Rosemary Gladstar's medicinal herbs A beginner's guide

Rosemary Gladstar

Book - 2012

Rosemary Gladstar offers an introduction for a new generation of gardeners and natural health and self-sufficiency enthusiasts. Thirty-three of the most common and versatile healing plants are profiled in depth to get the budding herbalist off on the right foot. Readers will learn how to grow, harvest, prepare, and use each herb. Step-by-step instructions explain how to prepare herbal teas, salves, syrups, tinctures, oils, and liniments to stock the home medicine chest. Simple recipes explore each plant's healing qualities -- aloe lotion for poison ivy, dandelion-burdock tincture for sluggish digestion, and lavender-lemon balm tea for stress relief.

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Subjects
Published
North Adams, MA : Storey Pub 2012.
Language
English
Main Author
Rosemary Gladstar (-)
Item Description
Includes index.
Physical Description
224 pages : color illustrations ; 23 cm
ISBN
9781612120058
  • Welcome to the wonderful world of medicinal herbs
  • How to make your own herbal remedies
  • 9 familiar herbs & spices to grow and use
  • 24 safe & effective herbs to know, grow, and use.
Review by Library Journal Review

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. (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Infusions and Decoctions When making tea, leaves and flowers are prepared differently from roots and bark, in much the same way that spinach is cooked differently from potatoes. Leaves and flowers are generally steeped in hot water so as not to overcook and destroy the enzymes, vitamins, and precious essential oils. Roots and bark are generally simmered to draw forth the more tenacious plant constituents. There are a few exceptions to these rules, which you'll generally find noted in herb books, including this one. But honestly, if you make a mistake and simmer a root that should have been steamed, don't panic. Your remedy will still work. The process of steeping a plant in boiling water is called infusion, while the process of simmering a plant in lightly boiling water is called decoction. When in doubt, steep. Steeping is much less destructive to many of the important medicinal components of plants. The longer you steep the herbs, the stronger the tea. That's not always preferable, as long steeping times can bring out some of the less desirable parts of the plant. Steep black tea too long and what happens? It goes from being a fragrant, aromatic beverage to an astringent-tasting, tannin-rich medicinal tea. A medicinal tea blend, whether an infusion or a decoction, is defined by its strength and potency. For medicinal purposes, teas need to be fairly strong, and so you'll use a relatively large amount of herbs in making them. How to Make a Medicinal INFUSION Infusions are made from the more delicate parts of the plant, such as the leaves, flowers, buds, some berries and seeds, and other aromatic plant parts. Highly aromatic roots such as valerian, ginger, and goldenseal are often steeped rather than decocted, though I find they are effective either way. After, add the spent herbs to your compost. Here are the basic steps. Instructions Put 4 to 6 tablespoons of dried herb (or 6 to 8 tablespoons of fresh herb) into a glass quart jar. Pour boiling water over the herbs, filling the jar. Let steep for 30 to 45 minutes. (The length of steeping time and the amount of herb you use will affect the strength of the tea.) Strain and drink. Excerpted from Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide by Rosemary Gladstar All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.