About My Background

I am Nik Bucceri, a qualified Western medical herbalist and Jikiden Reiki practitioner. I use she/her pronouns.

I am a registered member of both the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and the Jikiden Reiki UK Association.

The name I chose for my practice - Botanik Herbs - combines the German word for botany, reflecting my heritage and my life-long passion for plant study, with what sits at the core of my work: our wonderful medicinal plants.

Growing up in Germany, herbal prescriptions had sometimes been a part of my healthcare experience. I remember picking up a tea mix with bright blue cornflower petals from the pharmacy, or a dermatologist recommending oat baths.

And of course I used herbs in my kitchen and drank copious amounts of teas containing various herbs and spices.

But I only started relying on herbal medicine regularly when I was in my late thirties and my hair slowly started to fall out in big clumps. 

Despite many appointments and tests, conventional medicine was not able to fully address what was happening, so I decided to seek a herbalist's help. 

She treated me with empathy and prescribed me a tincture mix, focusing on hormonal balance and stress reduction. I soon saw reassuring improvements under her care. 

This positive experience, coupled with my love for nature, nudged me towards exploring a career in herbal medicine for myself. 

Since then, herbs have been my trusted allies for anything from travel sickness and keeping the sniffles at bay to major life changes. They have helped me with the joys of perimenopause, are with me during my exploration of late-diagnosed neurodivergence, have soothed my anxiety on many occasions, and have supported me through times of loss and grief.

I have studied herbal medicine to degree-standard. I completed a year-long foundation course and a 3-and-a-half-year professional diploma course with Heartwood Education, while working part-time as a gardener and as a dispenser - first for Lucy Vertue at The Herbary in Biddenden and later for Jodie Foreman at Foreman & Jones, where I am still based now. 

In addition to studying plant science, botany, medicine making, and the history and application of medicinal herbs, my education encompassed pathology, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, physical examination, differential diagnosis, consultation skills, and safeguarding. 

I completed over 500 hours of practical training with long-established herbalists locally in Kent, as well as further afield in Britain, Ireland, Portugal, and Canada. 

The clinical setting gave me the opportunity to lead consultations as a student practitioner and provided me with valuable experience in developing prescriptions and treatment plans, as well as writing many case studies.

After I graduated with distinction in September 2024, I joined Foreman & Jones, where I work alongside other experienced herbalists and fantastic colleagues from a variety of disciplines.

My path to Reiki similarly involved personal experience, as I found receiving Reiki massively beneficial for physical relaxation and for calming my mind. This made me want to become a practitioner myself, and after completing my training, I now love giving Reiki to others.

I live in Folkestone with my husband and our two cats. I enjoy sea swimming, walking, gardening, music, Morris dancing, and afternoon naps. I am a fervent foodie and a habitual overthinker. My favourite herbs (at the moment) are Hawthorn and Lemon Balm.

I love building a professional relationship with each new client I meet and am looking forward to acquaint you with your very own herbal companions. I hope to introduce you to mindful practices that will make make you feel comfortable and cared for - and which can ultimately help you feel better in yourself.

Herbal medicine is a way of treating a variety of acute or chronic conditions with the help of plants in a client-centred way. 

It is a time-honoured, gentle way of medical care, and many traditional plant uses are now confirmed by scientific studies. 

Many of today’s drugs can be traced back to medicinal herbs. For example, aspirin comes from the willow tree and is named after meadowsweet. Digoxin, a powerful heart medicine, is derived from chemicals that are found in foxglove, and morphine is made from poppies.

With the advent of modern medicine, traditional practices lost their prominence in many Western cultures, leading to the disappearance of significant herbal knowledge. 

Herbal medicine looks to nature for healing and acknowledges the connection we people have with our environment. 

As a medical herbalist, I aim to work alongside you to put you in a position of empowerment that allows you to look after yourself, and to initiate positive shifts. In short, I will work with you to identify the root causes of your dis-ease and aim to provide you with tools to build up your resilience. I count on your active involvement to make the treatment as dynamic and successful as possible.

I am a general practitioner and can work with people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. 

Herbal medicine can help support your body's natural resilience and can benefit digestion, skin, circulation, respiratory ailments, inflammation, stress levels, sleep,  and hormonal balance, to name a few. 

Your confidential first consultation will usually be face-to-face and lasts for about an hour. 

I will take time to thoroughly listen to your current health concerns, take a  detailed medical history, and ask in-depth questions to connect the dots and build a holistic picture of your health. 

I might take your blood pressure or examine you if indicated. 

After your appointment, I will make up a personalised prescription, using a range of herbs, usually in the form of extracts or teas. Your herbs may also come as capsules, creams, and in other mediums. 

Your medicine may contain a variety of plant parts, including flowers, leaves, bark, roots, or seeds. 

I may use herbs that can help with specific conditions or body systems, or choose the plants for their energetic qualities to help you on a more emotional level. I will always check that the herbs I prescribe are safe for you to take and will not interact with your prescription medication.

In addition to your herbal prescription, I will usually also suggest lifestyle and nutrition adjustments, with a focus on nourishing food & personal well-being. 

With your permission, I might get in touch with your doctor and other members of your healthcare team to discuss the best way forward for you. 

I will see you for a 30-minute follow-up after 2 to 4 weeks, to check how you are doing on your medicine, to discuss any improvements or new developments, and to tweak your prescription for your full benefit, if necessary. After a few follow-ups, it is quite usual to just request repeat prescriptions if you are happy with your herbs. 

The length of treatment is very individual to each person. It is often possible to stop treatment once symptoms have gone, but some people stay on a prescription for many years to maintain its positive effects. 

While you are in my care, I recommend regular appointments at agreed intervals to give me the opportunity to check in with you and make sure our approach is still working and safe.

Jikiden Reiki is a gentle hands-on therapy which uses simple touch to support your well-being. 

The word Reiki (靈氣) means "universal energy" in Japanese. This is the energy that connects us humans with the other animals, with the plants, the elements, the earth, the stars... 

I firmly believe that caring touch is a powerful way to remind us of this connection, to make us feel safe in our bodies, and to balance our mind and our spirit.  

You will receive Reiki fully clothed on my treatment couch or sitting on a chair if you prefer. 

I will place my hands directly on your body, for example your head, your heart space, your belly, your arms, or your legs. We will talk about your specific needs before we begin, or you can let me be guided by where your energy leads me. 

Everyone’s experience of Reiki is unique. Most people find Reiki enormously relaxing and experience a profound sense of well-being and deep calm. 

During your session, you may feel some mild tingling, twitching, warmth, coolness, or other physical sensations. 

Some people fall asleep, some others are unsure whether they can feel anything; all of these are entirely valid responses to treatment.

Treatment finishes with Ketsueki Kokan (Kekko). This is a combination of sweeping and tapping movements I apply to your arms, back, and legs in order to stimulate circulation after your Reiki session.

Even a single session can be beneficial, but regular treatment can deepen the experience. We can discuss a schedule at your first session, which we will review and revise to fit your needs.