Emily Boese

Naturopath & Medical Herbalist

Emily is a naturopath & medical herbalist with over 15 years of experience in the natural health world.

She has had a varied career, including working in clinical practice; formulating and producing traditional plant medicines commercially; educating retailers, healthcare practitioners and the public on medicinal plants; customer service; technical support; copywriting; and working in a herb garden. She is also currently a lecturer at the South Pacific College of Natural Medicine in Auckland.

Through her business Pōhutukawa Health, Emily works with one-on-one clients to support their health naturally, and runs online and in person workshops, where she helps people learn to confidently identify, grow, harvest, make and use medicinal plants.

Find out more about Emily at pohutukawahealth.com.

Meet the rest of the expert panel

If you had to pick 3 of your favourite herbs, what would they be and why?

Ashwagandha – as a grounding adaptogen, I find it is a herb that most of us in modern society benefit from. It is calming, immune balancing and rejuvenating.
Nettle – are like an accessible nourishing superfood. Full of vitamins, minerals, and other plant compounds, Nettles are best taken in a tea and are super easy to grow.
Thyme – is such a powerful respiratory herb. I have got to harvest wild Central Otago Thyme twice with artemis and it always blows me away how potent it is.

What’s your top tip for anyone thinking about doing a detox for healthy, glowing skin?

Your skin is an organ that requires nutrients to function at its best, just like the rest of your body. Eating a wide variety of colourful fruits and veg will provide the nutrients and antioxidants that your skin needs to do its job as a barrier from the outside world and have a healthy glow.

Why are you so passionate about herbal health?

The small act of knowing what plant to use for yourself or for a family member is so powerful. It brings about a sense of agency and empowerment. It can also help to rekindle a connection to the land and a sense of guardianship, which is key if we are going to get serious about saving this planet we all live on.

What are your daily non-negotiables to feeling balanced and calm?

Walking outside. In the early relentless months of parenting a new baby, I quickly learned that even a 10 minute walk outside was enough to keep my mental health balanced. Over the last 4 years it has become an absolute non-negotiable part of my day and I cannot overstate the benefits that it has continued to have.