The Herbal Companion: The Essential Guide to Using Herbs for Your Health and Well-Being

This is both a handy and beautiful little book. All the key terms and concepts are fully explained, and instructions for growing all the common and popular herbs are given. For those lacking the proper soil, tips on soil improvement are given. By far, most of the text is concerned with the medicinal uses of herbs. 100 or so herbs are presented, and for each the medicinal properties and their preparation from fresh isolates are fully explained. I like the book because it reminds the reader that although herbs are 'natural' remedies, they can be just as toxic (and perhaps moreso) than synthetic drugs if the dosage is not appropriate. For this reasons the author fully explains the concept behind dosage, both for over the counter preparations and for those made from fresh herbs. He also devotes considerable space to specifying when certain herbal remedies should be used, and by whom and for exactly what purpose Considerable attention is also paid to the exact concentrations of over-the-counter preparations, as it has been found that many of them tend to have none of the active ingredient of the herb in question. Thus it pays to keep an eye on the source of the preparation as well as how the preparation was manufactured. I also like the author's repeated suggestion to seek consultations with competent professional medical help before using any herbal remedy. I especially liked the section on culinary uses of herbs. More than a few can be used to accentuate the flavor of many dishes. Although fresh is vastly preferable to dried, seasonality often precludes their availability, so the author provides detailed instructions on how to dry and store herbs for year-round use. The book contains lots of pretty pictures and more than a few ideas on how to start a small kitchen herb or backyard garden. Additionally, a glossary of key medical terms used throughout the book is provided at the end of the text. An index is also provided which provides the herb based on both the condition and the treatment. Herbs really are versatile, and you can use them in culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic purposes (you can even use a few as organic insecticides and cleaning agents). This book is definitely a keeper, and one that should be lent to inquiring minds who want to know a bit more about herbs and their uses.