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Jane Clark, MNIMH, MCPP, Dip. Phyt., BWY Teaching Diploma

Jane has been practising herbal medicine for 10 years following 4 years of training in herbal medicine at the College of Phytotherapy.  She practises in Bedford and Huntingdon.  Appointments may be made by contacting Jane through the Contact form.

Jane teaches yoga in Bedford, St Ives and Cambourne and has completed the British Wheel of Yoga Teaching Diploma.  She also offers one to one instruction for those who would like to develop their yoga practise further.  Please use the Contact form for more information.  Jane is particularly interested in developing yoga as a therapeutic tool for those with ill-health.

Clinic Times and Charges

Bedford Herbal Clinic

is sited in the centre of Bedford within a GP surgery.  Treatment days are Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.

Huntingdon Herbal Clinic

is sited about 3 miles north of Huntingdon and is easily accessible to the surrounding area and Peterborough.  Treatment days are Tuesdays and Saturday mornings.

Herbal Consultation Charges

are currently:

First consultation (60-90 minutes)     £50.00
Followup consultations (30-45 mins)  £25.00

Medicine is charged in addition to the consultation fee and works out at around £6.00 - £10.00 per week.

Botanicare.co.uk

This web site aims to give some information about herbs and herbal medicine.  The information on this site should not be used to support self medication, if you wish to take herbs from other sources then you are strongly advised to consult a medical herbalist who is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists or the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy.  Members of both these organisations are highly trained professionals who will offer you excellent advice through consultation.  Advice obtained through unqualified sources is not necessarily reliable.

Products offered on this site are organic where possible, they are sustainably grown and often hand made.  This will be sited on the product information.  Products should be patch tested before use to avoid adverse reactions which are rare, but you should see your medical professional should you experience one.  No responsibility can be taken for self medicated use.

We use the minimum packaging required for each product.  We hope that you will re-use our packaging if possible as we feel that this saves the energy of recycling and avoids landfill.  If you do not wish to reuse the packaing then please recycle.  However using minimum packaging means that you will have to provide your own frills if you are giving our products as presents, so coming soon a "Making Frills that Don't Cost the Earth" article (thanks for the idea to the Green Fair organisers in St Neots).

Why Choose Herbal Medicine and What can be treated?

There are many reasons to choose to use herbal medicine in the treatment of illness.  It is essential that, if you are using conventional medications or over the counter supplements, you consult a qualified Medical Herbalist.  (That is one with the letters MNIMH or MCPP after their name).  You will then be assured that you are in safe hands. 

Why Choose Yoga - can it help with fitness and health?

Yoga is used to improve strength, flexibility  and stamina.  By practising yoga regularly your joints will maintain their range of movement, your bones will maintain their density, your circulation will improve and as a consequence your blood pressure may normalise.  Your internal organs will work more effectively.  By practising pranayama (the yogic system of breathing) your whole body will benefit from improved lung capacity and oxygen exchange, eliminating toxins.  Yoga works well alongside regular cardiovascular exercise such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming.  You may lose weight as your body start to normalise and you understand your body signals including hunger recognition.  Why wait.....if you practise you will notice the effects.

So why choose Herbal Medicine?

Herbal medicine has a proven clinical use over thousands of years.  It is the oldest medical tradition in the world and the majority of the worlds population still effectively use herbs to treat all forms of disease.  Modern research is continually proving that herbs are effective for many of their traditional uses.  Modern research is also finding new uses for plant medicine.

Herbs work with your body to aid in repair and to strengthen your body's resistance to disease.

Herbs contain a balance of chemical ingredients which work in synergy with each other to enable the body to utilise the same herb for a variety of effects.  The synergy also means that ingredients which would cause side effects in isolation are neutralised to stop unwanted effects.  This means that herbs have many fewer side effects than isolated extracts.  This is also why standardised herbal extracts are more likely to cause unwanted side effects as the chemical balance for the plant has been disturbed.

Herbs may be used effectively alongside convention medication, BUT ONLY UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A TRAINED HERBALIST.  Under no circumstances should you mix herbal supplements with prescribed medication.  Asking the health food shop assistant is not a reliable source of information.

Herbs are suitable for frail people and for children when given as a result of advice by a trained herbalist.  There are many herbs which are gentle and effective for these groups of people.

Some herbs, but not all, may be used continuously as part of diet and lifestyle to keep you healthy, especially in later life.

So what can be treated with Herbal Medicine

With your Herbalist's guidance and advice herbal medicine can be effective in a wide range of problems and disease.

It can help with

    arthritis and joint problems

    recurrent infections and allergies

    menstrual and menopausal problems

    urinary tract infections, urinary tract dysfunction

    respiratory problems including asthma

    circulatory disorders including high blood pressure

    digestive problems including IBS, indigestion, colitis

    stress, chronic fatigue, insomnia, chronic fatigue and nervous problems

    skin diseases


The earlier you discuss these issues with a herbalist the more effective the herbs will be.  Herbs are particularly effective for childhood disorders.

Herbs may be used to support the whole body to ensure continued wellbeing.