The Herbal Apothecary

October 19, 2015
Pursell, a naturopathic physician and owner of the Herb Shoppe chain, reveals the “secret ways” of healing plants, taking herbalism out of the realm of folk healing. It takes time and effort to understand herbs and the way they work with the body’s systems, but Pursell aptly demonstrates the value in learning about these gifts from nature and understanding their uses in pursuit of sustainable health. Exploring first the tradition of herbalism and its current-day practice, coupled with a layperson’s guide to the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems, the book concludes with a comprehensive listing of 100 medicinal herbs and an explanation of how they affect these systems. Bogbean, for example, targets the lymphatic tissues of the body, clearing obstruction and waste, while chaga regulates immune function. The book includes treatment plans and recipes for preparing teas, tinctures, and other concoctions from the medicinal use of herbs. It is not a quick read, but will quickly become indispensable for understanding a neglected field that is ripe with great benefits.