by Fiona Chapman

SPRING is here despite the weather indicating to the contrary. The birds are singing in the morning, my garden is awash with daffodils and hyacinths, the roses are coming into leaf, and there is a feeling of optimism and warmth just around the corner!

Herbs too are growing, and this is when we should be harvesting nettles and cleavers to use fresh to give our bodies a good vitamin and mineral boost, and help drain the body of old winter toxins.

Cleavers should be picked and washed and put in fresh, filtered water and left overnight to infuse. They are diuretic and in particular work on lymphatic drainage and helping the body get rid of toxins, which will also help with chronic skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis, acne and rosacea.

Nettles, which I know I bang on about lots, are full of minerals and vitamins and if you make a good strong nettle tea, they should not only help with skin conditions such as urticaria but are brilliant for hay-fever as they block the histamine receptors in the body.

Anyone who suffers from allergies should be taking nettle tea now with a good raw organic local honey to prepare