Hawthorn:
A Three Month Programme of Collective Care
Herbal Solidarity for People Experiencing Repression
A programme for people experiencing state repression because of their work towards liberation.
Whether you're awaiting trial, facing prison, or carrying the weight of state repression - this space is here to hold you. No one should have to navigate repression alone.
Over three months, we’ll build a container of collective care and herbal support, grounded in the heart-tending medicine of Hawthorn.
You’ll receive plant medicines made for you by the Solidarity Apothecary, alongside live group calls, pre-recorded content, and community connection.
Why Hawthorn?
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is a stunning tree that gifts us medicine in the form of flowers and berries. Hawthorn has an affinity with the cardiovascular system, tends the nervous system through its gentle relaxant action and aids recovery from burnout on multiple levels. At the beginning of the programme, I'll share a deep dive into hawthorn’s medicinal properties.
Hawthorn offers support to grieving and distressed hearts, bringing comfort in times of loneliness, loss and isolation that all too commonly accompany repression.
Why this Programme?
In all honesty, I'm creating an offering that I would have cherished during the wave of repression I experienced. There was little to no collective care during what were some of the most isolating and exhausting years of my life and the uncertainty, life disruption, fear and feelings of betrayal by comrades took their toll on my nervous system and health. It was finding plant medicines in prison that gave me a path out of the maze and now I'm passionate about supporting others surviving state violence to heal from trauma and find strength from our non-human kin.
Programme Details
When
September 2025 for 3 months
Format
Mix of live group calls and pre-recorded content
Herbal medicines
Will be posted directly to you throughout the programme
Who This Is For
This offering is designed for people who have experienced, or are currently experiencing, state repression because of their work towards collective liberation.
This may include:
- People with pending legal cases
- Prison abolitionists, anarchists, anti-fascists, and others targeted by police or the courts
- Individuals living with the physical and emotional aftermath of repression
We will be a small group of six to nine people.
What is Included
Herbal Support for Your Nervous System & Whole Body
Custom-blended teas, tinctures, and remedies sent to you throughout the programme - to support your stress response, sleep, immunity and digestion.
Live Group Calls, Community and Solidarity
Fortnightly group calls offering connection, education, herbal guidance, and collective care. These will be gentle, non-medical spaces focused on checking in with how you're feeling while navigating the uncertainty and chronic stress that accompanies repression, as well as your experiences of the plant medicines you're working with.
Between calls, we will communicate via a group on the Signal app.
Pre-recorded Content
Access short, accessible lessons about herbs, nervous system care, and other tools to work through in your own time.
About Nicole & the Solidarity Apothecary
About the Solidarity Apothecary
The mission of the Solidarity Apothecary is to materially support revolutionary struggles and communities with plant medicines to strengthen collective autonomy, self-defence and resilience to climate change, capitalism and state violence.
This includes distributing herbal medicines to people experiencing state violence and repression, such as prisoners, ex-prisoners, refugees, and organisers. The project also offers one-to-one herbal support, runs courses and workshops, and collaborates on mobile clinics at sites of resistance and border violence.
About Nicole Rose
I'm Nicole Rose (she/her), an anarchist organiser and herbalist based in the West Country of England. I've been studying herbal medicine for over 16 years and completed a four-year clinical training with The Plant Medicine School in Ireland.
I went through a decade of state repression at a young age, culminating in a 3.5 year prison sentence. This experience has propelled me to do anti-repression work with different collectives and support people in prison for the last two decades.
I founded the Solidarity Apothecary to focus on supporting people experiencing state violence with herbalism.
Programme Accessibility
Pre-recorded content: Videos include closed captions. There are downloadable audio files and slides, as well as transcripts.
Group calls: These will be hosted on Jitsi (similar to zoom). The group will decide if they will be recorded or not based on everyone's needs and desires. For example, if several people will struggle to participate live due to chronic illness, we may need to enable a recorded option - we will make decisions together as a group at the beginning of the programme.
Signal group: We will set guidelines together based on people's needs in order to prevent information overwhelm while enabling collective care (and memes!).
Medicines: Blends will be bespoke to your needs taking into consideration existing health challenges, medications, living environment and ease of taking.
Next Steps
Applications are open!
Please fill in this form if you'd like apply to join.
You are very welcome to email any questions. Feel free to reach out via email to info@solidarityapothecary.org
Commonly Asked Questions
Where can people apply from?
This first round of Hawthorn is for people in England, Wales, Scotland and the north of Ireland.What kind of herbal support will I receive?
These will be prepared based on your needs, but the goal of the programme is to support your nervous system health, sleep quality and digestion while contending with the chronic stress that repression can generate.I’ll prepare unique medicines for you, likely in the form of tinctures, glycerites and teas. What I can’t make myself, will be purchased from trusted suppliers depending on the needs of the group.
I'm nervous of being in a group of strangers especially due to my experiences of repression
After going through a decade of repression, I really understand. You are welcome to participate using a pseudonym.At the beginning of the programme, we will create some group guidelines together to help ensure it's as nourishing a space as possible. All participants will be asked to respect one another’s confidentiality and boundaries.
There will be no pressure to disclose any legal information or details of your case beyond however you want to introduce yourself. The group calls are an opportunity to reflect on the pre-recorded material as well as for you to share your experiences of working with plant medicines.
When does the programme start?
Join the waiting list to be the first to hear when applications open. I'm aiming to begin the application process in early August with a plan to start at the beginning of September.At the beginning of the programme, we will create some group guidelines together to help ensure it's as nourishing a space as possible. All participants will be asked to respect one another’s confidentiality and boundaries.
There will be no pressure to disclose any legal information or details of your case beyond however you want to introduce yourself. The group calls are an opportunity to reflect on the pre-recorded material as well as for you to share your experiences of working with plant medicines.
How will the group communicate?
We will have a group chat on the Signal app between calls.How do I join the programme?
Please put your details through this online application form.What time will the calls be?
The calls will be organised during daytime windows.I'm currently co-sleeping with my baby so I'm not available in the evenings. We will try to schedule calls based on the needs and availability of the group at the beginning of the programme.
What if I can’t attend the live calls?
If everyone in the group agrees to, we may record calls.The pre-recorded content is available for you to watch whenever you want.
How much does the programme cost?
The programme will be offered via donation with no one turned away for lack of funds. Funds are generated for the Solidarity Apothecary through course sales, book sales and donations and this offering will be covered by the Solidarity Apothecary as much as possible. Any donations from people who are supported by groups or campaigns with financial resources to contribute are welcome.I have a lot of complex and chronic health issues. Is this programme appropriate for me?
Yes and no! Chronic illness can be incredibly isolating and a group environment will hopefully be nourishing and strengthening.However, we may need to organise additional calls to explore your health history in more depth to ensure safety and appropriateness of herbal medicines. This will be dependent on my availability which is unfortunately quite limited as I am focused on caring for my little one.
How do I know if this programme is right for me?
If you’re currently experiencing or have experienced the impacts of state repression in your organising work, and you’re seeking collective care and herbal support for resilience, this programme is designed with you in mind. It is especially for those who feel isolated or alone in their experiences with legal systems, police, or incarceration.If you’re unsure, please get in touch.
However, we may need to organise additional calls to explore your health history in more depth to ensure safety and appropriateness of herbal medicines. This will be dependent on my availability which is unfortunately quite limited as I am focused on caring for my little one.
I have other questions. How can I get in touch?
If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out via email to info@solidarityapothecary.org