Hi, I’m Sarah Greenaway

My relationship with plants didn’t begin with a plan to become a herbalist. Nature has always been a fundamental part of my life. I’ve always loved growing things, noticing plants in detail, learning to name them and watching them change through the seasons. From childhood I’ve been fascinated by their beauty and diversity but never imagined this would become my life’s work.

A woman with blonde hair in a braid, wearing a white blouse and black trousers, standing outdoors in front of green bushes.

In my forties, moving to the southwest of England brought me closer to the land. Surrounded by the ancient landscapes of Dorset and Wiltshire, I developed a much deeper connection to the natural world. Plants gradually stopped feeling like things I grew or studied. They became friends — and now the trees and plants in my garden feel almost like family.

More recently, I wanted to know plants more deeply: not just how to grow and recognise them, but what they could do, how people had used them traditionally, and what their chemistry could tell us.

That curiosity led me to study professional herbal medicine at Betonica School of Herbal Medicine. Four years, more than 6,000 hours of study and over 600 hours of supervised clinical practice later, I had discovered a subject far bigger and more complex than I had ever imagined.

I learned about medicine, science and clinical practice, but also to see plants differently – as complex producers of medicines, shaped by their chemistry, their environment and their long relationship with people.

And the more I learned, the more I realised how much there still is to learn.

I'm still very much a student of plants. I'm fascinated by the science, captivated by traditional knowledge, and endlessly curious about the relationship between people, plants and the places we live.

Tierra Medica has grown from that curiosity and from my belief that we are part of the living world, not separate from it.

Our relationship with plants is part of being human. For thousands of years, we've learned from the plants around us and passed that knowledge from one generation to the next. Perhaps some of that ancient knowing has simply become quieter.

Sometimes reconnecting with it starts by paying a little more attention – to a plant growing at the edge of a path, to what's in your cup, or to the ways your own body responds to the world around you.

I'm still learning. I suspect I always will be.

And I'm rather glad of that.

How I work

Yellow dandelion flower with green leaves, illustration of its chemical structure, and text describing it as Taraxacum officinale, a perennial hardy weed also known as soppahilus.

I combine a modern medical understanding of physiology and disease with a deep knowledge of phytochemistry, the active compounds in plants and their therapeutic effects. My focus is on understanding what is driving each person’s symptoms, the root cause. This allows for precise, tailored treatment rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Each client receives an individualised prescription of herbal medicines, carefully formulated to reflect their unique history, constitution and current needs. Alongside this, I offer guidance on diet and lifestyle to support lasting, sustainable change.

I also hold a strong awareness that human health is inseparable from the health of the natural world. Our bodies are not separate from nature, but part of it, and healing is often supported by reconnecting with the environments and rhythms that sustain us. We are the food we eat and the air we breathe. This perspective informs and underpins my practice, shaping an approach to care that is grounded, thoughtful and deeply personal.

Circular logo of the National Institute of Culinary Herbals featuring a stylised herbal plant in the centre.
A logo consisting of a bright green leaf with a black symbol in front of it made up of the letters CPP.
LET'S TALK

FAQs

  • Because two people with the same diagnosis rarely have exactly the same experience of illness, and the factors contributing to their symptoms are often different. I treat the person, not just the diagnosis, looking beyond symptoms to understand the underlying factors that are leading to illness.  This allows me to create a personalised treatment plan that reflects your health history, lifestyle and individual constitution.

  • I believe the body has an innate capacity for healing. Rather than forcing change, herbal medicine aims to support your body's own healing processes, helping restore balance and create the conditions for recovery and thriving.

  • Your health history provides valuable clues about how your current symptoms developed. By understanding where you've been, we can better understand where you are now and create a more effective treatment plan. Taking a step back often reveals patterns and connections that simply aren't visible when we look closely at a single symptom in isolation.

  • Health problems rarely happen in isolation because the body's systems constantly influence one another. Looking for patterns helps us understand how different symptoms, life events and health conditions may be connected, revealing relationships that are often missed when we focus on a single symptom or diagnosis.

  • Healing is a partnership. I bring my clinical expertise in herbal medicine; you bring your lived experience of your own body. Lasting improvements require understanding, commitment and active participation—they can't simply be prescribed.

    I can't heal you for you, but I can walk beside you. Together we'll work to understand your health, make informed choices and create the best possible opportunity for your body to recover and thrive.

    Your health belongs to you. My job is to help you understand it, support it and care for it – not to own it.

  • The gut plays a fundamental role in digestion, immunity and many other aspects of long term health. Supporting a healthy gut microbiome is an important first step in helping the body recover and build long-term resilience.

  • Ill health is rarely caused by a single factor, so it rarely responds to a single solution. Every part of your treatment plan has a purpose. Individually, each recommendation may seem quite small, but together they can create the conditions for meaningful and lasting improvements in your health.

  • Every prescription is based on your individual health, symptoms, medical history and treatment goals. I carefully select herbs whose actions complement one another and meet the needs of your body, creating a bespoke formula designed specifically for you.
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  • Because no two people and illnesses are the same. Even when two people have the same diagnosis, the underlying factors contributing to their symptoms may be very different, so their treatment should be too.