Complete Book of Herbs and Spices

Excellent review of herbs, herb gardens and their application to every aspect of life from food recipes to skin care recipes.

This book is very useful for people who want to grow herbs and know what they are used for. The first section of the book lists all the herbs alphabetically by latin name. There is a drawing of the plant along with a description of what it's used for and how to grow it. Since the author is British all the growing information relates to that country and has to be reinterpreted for the U.S. Take care if the book says will over winter etc. (like Rosemary which is a shrub in the UK but won't survive in the northern states). There is also a section on poisonous herbs so you know what to avoid or take care with. The next section is a small overview of growing herbs in your garden which again has to be reinterpreted but is good general information. There is a nice section on cooking with herbs, it's not comprehensive and many other books which deal specifically with cooking with give more information but it's a good starter. It also has a section on making herb drinks including wines and beers which is interesting. It then goes on to detail how to explain how to use herbs in the home, making candles, pot pourri, using herbs to clean with and making fabric dyes. Lastly there is a section on cosmetic use for herbs and information on how to make infusions, decoctions and macerations. Lots of recipes for bath waters, skin and hair care. The final section on health is very short and not very comprehensive. However as an overall book it's very good. I especially like the herbal listings at the front of the book and the home herbs section the rest is just a bonus for me. As an overall informative book on herbs especially if you want to identify and grow them it's excellent. If you want a cookery book or a herb health book this won't help that much.

Easily Reading and great for the beginner Herbist!

Relying on carefully detailed artist's representations of herbs as well as sun-drenched photography, Sarah Garland's attractive and thorough book begins with a hundred-page "Modern Herbal" with description, cultivation directions and various uses and goes on to chapters describing the herbl garden, cooking with herbs, household uses, cosmetics and medications. Here are wintering and propogation directions as well as harvesting and storage; recipes from breads to sweets; suggestions for insect repellants and dyes as well as potpourries and candlemaking. The cosmetic section -- lotions, oils, conditioners, even perfumes -- includes directions for decoctions, infusions and even distillation. This is an attractive, useful book which should provide hours of enjoyment for the dillettante or the practiced herbalist.

This book contains an overview of information for the budding herbalist: plant lists, pictures, growing information (sun, shade, plant size, and zone!), as well as general information about medicinal usage. Tons of interesting recipes, too. This isn't a detailed herbal medicinal, but a good starting point.