A New Forest spa has become one of the first in the UK to launch its own bespoke ayurvedic treatments, designed to rebalance the mind, body and spirit. 

Herb House, at Lime Wood, has flown in expert ayurvedic therapist and Reiki healer Sheena Chandran to bring the ancient natural healing principles of Ayurveda to Britain from the southern Indian state of Kerala via Thailand. 

From the circulation-boosting Abhyanga Treatment, where warm oil is poured across the body followed by long, energy mapped strokes, to the Lumbosacral therapy, where a mix of herbal paste dough and warm oil is massaged into the lower back to strengthen the spinal cord, the new Herb House treatments are designed to holistically improve various mind and body issues, particularly stress and lack of sleep.

Sheena Chandran has brought ayurvedic treatments to Lime Wood (Image: Lime Wood)

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Sheena, who trained at the renowned Amala Ayurvedic Hospital Research Centre in Kerala before a decade practising at Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary in Koh Samui, will also be showcasing her superlative Indian head massage, designed to improve sleep and circulation, while her energy-driven Reiki practices open and balance the chakras, promising to reduce stress and anxiety.

Sheena and Herb House’s team can suggest the best Ayurvedic therapies for each guest, tailoring treatments to any particular pain points or concerns.

(Image: Lime Wood)

Herb House Director Tammy Kenyon said: "Sheena, with her great wealth of experience and knowledge, will be joining the team to further our holistic treatment offering with a number of wellbeing rituals from India.

"Designed to restore balance to mind, body and spirit, our natural setting in the forest is the perfect setting for this exciting new offering in the spa."

Lime Wood forager Sammie Longhorn in the hotel's grounds (Image: Newsquest / Lorelei Reddin)

Guests to the official launch this week were also treated to a workshop with Lime Wood's resident forager Sammie Longhorne, who leads guided forest walks to learn about folklore, edible plants, berries and seeds talking through the best wild plants to harvest, where to find them across the seasons and how to safely prepare them to eat.

New Forest treasures include yarrow, nettle, clover, Mugwort and St John’s Wort. The experience at Lime Wood also includes some feasting with foraged produce being cooked up into delicious nibbles and tipples such as flapjack with catkins and nettle seeds, and fresh dandelion and yarrow tea.

(Image: Lime Wood)