Have you ever wondered about the power of nature to heal? Join us as we delve into the life and experiences of Melanie Cardwell, a dedicated herbalist and spiritual healer. From a personal journey of healing and transformation to a lifelong mission of empowering others, Melanie shares insights into the world of natural medicine, spiritual practices, and holistic well-being. Discover how ancient wisdom and modern science can work together to create a healthier, happier you.
How did your father’s experience with aromatherapy influence your journey into natural healing?
My first introduction to any form of ‘natural healing’ was when I was 27 years old. My father was diagnosed with Addison’s disease and lung cancer, and was undergoing radiotherapy treatment. I witnessed the nurses in the hospital massaging his legs with lavender and other essential oils to reduce his oedema. This treatment noticeably helped him, and I now believe, in hindsight, that I was shown this to open my mind to natural forms of healing in my not so distant future.
What initially drew you to herbalism, and how has it shaped your philosophy on wellness?
My father passed away in March of 1991. Six weeks following his passing, my mother and I were talking with a clairvoyant friend of the family and my father’s spirit came through. He told me that I would be a ‘Herbal Doctor’ and I was advised to follow this line of study. I was then 28 years old and other than a brief introduction to aromatherapy when my father was in the hospital six months earlier, this was the furthest thing from my mind. At the time I was a young, single mum with a toddler and with no particular direction in life. However, always having had a strong belief in spirit and life after death, I followed my father’s advice. Within a month or so I found a teacher and ended up moving to Norfolk ( a couple of hours drive away) where I began training and apprenticing with a lovely Master Herbalist for the next ten years.
During this time I was introduced to many wonderful teachers and natural healing techniques that strongly resonated with me. It changed my outlook on health in a huge way. My other strong urge was to bring my daughter up as healthy as possible, so I lived the ‘philosophy’ I was learning always maintaining a mindset of ‘prevention is better than cure’, but also using those natural ‘cures’ when either of us became sick.
Can you share what it means to be a “Living Herbalist” and how that guides your daily practice?
My first herbal classes with my teacher and mentor were called The Living Herbalist. This describes the common saying, ‘practising what you preach’. I was taught how to get healthy using medicinal herbs, foods and spices as well as regular cleansing and detox routines and other natural healing practices to maintain optimum health. My excitement and deep desire to fully encompass this way of living meant I used all the knowledge I was learning into my daily living and that of my daughter’s. I became a ‘Living Herbalist’ in my day-to-day life and years ahead, once qualifying as a Master Herbalist myself, I began teaching this and related subjects. Walking my talk and practising what I preach by staying healthy helps inspire others to do the same for themselves. I feel that this is the best way to genuinely show others that they too, can be well and healthy, once they take charge of their health and follow certain protocols like a good diet, medicinal herbs and regular cleanses and see the results for themselves.
What role does spiritual healing and practices like Druidry play in your approach to health and well-being?
During my time with my first herbal teacher, whilst assisting her with running classes in our local village for Living Herbalists & Natural Healers, I met a lovely young woman who invited me to my first Druid ‘camp’ to celebrate an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. From the moment my daughter and I arrived and for the week that we spent with other ‘Druids’ living together and connecting with Nature and the land around us, was another major turning point in my life. Having spent the past six years studying the medicinal properties of plants, I was suddenly introduced to the energetic and spiritual side of the plants and Nature, which opened up a whole new way of looking at life and the plants I had studied for medicine..
I also discovered Reiki Healing and had various ‘attunements’ over a period of years, in order to be able to also teach and attune others with this incredible healing modality which I still use almost daily. In the last twenty years I have also trained in other forms of healing techniques, and use them all combined, along with Energy Medicine, Hypnotherapy, Emotional Freedom Technique and Crystal Therapy in my clinic.
I have found that a simple daily practice of meditation, gratitude and gentle exercise like yoga, stretching and walking the dog in my rural village, along with staying positive and of course, eating well, helps maintain my own personal physical health and emotional and mental well being. I still honour and celebrate the changes in the seasons, as our ancestors did, and recognize every day is a gift and an opportunity to grow and make a difference in this world, however big or small.
How have your experiences with various healing techniques influenced the way you support clients today?
I am very rarely unwell, but when I have been, I have used the natural practices I know to regain my health. This approach has become the ‘norm’ for me and so I always aim to share from my personal perspective and experience, my passion and enthusiasm for health and well being, to support both my clients and students. Their testimonials and obvious improvement in their own health speaks volumes.
I work very holistically, bringing together all my techniques and knowledge to assist people in regaining their health on every level – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually – as all these areas are inter-connected and play a part in the Well Being of every individual. Their involvement in their own healing journey, by ‘doing the work’ and seeing the results for themselves, is also very empowering.
Only in the last two years (during the recent pandemic) have I truly realised, despite following my heart , intuition and inner guidance these past thirty years, that this work is my vocation. I feel that for the future, as the world visibly changes through these current uncertain times, more and more people are turning back to natural therapies and medicine, wanting to regain their health and find more natural ways to do that. After all, modern medicine has only really been around since 1899, when Bayer created the first ‘aspirin’ from a plant called meadowsweet. Before that, we all used herbal medicine. Now, more than ever, a return to natural living in harmony with Nature is vital.
My mission is to empower people with their health. I love teaching all kinds of classes and running my clinic for over 20 years, drawing from all the varied, complimentary techniques I’ve learned and used over the past thirty plus years and seeing how it changes peoples lives. This brings me deep satisfaction and gratitude. One of my teachers, Dr John Ray Christopher, (my mentor Jill Davies was a student of his), always used to say ‘There should be a Herbalist in every home, and a Practitioner in every town.
I spent ten years teaching my accredited Herbcraft course to students who became Practitioners. However, my focus at this time is reaching more ordinary people with a desire to re-learn and remember the natural herbal methods and skills of our ancestors, and becoming ‘Living Herbalists’ for their well being and that of their families and friends. This is my vision for the future.
To learn more about Melanie and her work, please visit https://melaniecardwell.com/
