About the Founder

"As a child, I used to walk along the river banks looking at the thistles, burdock and other wild plants and my interest developed from there." says Susan Koten, founder of the Willow Herbal Centre. But she didn't take her hobby any further until she studied herbal medicine and began to use the plants she was learning about to deal with family ailments.

Susan is qualified in both Western and Chinese Herbal Medicine. She qualified as a Medical Herbalist in 1990 at the School of Herbal Medicine in Tunbridge Wells. In 1997 Susan completed a course of clinical practise of Chinese Herbal Medicine at Nanjing International acupuncture Training Centre in China and in 1998 completed a course at the School of Chinese Herbal Medicine under Michael McIntyre.

Susan is also a Bowen Technique Therapist, having qualified in 1995 at the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia.

Susan is a Member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, a Member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine, a Member of The British Institute for Allergy and Environmental Therapy and a Member of the Bowen Therapy Academy UK.

The National Institute of Medical Herbalists was established in 1864 and is the oldest body of practising medical herbalists in the world. All members have undergone a rigorous four year training and adhere to a strict professional code of ethics.

The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine was set up in 1987 to regulate the practice of Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) in the UK and now represent over 400 fully qualified practitioners of Chinese Herbal Medicine

The British Institute for Allergy and Environmental Therapy was formed in January 1987 to bring together a group of therapists who practise a unique system of allergy diagnosis and treatment, a system that had already been used very successfully for nearly ten years. The Institute's members are all qualified health professionals - both mainstream and complementary - with a keen interest in allergic conditions and their causes.

About Willow Herbal Centre

Susan Koten founded the Willow Herbal Centre in 2002 with the aim of providing a selection of complimentary therapists who would work together in a natural, calming environment to help heal the mind, body and spirit of everyone who came for treatment.

There are several complementary and alternative therapies available from the centre including: Western and Chinese Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture, Massage, Reflexology, Colon Hydrotherapy, Healing, Hypnotherapy, Counselling, Aromatherapy and Bowen Technique. More details of the therapies offered can be found on the complementary therapies page.  There are also therapy rooms to hire at the Willow Herbal Centre.  Details of which can be found by clicking the Therapy Rooms tab at the top of the page or by clicking here.

The Willow Herbal Centre is located in Harold Wood, Romford, Essex and is easily accessible by rail, bus and road.  The centre is a three minute walk from Harold Wood Station and has parking space at the front.