The Herbal Home Remedy Book: Simple Recipes for Tinctures, Teas, Salves, Tonics, and Syrups

I have to say that I was rather shocked to read another review's comment that many of the recipes in this book were beyond the beginner's grasp.... This has not been my experience at all. I use this book for most all of my students and have had great success with it. It's simple, totally down to earth and gives a very firm grasp of old fashioned downhome herbalism (the best kind in my not so humble opinion). I love her focus on 25 very common (and often overlooked herbs) that almost any of us can access no matter where we are. I also love her rather unfashionable uses of homemade herbal wines and vinegars, that are a fabulous and gentle choice for the home herbalist (not to mention cheap and practical). She also focuses on using food as medicine and lifestyle as medicine, which are of course, really the only medicine that work in the long run. Joyce does a really lovely job of making the best of herbal medicine accessable and joyous. Of the probably hundreds of herb books I've read, this remains a classic for me, easily in my top ten best herb books. I would also recommend books by Susun Weed, Juliette Levy, Gail Faith Edwards, Judith Berger, Stephen Buhner, Michael Moore and Matthew Wood for more great writing in a similair earth loving vein.

Simpling refers to a method of learning herbalism. Choose an herb and explore every facet of it - leaves, petals roots, uses, dangers - inside and out. When you finally "know" that, then and only then, choose a second herb to get to know. This book is an amazing primer for beginners to herbalism. I chafed its simplicity at first, "More herbs! Its too basic!", until I really began to learn my first herb, catnip. Then I realized how silly I'd been and how very much there was to learn. This book is a bible for beginners!

If you buy any herbal recipe book-this is the one.Easy to understand with illustrations and definitions.Perfect reference for the begining or seasoned Herbalist****Recommended reading by Mother Earth Market Place****

This book is so much fun to read. It isn't the ultimate sourcebook in terms of listing all the herbs out there, but it offers wonderful information on making herbal remedies with interesting stories to go along with the recipes. The author definitely shows her love for herbs with this book.

This book is written in a humorous, easy to understand and concise format. It is an great way for someone who has never studied herbal medicine before to dip their toes in the water. Ms. Wardwell is very clear about the dangers of using certain herbs. It also has wonderful guidelines on learning how to identify the different types of plants and herbs you'll be using. Ms. Wardwell also includes several recipes for various tinctures, teas, wines and vinegars to be used. She also offers interesting stories explaining the folklore behind certain plants as well. I can't recommend this book highly enough to any student of herbalism whether beginner or advanced.