get a taste of what your life could be!”

Paul (Germany)

Paul was referred to me by a previous patient who recommended he work with me. We connected over Skype and Paul decided he wanted to commit to my program. We went through an analysis of his physical and psychological symptoms, trying to understand how his past history and current situation are all connected.

Alongside the herbal support Paul was open to engaging in numerous activities, challenges or tasks to help nudge him into a more authentic, vulnerable and ultimately integrated place. I witnessed the transformation from start to finish as he became healthier, fitter, stronger and ore aligned with a greater purpose in life.

Paul, you are a courageous man and I wish you well on your path.

Jonny Woodall
Medical Herbalist and Flower Essence Therapist
BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine
National Institute of Medical Herbalists

Contact me for help with your health problems and illness

PHONE: +44(0) 7525827558

EMAIL: jonnyapothecary@gmail.com

SKYPE: jonnysapothecary

Patient Testimonial: Anxiety and depression

“My first meeting with Jonny now seems serendipitous and has been a blessing ever since. I initially met Jonny when he kindly allowed me to me sit in on some of his consultations as part of my acupuncture degree.

I’ve always had a fascination with herbal medicine but seeing Jonny work really opened my eyes to how these plant medicines can make profound changes in a person. What amazed me the most was how the medicine can have such an effect upon mental states and motivation (coupled with Jonny’s care and attention).

Shortly after this first observation visit with Jonny I decided I would try this medicine out for myself to see if it could help with what now seems like surface level issues. I believe my main complaint was acid reflux and general digestive issues, but through further questioning it became clear that it was my mental state that needed addressing. Jonny expertly weaved through the initial physical complaint and began to delve deeper within me to see what was really going on.

Without going in to too much personal detail, I will say that the medicine did and continues to have profound effects upon me. My mental health has been the most stable that I can remember and my motivations are much clearer.

Furthermore, I don’t believe I would have gotten through my first year at university without the help of Jonny and his herbs. I was experiencing anxiety so acute at times that I felt completely frozen and at it’s mercy.

Jonny will help you in every which way he can, but you have to work with Jonny and the herbs. There is an aspect of personal responsibility/action in the therapeutic relationship to get the most from this medicine. He’ll explain the actions of the herbs, histories associated with them, peer reviewed studies and any other questions you may have associated with your medicine. There is no ambiguity with your prescription and Jonny is well versed in his craft which ultimately leaves you feeling empowered.

If you’re considering seeing Jonny then I can’t recommend him highly enough but you really need to witness the magic for yourself. Herbal medicine has been incredibly beneficial to me and I’ve seen first hand how it has helped the lives of others.

He has helped me to crystallise what it is I want from my life, continually inspires and provides vision for what I am striving for for when I graduate.”

Jamie (UK)

Jamie originally came to see me as a student. To sit in and observe how I work. His inquisitive nature led him to feel pulled into sitting in the patient chair himself and sharing his vulnerabilities. We quickly identified areas of his life that needed attention that he had not quite seen for himself.

His herbal prescription gave him the energy and support needed to make the changes necessary to bring about a calmer more resilient mindset. One that now experiences far less anxiety than it used to. I am sure Jamie will continue to grow and evolve into the man he has now seen ahead of him, the one I could see myself when we first consulted.

Patient Testimonial: Severe depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and fatigue

“When I first came to Jonny for treatment I had quite severe depression and really unpredictable energy levels. I had lost all confidence from having such a low mood and my business had taken the brunt of me never being able to find enough energy to carry out the work that needed to be done. I was also battling with PTSD from a couple of past experiences, amongst which included grief. All in all I wasn't in a good way and I couldn't imagine how vastly the treatment I received would change my life for the better. I still don't to this day even really understand how it worked and am still finding small clues that I am continuing on an upward trajectory months after the treatment has ended. It really has been quite magical.

It has taken me quite a long time to write my testimonial as I have found it hard to put into words the amazing care that Jonny puts into his work and also how grateful I am for his ongoing support. I have gone from being totally lost in the dark to having a warm, bright light shine into all areas of my life that has come from all the plants along the journey.

It took a little while of calming my body down out of its highly stressed state and then slowly the treatments evolved into giving me physical strength and confidence to carry on. Each month a different collection of plants to cater to the changing landscape. I have now managed to move out of depression and I no longer suffer from PTSD. And as for my energy levels, well I have managed to set up my business to be more functional, creative and abundant than ever before!

Alongside the monthly therapy I had with Jonny I also went to a weekly counsellor to talk through everything that was coming up through the process of healing. I would highly reccomend doing this as it meant I was constantly healing each emotion and pattern, confronting it all head on. Jonny is a very good person to talk to; he is warm, open and understanding of even the smallest experiences you might feel you need to talk about. He really understands how to work with the herbs in a unique way for each person, to bring you out of your shell and direct you on a path that brings you into alignment with yourself.”

Anonymous

This patient came into clinic suffering with an array of mental health problems that were causing them to suffer. Deep wounds of the past were interfering with everyday life and stopping this patient from fully delving into their business and self-employment.

The patient responded rapidly to treatment and whilst it was obviously very challenging having to visit memories of the past, it needed to happen so that those memories could be efficiently processed and integrated back into the psyche.

This was clearly a profound healing journey with which an incredible expansion of creativity, business momentum, improvement in mood and a more gentle, calm perception of the past came shining through. It was a very touching transformation to witness.

Jonny Woodall
Medical Herbalist and Flower Essence Therapist
BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine
National Institute of Medical Herbalists

Contact me for help with your health problems and illness

PHONE: +44(0) 7525827558

EMAIL: jonnyapothecary@gmail.com

SKYPE: jonnysapothecary

Patient Testimonial: Anxiety, depression, weight-loss and confidence

“Before I started working with Jonny, I had dropped out of university and generally felt miserable about my life in general, that I wasn’t going anywhere and was wasting my talents, but I was stuck in a rut I couldn’t get out of. No self confidence, unhappy with my physical or mental states, I never really felt comfortable talking about myself and my problems to anyone, so I kept it inside most of the time.

Initially I was sceptical about seeing Jonny but I’m glad my worries were baseless. The herbal medicines he gave me were tailored to my symptoms and changed month to month as my treatment progressed.

Since I started working with Jonny, taking the time to do the simple and sensible things he recommended, taking the herbal medicines that he made specifically for me and exploring honestly the reasons why I think and act the way I do, I feel like I’ll actually be able to take the next steps in life and not just wishing that I could: university, a proper career, overcoming deeply ingrained bad habit loops that stop me meeting new people and doing new things.

Jonny managed to get me to open up about things I’ve hidden for years, things that formed the bedrock of my anxieties and fears. Now, I finally am able to recognise and deal with them as they come up: the habits are hard to break, but I am finally equipped mentally to overcome them.

Jonny is so easy to talk to, I couldn’t believe some of the stuff I was saying in our consultations. It’s not easy to admit your failings, but he has a great empathy for people and helps you use those negative experiences as learning opportunities, not the failures you think they are.

I’m going back to university in September, have lost lots of weight and generally am feeling more confident in myself and my abilities than I can ever remember. I have clear goals and career ambitions for the first time, not just a vague outline of a plan that I could use to put off actually thinking about it. I’m glad that Jonny was recommended to me and I would recommend him to you.”

Chris Meredith (UK)

Chris was feeling trapped with his old patterns of behaviour that were stopping him from progressing in life. He was open about his scepticism of herbs and my coaching process but quickly started to see positive changes once we found what herbs and lifestyle changes he responded to. Chris has achieved all of the goals and targets we set out from day 1, plus many more he did not know were part of our 6 month journey.

Chris’s confidence, mental health and courage have improved significantly. I wish you all the best with going back to university to continue on your new path of success and independence.

Patient Testimonial: Depression, Suspected Oestrogen Dominance and Post-Traumatic Injury Rehabilitation

“My journey with Jonny started a long time before I took the first medicine. A very good friend of mine told me months before, how great her results with the herbs were. That the herbs changed her whole life and that she never wants to be without them again. But being a very skeptical person in general, I first didn’t believe her. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe HER but more that I couldn’t imagine how herbs should change your life this way. For us lawyers things must be logical, explainable and most important rational. But that’s what herbs are not - for sure. 

By the time I was listening to my friends success story with the herbs and her experiences, I found myself in the worst situation of my life. I had just survived a severe motorcycle accident and was struggling with pretty much everything in my life. I was in a huge deep depression - not meeting anybody, not talking to anybody, and worst of all I was physically and mentally in a very bad condition. After I hit rock bottom I finally decided to contact Jonny because I thought it couldn’t get any worse anyway. The first magical thing of many that happened just within our first meeting was - that I trust that this person 100%. And believe me, trust is an issue with me. :) 

Our first consultation was maybe one hour and I talked like we knew each other for years. Jonny has an understanding and a very good sense for people - their needs and their problems. He really feels your situation even though it’s maybe a female thing. He knew right away what I was suffering and tried to feel into my situation. The fact that our consultation was in English - I’m not a native speaker and we talked over Skype - was no problem at all. I felt more understood and secure then with some other doctor I was seeing face-to-face. 

What happened afterwords was really a miracle. Sometimes I still can’t believe what really happened and how the herbs changed my life. I came to see Jonny with physical issues - and he changed my life with all my mental issues. With my mental issues all of my physical issues disappeared. Not only the symptoms but my whole life changed in a way I can’t really describe. Being a very impulsive, loud, strong, and pushing person - demanding a lot from myself and from all people in my life I became the most calm and relaxed person I could imagine. I learned to deal with myself, with everything in my life and with everyone in my life. I learned to set boundaries, to respect myself, to respect my body and to respect my life. Moreover and maybe most important I learned that all my physical issues are connected to my mental state of mind. 

I don’t want to put it wrong. My life isn’t perfect now. There are still problems hitting me, my life, all the people in my life, my family and all the connected circumstances. But the thing I learned with the herbs is to deal with them, without breaking every single time. During the time with the herbs I changed my job, I moved to two different apartments and had several relationships end but walked through it very calm and controlled. My life still has ups and downs, but I learned to handle it and I learned to solve it. 

So, to come to an end - if you ask me what the herbs changed? They changed everything! I can’t really tell you what but what I know for sure is that I’m not the same person I was before. Jonny is a master of his job and he knows the herbs very well, he knows his job and he became my herbalist but moreover my therapist over the past year. I thank God I got to know him because somehow he and his herbs saved my life.”

Tihana Dragic

Tihana has progressed rapidly with herbs. Discovering how her body and mind are intricately connected. This patient was a little skeptical about herbs and how I work but we quickly created a safe container with which profound changes have filtered through to her life. Her mood, monthly cycle and post-motorbike accident symptoms (there was a list of unexplained, chronic sensations and symptoms) have all improved with the past year of treatment. I have great respect for the courage Tihana has shown in engaging with herbs and therapy in dealing with her medical problems.

Jonny Woodall
Medical Herbalist and Flower Essence Therapist
BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine
National Institute of Medical Herbalists

Contact me for help with your health problems and illness

PHONE: +44(0) 7525827558

EMAIL: jonnyapothecary@gmail.com

SKYPE: jonnysapothecary

Psilocybin and Depression

You may have seen the news recently that Psilocybin (found in ‘magic’ mushrooms) can treat depression and soon we may all be able to access this new ‘wonder drug’. I sincerely doubt anyone will be able to go to their GP and be prescribed whole fresh or dried mushrooms for their depression. Let’s dispel a few myths about this and explain why.

First of all psilocybin is ‘one’ of a number of alkaloids and other chemicals found within certain strains of ‘magic’ mushrooms. Research shows us that psilocybin binds to serotonin receptors within the nervous system (and brain), exerting a hallucinogenic experience that varies depending on dose.

Humans have been using psychoactive mushrooms since the dawn of time and many indigenous cultures have safely and successfully used them to communicate with their gods, spirits or ancestors in rituals and ceremonies that are part of their religious culture. For those of us who explore our more psychedelic plant and fungi world here in Europe it is of no surprise at all that psilocybin can treat depression. Users have known this for a very long time. Mushrooms were only made illegal in the UK just over a decade ago and before that were easily purchased in specific shops all over the country. Since it has become a crime to pick, store, use or sell them their use has continued with very little police activity surrounding prosecutions of pickers and fungi enthusiasts.

At the moment the food and drug administration (FDA) in the United States have labeled psilocybin a ‘breakthrough therapy’ meaning it is a step closer towards being given approval as a pharmaceutical treatment. So here, it is important to note that what the pharmaceutical company will be doing is using one chemical found within the mushroom that they can extract, patent and prescribe. This is the constituent known as psilocybin. The whole process of approving a treatment is bound up in millions of dollars of research that the pharmaceutical company will want to claw back once their patented treatment has been approved.

All of this talk in the media that you will be able to roll into your Doctor’s office and be given whole mushrooms at the relevant dose to alleviate depression i doubt will ever happen.

Whilst the research looks incredibly promising, yet again we see something that is supposedly illegal for the general public to forage and consume themselves (having done so for millenia). Only for it to be okay for a big corporation to produce a constituent within it and make a fortune as it is legally inserted into a Doctor’s pharmacopoeia.

It seems like a silly situation to be moaning about what could be the pharmaceutical ‘depression’ breakthrough of the century. But from a herbalists perspective you can literally just go for a walk in October and find many of them scattered all around in fields and pick them for free. Obviously as a professional i can only encourage legal responsible use of psychoactive mushrooms (In Holland it is still legal).

Of course i am sure many people will be helped by Psilocybin when it is prescribed (although my skepticism of pharmaceuticals with media hype is high). Just be aware that another of nature’s gifts is being denied to you in its natural form, unadulterated, whilst the other money driven corporation owned chemical is allowed.

For now i remain a skeptic about the whole situation.

Jonny Woodall
Medical Herbalist and Flower Essence Therapist
BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine
National Institute of Medical Herbalists

Contact me for help with your health problems and illness

PHONE: +44(0) 7525827558

EMAIL: jonnyapothecary@gmail.com

SKYPE: jonnysapothecary

Finding Purpose as a Man

The leading cause of death to a man my age is suicide. To take one's life is often met with confusing feelings by those who are close and witness this. Anger, sadness, frustration, despair and numbness are words often used to describe such events. 

Why is this happening? What is going wrong with men? how can we live in one of the richest countries of the world yet live knowing the biggest risk to a man's life - my life, is death due to actions by my own personal choice. 

Whilst it is impossible and naive to give an ultimate explanation to this it is easy to see how poor diet, high stress, one's class and social standing have a part to play. But how many times do you hear about purpose? What is your purpose? What is a man's purpose? 

Were we made to live a life of service to others in a never-ending rollercoaster of subservience and consumerism? To work yourself to death for a chief executive who will never know or even care about your name? To spend all your money on pointless goods? Or maybe it's to fuel money into the biggest distraction of a man's power - the belief his local football team actually represent him and his worth?

The defining factor in all of this is purpose. When a man has purpose with unbounding intent his life brings forth the attraction of knowledge, power and insight. For a man to let go of commonly held social beliefs of what modern society tells us a man should be searching for and replace that with the challenge of finding inner truths and a purpose on earth then meaning and hope can flourish. 

With purpose we breed passion, a passion to live one's life with something inherently beautiful. To access inner gifts and find out who you are and why you are really a part of this web of existence. 

When a man truly discovers something more to the story that was imposed on him by others then begins the journey out of darkness and into the light. 

Herbal medicine has been an integral part of my life's purpose. To save knowledge, to have meaning and to use my gifts for others. My true purpose propelled me into a path of strength, to discover my inner man that was longing to break through the damaged boy.

Indeed it is now a large part of my work with most of my male clients. Therapy can often provide that helping hand and facilitation needed for men to step into their power and discover a new path. 

Jonny Woodall
Medical Herbalist and Flower Essence Therapist
Bsc (Hons) Herbal Medicine
National Institute of Medical Herbalists

Contact me for help with your health problems and illness

PHONE: +44(0) 7525827558

EMAIL: jonnyapothecary@gmail.com

SKYPE: jonnysapothecary