Breverton's Complete Herbal: A Book Of Remarkable Plants And Their Uses

by Terry Breverton

Nicholas Culpeper’s The English Physitian: or an Astrologo-physical Discourse of the Vulgar Herbs of This Nation is more commonly known as “Culpeper’s Complete Herbal.” It was first printed in September 1653 (Culpeper died in January 1654) and immediately became a classic reference that is as fascinating today as it was more than 350 years ago. Breverton’s Complete Herbal is a reworking of that classic text for a modern day audience. The book identifies each of Culpeper’s herbs and spices, with a description of their appearance and Latin name/family; plus descriptions of the herbs’ uses in medicine, dyeing and/or cuisine from the Greeks to the present day. Informative and entertaining, and is packed with interesting facts associated with herbs. For example, most herbs have their uses attached to their old names: Lungwort cured lung illnesses, Fleabane was strewn to get rid of fleas, Wolfbane poisoned wolves, and Henbane killed chickens. Dog’s Grass was chewed by dogs when they were sick, Eye-Bright cured eye illnesses, Ducks-Meat was pond-algae, Gout-Herb cured gout, Mad-Wort cured the bite of a mad dog, Heart’s-Ease was for heart illness, and Rupture-Wort and Spleen-Wort helped ruptures and spleen illnesses. Arranged alphabetically, Breverton’s Complete Herbal describes 250 herbs and spices while containing feature sidebars and spreads on scented herb/medicinal gardens, the great herbalists, as well as New World herbs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening, Nature, Reference, Health, Herbs, Plants

384 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2011

Reviews

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I just read a book concisely detailing plants and their role in medicinal practices, based on the works of a 17th Century herbalist? Yes I did. And it was wonderful. I'm going to go forth now to create my own apothecary, from my non existent herbs and useless weeds. What's that? A dandelion? And you? Clown's Woundwort you say? Get thine self into my healers den.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

For anyone who is strongly into herbs and astrological signs this book is for you. Some of the info I found useful but I also had a challenging time following the way Culpeper describes things. I guess that's the difference from 1653 to present day.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful reference book including botanical illustrations.

[Wayne Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent guide to herbs, etc detailing their makeup, uses and history, as well interesting folklore and stories about them. Even if you're not a botanist or somesuch you will find something to interest you and learn something new about some of the plants you use everyday.

[LadyInamorata · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is something I refer to on an almost weekly - if not daily - would recommend every aspiring herbalist obtain a copy. It's indispensable.

[Chloe Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book on the many different herbs, fruit and veg and their history and health benefits.
I particularly enjoyed little tips about each like what would've been used in a witches brew.

I couldn't give it 5 stars as it could've broken sections down a bit better, bullet points.

And the art work wasn't always clear.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic array of herbs and good solid information. Easy to use and well written.

[Stephanie Shields · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read just for fun, not for practical use.

[GONZA · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures could have been better, but it's a Breverton, so it is good anyway.

[Lissa Notreallywolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this aphabetical listing of herbs and their properties-astrological, medicinal and in history. It was not the book I really wanted, because the snarky political asides of Culpeper have been redacted in favor of botanical insight and harmonization with other herbals to the aim of producing a modern commentary on herbal medicine. The entry on chilis is really funny. fully reflecting Culpeper's English distaste for the burning bush. I did not find the plant illustrations that helpful and they don't appear for any plant, so this is truely not a book for the botanically challenged. And many of the herbs and trees are European, so if you were looking for an American DIY pharmacopia in this book, it may have limited use-I wouldn't have recognized chicory from the illustration if I didn't already know that it looks like a dandelion on steriods, with little blue flowers. But my interest is historical, not necessarily how to become an herbal doctor. In this regard, I might have been better served to order up Culpeper's book.