Melissa Ronaldson BSc(hons) Herbal Medicine FNIMH
The Herbal Barge is owned and run by herbalist, Melissa Ronaldson.
I am a member of the National instute of Medical Herbalist, and have been in clinical practice since 2000
Such is my privilege that this herbal practice has been varied and diverse. In the early days I was based at a mental health and arts project in Hackney; I have worked on traditional medicine projects in Ecuador and in Peru; first aid posts at Glastonbury and other festivals; and mobile clinics at refugee camps in Northern France.
Over the last twenty years I have taught herbal medicine at different levels and contexts from primary school to adult education; undergraduate academic curriculum to community workshop.
I believe a contemporary medical herbalist needs to hone their capacity to be multi -lingual in the sense of being able to speak the languages of science, of the current bio- medical model, and of traditional medicine. I am committed to reflective practice and continual learning.
My aspiration as a practitioner is to deliver accessible pragmatic and effective health interventions, while offering an empowering and holistic perspective
Professional Journey Highlights
2002 Melissa became a founder member of London Community Herbalists and later, through this not-for profit organisation, went on to project manage the building and integration within the curriculum of a large, award winning, intensive medicinal roof garden for North Haringey Primary school.
2007 Melissa began the journey to fulfil a dream to create a floating herbal medicine venue that would traverse the London waterways. Stormvogel the Herbal Barge is now an established clinic, teaching space and apothecary known for magical pop up events, inspiring workshops as well as honest, diligent and attention to detail herbal medicine.
2008 Melissa , was jointly involved in setting up the Herbal Snuff Co, and over the last ten years has been re-pioneering this traditional and effective way of ingesting herbs.
2015 she began looking for ways for herbalists to work with refugee communities in Calais and Dunkirk. She became a founder member of Herbalists Without Borders UK and was co-ordinator of the Calais campaign between 2016 and 2022. In 2021 Melissa was awarded a fellowship of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists for work with refugees.
2018 Melissa devised the counselling skills for herbalists module for the Heartwood Prorfessional Herbal medicne course, and continues to work as a tutor and clinical supervisor for Heartwood.
Currently, in addition to clinical practice, Melissa is initiating the plants from this land platform and network, and is also working on technical solutions for herbalists to support research and monitoring of patient outcomes.