I grew up in the South of France, in a house with a big garden and lots of animals. My love for animals has been there as long as I can remember. My love for plants, on the other hand, came later. Every summer night I watched my mum drag around the hose to water all her flowers and trees, after a super busy day of trying to maintain the house, cook, help people out, work, read, and more. I didn’t get it. It seemed like such an effort and little reward. What I couldn’t see in our disorganised (read: messy) garden then, I can now. The delicious, fresh vegetable and fruit readily available, the fragrances, flowers, herbs – I love it all. I can finally be grateful and embrace this natural living that, in fact, has always been a part of me.

In the evening, my mum will disappear in the darkness and come back with a handful of verveine. One of my all-time-favourite plants. We enjoy our tisane every night (with lemon for me and lemon and honey for her).

Today I make my own herbal tea blends and enjoy them hot and cold. I’ve done a lot of research and the benefits of infusions are amazing. When I feel myself getting a bit under the weather, the combination of teas and essential oils does wonder. I use essential oils on a daily basis as well, for fatigue (peppermint hellooo). My beauty routine only includes natural and cruelty-free products, whether it’s with my CBD face moisturiser (day time) or my wakame regenerating night cream.

Of course, my strongest relationship remains with Cannabis. Cannabis is such an amazing plant, I am still flabbergasted by its legal status. Disheartened sometimes, especially when I see governments authorising a chemical, synthetic version of the plant when the real thing is right there, available to save lots of people (and probably the planet). CBD and THC have already saved many lives, and improves thousands of others every day, and we are only scratching the surface. There are over 100 cannabinoids in cannabis.

In the past couple of years I’ve really embodied the connection between plant and self-care. This authentic way to return to nature, to our bodies, to our mother Earth. After all, intention is key. You can make anything your go-to self-care boost, as long as your intention is there. What best to make the most of what nature has offered to us, and let it lead us to a place of self-love?