THE South Hereford Dowsers season of public lecture evenings ended with a particularly fascinating talk this month by medical herbalist, Nathan Hughes, from the Ruskin Apothecary in Nailsworth, Glos.

Nathan spoke spell bindingly about his ongoing research into working with plants to heal emotional and psychological pathologies as well as physical ailments. He has concluded that many of our modern complex imbalances are compounded by an ancestral (or genetic) component. Using methods similar to those used by some ethnic societies, Nathan has developed his own experiential methods of diagnosis and herbal treatment, with the onus on using plants to stimulate the body's own natural immunity and regeneration.

The evening was experiential for the audience too, who participated in attuning to the healing properties of a healing plant and sharing their conclusions.

Nathan was accompanied by artist, Fiona Owen, who was displaying some of her beautiful botanical paintings which accompany Nathan's published works.

The South Herefordshire Dowser's public talks will restart at Aston Ingham village hall next year in February.