Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide : 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use

Widely recognized as the godmother of modern herbalism, Rosemary Gladstar is renowned worldwide for her inspired teaching and trustworthy knowledge of healing herbs. With Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide, Gladstar offers a fresh introduction for a new generation of gardeners and natural health and self-sufficiency enthusiasts. Thirty-three of the most common and versatile healing plants are profiled in depth to get the budding herbalist off on the right foot. Readers will learn how to grow, harvest, prepare, and use each herb. Step-by-step instructions explain how to prepare herbal teas, salves, syrups, tinctures, oils, and liniments to stock the home medicine chest. Simple recipes explore each plant's healing qualities - aloe lotion for poison ivy, dandelion-burdock tincture for sluggish digestion, and lavender-lemon balm tea for stress relief. Gladstar shows how easy it is to make safe, all-natural, low-cost healing remedies for common ailments. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 5 CHAPTER 1 Welcome to the Wonderful World of Medicinal Herbs......Page 7 What Is a Medicinal Herb?......Page 10 How Is Herbal Medicine Used?......Page 11 The Benefits of Herbal Medicine......Page 13 Starting a Home Medicine Garden......Page 15 CHAPTER 2 How to Make Your Own Herbal Remedies......Page 23 Setting Up Your Kitchen Pharmacy......Page 25 Herbal Teas......Page 28 Syrups......Page 33 Oils......Page 35 Salves......Page 38 Tinctures......Page 40 Herbal Pills......Page 43 Baths Poultices and Compresses......Page 45 The Skinny on Dosage and Duration of Herbal Treatments......Page 47 CHAPTER 3 9 Familiar Herbs & Spices to Grow and Use......Page 51 Basil......Page 54 Cayenne......Page 61 Cinnamon......Page 65 Garlic......Page 71 Ginger......Page 79 Rosemary......Page 84 Sage......Page 87 Thyme......Page 91 Turmeric......Page 95 CHAPTER 4 24 Safe & Effective Herbs to Know Grow and Use......Page 101 Aloe Vera......Page 103 Burdock......Page 108 Calendula......Page 113 Chamomile......Page 118 Chickweed......Page 122 Dandelion......Page 125 Echinacea......Page 130 Elder......Page 135 Goldenseal......Page 140 Hawthorn......Page 145 Lavender......Page 150 Lemon Balm......Page 157 Licorice......Page 162 Marsh Mallow......Page 167 Mullein......Page 171 Nettle......Page 176 Oats......Page 181 Peppermint......Page 185 Plantain......Page 189 Red Clover......Page 193 St. John’s Wort......Page 198 Spearmint......Page 204 Valerian......Page 209 Yarrow......Page 213 Resources......Page 218 Credits......Page 219 C......Page 220 F......Page 221 L......Page 222 P......Page 223 S......Page 224 Y......Page 225 Just as people are increasingly thinking about where their food comes from - and looking for greater control over their food sources - they are also seeking to take greater control of their health care. With health care costs soaring and the frightening list of side effects from pharmaceutical drugs coutinuing to build, many are looking to herbal medicine for a gentler, less expensive approach to treating everyday ailments. This title covers 33 common plants that can be grown nearly antwhere and used in a variety of ways, including familiar plants such as garlic, achinacea, burdock, nettles and chamomile. It including step-by-step instructions for drying and preserving herbs and for making the most common herbal preparations, including salves, syrups, tinctures, pills and capsules. It features 20 basic recipes, including some "food as medicine" recipes for healing pestos, vinegars and soups Craft a soothing aloe lotion after an encounter with poison ivy, make a dandelion-burdock tincture to fix sluggish digestion, and brew up some lavender-lemon balm tea to ease a stressful day. In this introductory guide, Rosemary Gladstar shows you how easy it can be to make your own herbal remedies for life's common ailments. Gladstar profiles 33 common healing plants and includes advice on growing, harvesting, preparing, and using herbs in healing tinctures, oils, and creams. Stock your medicine cabinet full of all-natural, low-cost herbal preparations. With Rosemary Gladstar's expert advice, anyone can make their own herbal remedies for common ailments, such as aloe lotion for poison ivy, dandelion-burdock tincture for sluggish digestion, and lavender-lemon balm tea for stress relief. Gladstar profiles 33 of the most common and versatile healing plants and then shows you exactly how to grow, harvest, prepare, and use them. Stock your home medicine chest with safe, all-natural, low-cost herbal preparations, and enjoy better health!? An introduction to growing and using 33 herbs, including gardening tips and recipes for brewing teas, blending salves, and making tinctures, oils, syrups, and pills