Nutrition and Herbal Medicine Talks for Organisations and Groups

Engaging talks to inspire healthier living

Looking for an engaging speaker for a staff wellbeing event, community group or organisational programme?

I’m Ellie Holly, a medical herbalist, nutritional therapist and experienced teacher. I deliver informative, accessible talks exploring how nutrition and herbal medicine relate to our health and wellbeing, combining scientific evidence, practical advice and fascinating insights into the medicinal plants around us.

From understanding how nutrition and lifestyle influence mood, energy and brain health to discovering the surprising medicinal uses of familiar garden plants, my talks offer something for a wide range of audiences.

My aim is for people to leave having learnt something new, feeling inspired, and with practical knowledge they can put into action straight away to bring positive changes into their lives.

Talks can be tailored to your audience, your event and the time available.

Interested in booking a talk? Get in touch to discuss your event.

Talks for workplaces, organisations and community groups

I have delivered talks to staff at the British Museum over several years, covering topics including nutrition for healthy ageing, nutrition and supplements for muscle and joint health, and nutrition and herbal medicine for cognitive function.

I was also invited by UCL to deliver a staff wellbeing talk entitled Nutrition and Herbs to Improve Mood, Energy and Concentration.

Alongside my speaking work, I teach nutrition modules to students at the London School of Osteopathy and bring many years of clinical experience as a medical herbalist and nutritional therapist. I also bring extensive experience in adult education, having spent over 15 years creating, writing and delivering nutrition courses at City Lit in Covent Garden, as well as teaching beginner and intermediate herbal medicine and nutrition courses at the Mary Ward Centre in London.

I enjoy sharing my knowledge of nutrition and herbal medicine in a way that is engaging, accessible and relevant to everyday life. My talks are friendly and interactive, with plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion. My aim is for everyone to leave having learnt something new, with practical knowledge and simple, positive changes they can put into action straight away to support their health and wellbeing.

Whether you’re organising a workplace wellbeing event, a staff development day, a Women’s Institute meeting, a gardening club gathering or a community programme, I can help you find a subject that will interest your audience.

Talk topics

Here are some of the talks I offer. Each can be adapted to suit your audience and the aims of your event.

1. Boost Your Mood, Energy and Focus: The Role of Nutrition and Herbal Medicine

How can what we eat and the way we look after ourselves influence how we feel, think and function?

Explore the relationship between nutrition, brain function and emotional wellbeing, alongside the potential role of medicinal herbs. Discover how dietary patterns, key nutrients and selected herbs may support mood, energy and concentration, and learn how to distinguish evidence-informed advice from exaggerated health claims.

An engaging and practical talk for workplace wellbeing events, staff groups and community organisations.

2. Nourishing Your Mind: Nutrition and Herbal Medicine for Mood, Anxiety and Sleep

How can nutrition and herbal medicine help us manage everyday stress, ease anxiety, improve sleep and support a more positive mood?

Explore the relationship between nutrition, brain function and emotional wellbeing. Discover which nutrients are important for mental health, learn about medicinal herbs traditionally used to support relaxation, sleep and low mood, and find out what modern scientific research tells us about their potential benefits.

We’ll also explore how to use herbal medicines safely, including which herbs may interact with commonly prescribed medications and why it’s important to choose the right herbs for individual circumstances.

This engaging, practical talk combines nutritional science with traditional herbal knowledge, giving you a clearer understanding of the evidence and practical ways to support your mental wellbeing.

3. Age Well, Live Well: The Role of Nutrition in Healthy Ageing

What does the evidence tell us about eating well as we get older?

Explore how nutrition can support healthy ageing, including cardiovascular health, bone and muscle health, and cognitive function. Discover the dietary patterns and nutrients that matter, consider the evidence surrounding supplements, and take away practical ideas for supporting health and vitality throughout later life.

Ideal for community groups, lifelong learning programmes and organisations interested in healthy ageing.

4. Healthy Muscles, Strong Bones and Happy Joints: What Nutrition Can Do

Muscle, bone and joint health are important throughout life, but what role can nutrition play in keeping us pain free and moving well?

This talk explores the nutrients and dietary patterns involved in maintaining healthy bones and muscles, alongside the evidence surrounding supplements commonly used for joint health and musculoskeletal problems.

Discover what research can tell us, where the evidence is less certain, and how to make informed decisions about nutrition and supplements.

Suitable for workplace wellbeing events, community groups and audiences interested in maintaining physical health.

5. Feed Your Brain: Nutrition and Herbal Medicine for Memory, Focus and Cognitive Health

Ever wondered why some people seem to stay mentally sharp well into old age, while others experience difficulties with memory, concentration and mental clarity? Although we can’t stop the brain from ageing, the choices we make every day influence how well it functions, and how quickly the brain ages as we get older.

Discover how what you eat, how physically active you are, your sleep and other lifestyle factors can influence brain health and mental wellbeing. Explore the science behind foods and nutrients that support cognitive function, and discover what research tells us about herbs and supplements that claim to boost memory and concentration.

Come away with a better understanding of how to nourish your brain, protect your cognitive health and stay mentally sharp as you age, with practical changes you can start putting into action straight away.

6. Your Kitchen Apothecary: Everyday Foods, Herbs and Spices as Medicine

What if some of the simplest and easiest ways to support your health were already sitting in your kitchen cupboard?

Does it matter whether you use fresh garlic or garlic granules? Is Manuka honey really worth the price, or is it clever marketing? And what difference does adding herbs and spices to your everyday cooking actually make to your health?

Discover the healing properties of everyday foods, herbs and spices found in your kitchen cupboard, exploring their traditional uses and what modern research reveals about their potential health benefits. Learn which ingredients have evidence behind them, which health claims deserve a closer look, and how to make more informed choices about the foods you eat.

7. Nature’s Medicine Cabinet: Discover the Healing Plants Growing Around You

What medicinal plants might be growing in your garden or in the spaces around you?

Discover some of the plants used in traditional herbal medicine, their historical uses and the properties that have attracted the interest of herbalists and researchers. This talk explores the remarkable relationship between people and medicinal plants, bringing together botanical interest, traditional knowledge and modern evidence.

An engaging talk for gardening clubs, nature groups, community organisations and anyone interested in the medicinal uses of plants.

8. Weeds or Healers? The Hidden Medicinal Uses of Common Plants

We spend so much time pulling weeds out of our gardens that we rarely stop to consider their hidden potential. Yet many of these familiar plants have been valued in herbal medicine for centuries.

Discover how common weeds were traditionally used to support health, explore the medicinal properties that made them valued remedies, and find out what modern scientific research reveals about their potential benefits today. Which traditional uses have scientific evidence behind them, and what can we learn from these often-overlooked plants?

This fascinating talk brings together the history of herbal medicine and the science of today, offering a fresh perspective on the plants growing all around us.

Ideal for gardening clubs, horticultural societies, nature groups and anyone curious about the medicinal uses of plants.

Bespoke talks and workshops

Have a particular topic in mind? I’m happy to discuss developing a talk around the interests of your audience and the objectives of your event.

Other possible subjects include nutrition and stress, women’s health, menopause, sleep, digestive health, healthy eating, supplements and the safe use of herbal medicines.

Talks can be adapted to suit the occasion, from a focused presentation or lunchtime staff session to a longer workshop with opportunities for questions and discussion.

Why book a talk with Ellie Holly?

Extensive professional experience: I bring over 25 years of experience as a medical herbalist, alongside my background in nutritional therapy and clinical practice.

 A wealth of teaching experience: For over 15 years, I developed, wrote and delivered nutrition courses for adult learners at City Lit in Covent Garden. I also taught beginner and intermediate courses in herbal medicine and nutrition at the Mary Ward Centre in London. I currently teach nutrition modules at the London School of Osteopathy.

Evidence-informed content: My talks explore what research and traditional knowledge can tell us, while acknowledging the limitations of the evidence and avoiding exaggerated health claims.

Warm, engaging and accessible delivery: I am friendly and approachable, I encourage questions and discussion and making sure everyone feels welcome to get involved. I enjoy making complex subjects understandable, interesting and relevant to everyday life.

Tailored to your audience: Whether you’re planning a corporate wellbeing event, a community talk or an educational programme, I can adapt the content to suit your group.

Enquire about booking a talk

If you’re organising a staff wellbeing event, a community gathering, a club meeting or an educational programme, I’d love to hear from you.

Tell me a little about your organisation, the audience, your preferred topic and the date of your event. We can then discuss the most suitable format and content for your needs.

Contact me to discuss booking a talk

I look forward to hearing from you!