Frances Watkins is a medical herbalist working in Watford and surrounding areas of Hertfordshire. She is a member of  both the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy. Frances gained a first class BSc in Herbal Medicine from Middlesex University and recently completed her doctorate at the University of East London, researching native British medicinal plants used in 10th century wound healing formulations.

A medical herbalist is trained to take a detailed case history, diagnose, prescribe herbal medication and offer nutritional advice. Medical herbalists work holistically, treating the whole person, preparing herbal medication tailored to each individual's needs.

Frances' particular interests are menopause and executive stress although clients seek advice for many different reasons. She practices Western herbal medicine at clinics in Bushey Heath, Kings Langley, St. Albans and Watford, Hertfordshire in the UK.

Research and Publications:

Hananja Brice-Ytsma and Frances Watkins, (eds). ,Herbal Exchanges in celebration of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists 1864-2014. London: Strathmore Publishing. September 2014.

Frances Watkins, 'Investigation of antimicrobials from native British plants used in 10th century Anglo-Saxon wound healing formulations’. PhD in Pharmacognosy from the Medicines Research Group, School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East London, UK. November 2013.

Frances Watkins, Barbara Pendry, Alberto Sánchez-Medina, Olivia Corcoran,, Drug Discovery & Therapy World Congress, Boston, USA. Abstract. 3-6 June 2013.

Frances Watkins, Barbara Pendry, Alberto Sánchez-Medina and Olivia Corcoran, " 'Antimicrobial assays of three native British plants used in Anglo-Saxon  medicine for wound healing formulations in 10th century England", Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 44(2):408-15, September 2012.

Frances Watkins, Barbara Pendry, Olivia Corcoran, and Alberto Sánchez-Medina, 'Anglo-Saxon pharmacopoeia revisited: a potential treasure in drug discovery",Drug Discovery Today, 16: 23/24 1069-1075, December 2011.

Oral Presentations
Watkins, F., Pendry, B., Sánchez-Medina, A. and Corcoran, O. “Antimicrobial screening of three native British used in Anglo-Saxon formulations", School of Health Sport and Bioscience Conference, University of East London, 17 November, 2012.

Watkins, F., Pendry, B., Sánchez-Medina, A. and Corcoran, O.  “Antimicrobial activity of native British flora reported in Anglo-Saxon medical texts", UEL Conference, University of East London, 03 May, 2012.

Watkins, F., Pendry, B., Sánchez-Medina, A. and Corcoran, O.  “Antimicrobial effects of plant formulations recorded in Anglo-Saxon medical texts", HSB Post Graduate Conference, UEL, 28 September, 2011.

Watkins, F.  Pendry, B., Corcoran, O. and Sánchez-Medina, A. “Pharmacological explorations of Anglo-Saxon herbal sources” Herbal History seminar, University of Reading, Berks, UK. 13 July, 2011 .

Watkins, F., Corcoran, O., Pendry, B. and Sánchez-Medina, A. “The relevance of medicinal plants during 10th century Anglo-Saxon England in the treatment of bacterial infections” Post Graduate Conference, School of Health and Bioscience, University of East London, London, UK. 29 June, 2010. (won Best Short Presentation).

Posters
Watkins, F. , Pendry, B.,Sánchez-Medina, A. and Corcoran, O., quot;Native British plants used in Anglo-Saxon wound healing formulations in 10th century England" BSBI Annual Exhibition Meeting, Conservation Management for Flora, The British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK. 24 November, 2012.

Watkins, F. , Pendry, B.,Sánchez-Medina, A. and Corcoran, O.,"A novel approach to investigating effective simples in the Anglo-Saxon medical literature" 148th Conference of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. Crewe, UK. 20-21 October, 2012.

Watkins, F., Corcoran, O., Pendry, B. and Sánchez-Medina, A. "Rediscovering the Value of Anglo-Saxon Medical Manuscripts"  146th Conference of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. Lancaster, UK. 16-17 October, 2010. 

Watkins, F., Corcoran, O., Pendry, B. and Sánchez-Medina, A."Medicinal plants used in Anglo-Saxon England for the treatment of bacterial infections" College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy Seminar Series “What on Earth is Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine?”, University College London, UK. 04 October, 2010. (won Best Poster).