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Hey there!
I am Nik Bucceri, a qualified Western medical herbalist and Jikiden Reiki practitioner. I am a registered member of both the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and the Jikiden Reiki UK Association.
I use she/her pronouns, and one time I painted my face to try and look like Hawthorn.
I live in Folkestone with my husband and our two cats.
I enjoy sea swimming, walking, gardening, travelling, music, Morris dancing, and afternoon naps. I am a fervent foodie and a habitual overthinker. My favourite herbs (at the moment) are Nettle and Lemon Balm. My favourite country is Japan.
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 magnificent medicinal plants.
Finding Herbal Medicine
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 when I had a cough, or a dermatologist recommending oat baths for my dry skin.
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 that focussed 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.
Becoming a Herbalist
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 started studying 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.
Learning & Graduating
I studied plant science, botany, medicine making, the history and application of medicinal herbs, 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 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 herbalists and colleagues from a variety of disciplines.
I am a general practitioner and can work with people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.
My Reiki Story
My path to Reiki started entirely by accident when on a trip to Peru, I booked a coca leaf reading with a shaman on a whim, just for the experience. Some of what she told me during the session touched a nerve and made me very tearful, so she figured I needed some healing - and threw in a full-on energy healing ritual! Her abundant kindness and care, paired with the cleansing she performed, unexpectedly did shift something in me and I was able to release what I had held on to emotionally for a while.
Back in England, I looked for a local energy healing practitioner, and Reiki was the most accessible option. I ended up finding Reiki massively beneficial for physical relaxation and for calming my mind.
My Reiki practitioner and teacher Amanda Jayne encouraged me to take a Jikiden Reiki course to learn more about it, and I curiously signed up for the basic training with my teacher Helen Price. I am so grateful I did, because Reiki has enriched my life and introduced me to a community of inspiring people, on top of continuing to calm me and make me feel grounded and at home with myself.
After completing my training with Amanda in May 2024, I now love giving Reiki as part of my practice and am feeling proud to be able to hold a healing space for others.
Let's Meet!
I love building a respectful, caring relationship with each new client I meet and am looking forward to acquaint you with your very own herbal companions and the benefits of energy work.
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 and Reiki can both have great benefits for your health. Let's have a short, no obligations chat to see how I can be of service to you!