Product Description

This concise guide to medicinal plants of the Southern Appalachians includes botanical descriptions of 45 native plants, their historical and current uses in herbal practice, detailed, easy-to-follow medicine making instructions and unique recipes for syrups, liniments, digestive bitters and more. The book invites the reader to explore native plants in their wild habitats and offers step-by-step ethical harvesting guidelines while emphasizing conservation issues. The author is a well-respected medical herbalist and teacher who lives in the mountains of north Georgia. Praise for Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians. "This is one volume that I want to own as we enter the post-corporate age: a priceless guide to Southern plant alchemy. This practical yet enchanting botanical brings an ancient art to modernity. These pages are as rich as the cove forests they honor. Even to peruse Howell's manual is healing, and exhilarating, not only because of the book's inherent beauty, but because it contains vital knowledge all of us will need as fossil fuels dwindle and we return to the local. One day this book may save your life." Janisse Ray, author of Ecology of a Cracker Childhood, Wild Card Quilt and Pinhook: Finding Wholeness in a Fragmented Land "An elegant introduction presented in a clear-as-a-bell style that educates as well as entertains." Peter Loewer, author of The Wild Gardener and Jefferson's Garden "There are many comprehensive volumes about medicinal plants in other regions of North America but none for the botanically rich southeast. Now, a widely experienced and knowledgeable herbalist has written a thorough guide to the virtues of Yellow Root, Rabbit Tobacco, Dogwood Bark, Sweet Fern and other better known herbs of the region. From Howell's book, readers can learn to use local plants safely and consciously to improve the health of their families or patients." David Winston, RH (AHG), Dean, Herbal Therapeutics School of Herbal Medicine "An excellent, much needed resource on Southeastern herbs. Well thought out and easy to follow." Tim Blakely, co-author of The Bootstrap Guide to Medicinal Herbs in the Garden, Field and Marketplace "I often remind veterinarians that the foundation of botanical medicine lies in the experience of learning all aspects of medicinal plants thoroughly. This book guides the reader out of the classroom and into the fields and forest where plants become, to the student, more tangible sources of healing. Recommended for any practitioner who wants to deepen their understanding of our native apothecary." Susan Wynn, DVM, RH (AHG), Executive Director, Veterinary Botanical Medical Assoc.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #141021 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 276 pages

Customer Reviews

Patricia's Love and Passion
It is so clear in this book of love how much Patricia cares and conveys her belief in Mother Earths gifts to us all. She knows how important and vital that we cradle and pass on the wisdom handed down through the ages; and how natural healing is as close to us as our back yard. This book was written for all of us who want to preserve and cherish Natures' bounty. Kathi, San Diego

A "must have" resource for medicinal plants
Finally a book that covers the top 45 native medicinal plants of the southeast/southern Appalachians in detail...from the chemical constituents, to harvesting, to medicine preparation, and more. Being Patricia is a practicing medical herbalist, her valuable practical experience shines through. It's very well organized and easy to follow. Since it does not contain photo's of the plants, it has a handy reference to the plate number for each herb contained in Peterson's Field Guide 'Medicinal Plants and Herbs'. Since I teach classes on edible and medicinal plants of the wild in the southeast US, this book is a "must have" in my library and I will highly recommend it to my students. Great job Patricia!

A great handbook for everyone
You don't have to live in the southern USA or be able to harvest plants yourself in order to find this guide indispensable in managing your health and well-being. As an urban dweller, I can find these herbs sold in bulk at whole foods stores, and I also use this book to help me analyze what's included in packaged herbal formulas and teas. The extensive Therapeutic Index lets me easily look up symptoms and locate the specified herbs, and the well-organized plant chapters let me know exactly how to use the herbs once I have them. The Simple Art of Medicine Making chapter early in this book is exactly what I have been needing: at last I am clear about when and how to make an infusion versus a decoction!