Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs

May 1, 2012

Respected herbalist Gladstar tailors her guide for beginners who want to grow their own herbs and create remedies using them. She begins with an overview of herbal medicine and instructions on growing, harvesting, and drying herbs. She explains how to make tinctures, salves, teas, syrups, and other medicinal preparations. She also encourages readers to consult health-care practitioners about integrating herbal medicines into their therapy. She then discusses 33 common herbs, nine familiar spices (basil, garlic, ginger, etc.) and 24 "safe & effective herbs" (aloe vera, peppermint, Echinacea, etc.). The entry for each herb includes its Latin name, growing instructions, parts used, key constituents, safety factor, medicinal uses, and recipes. Color photographs of the plants and a list of resources complete the work. VERDICT This is very similar to Holly Bellebuono's An Essential Herbal for Radiant Health, reviewed left, but it covers more plants. A good choice for lay practitioners of holistic health.--Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.