Body into Balance: An Herbal Guide to Holistic Self-Care

by Maria Noel Groves

A highly accessible natural health guide to all the major body systems and their common imbalances, with in-depth advice on how to best use herbal medicine to support and nourish each system, address chronic health issues, and help achieve optimal health.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Herbs, Reference, Nature, Self Help, Nutrition

947 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2016

Reviews

[Paige Ovanisian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that takes you pleasantly by surprise, rich and expansive in information while being well researched, and discusses whole-body health rather than being purely herb-dependent. Mental health, emotional health, physical health, diet and nutrition, sleep, chronic and acute complaints - this book covers more than your average herbal guide. Also included, to my delight, is a plethora of information regarding the science of human physiology and how herbs (including wholesome foods), minerals, and oils help to support each system of the body.

I was so impressed with this book that I researched into the author and found that Maria Noel Groves is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild, which makes complete sense seeing the quality of this amazing resource.

While this isn't exactly beginner material, it's written and laid out in such an organized and expressive way that I believe a person of any level could find great use of the information provided. Most of the monographs don't include photographs, so I wouldn't say this book is great for botanical identification and you'll have to outsource for that (which I find to not be a big deal), but the photographs that are included are beautiful and well-arranged. Likewise, the herb monographs won't be as detailed as in your own materia medica, but hold enough information to be useful in context and basic application.

This is definitely a must-have resource to have on your bookshelf, I know I'll be referring to it often. Highly recommend!

___________________________________


An overview of some of the content you'll find in this book:

◆ Herb Safety: the book begins with a section on herb safety, and gives adequate warnings on herbs, as well as a section on Common Food Allergens and Sensitivities, and Protocol Points sprinkled throughout. A later chapter expands on safety and dosing for children and pets.

◆ Some of the topics this book touches on:
adaptogens, aging and longevity support, alteratives, antihistamine support, anti-inflammatory support, antimicrobals, antioxidants, antispasmodics, antitussives, aromatherapy, astringents, autoimmune support, bitters, blood sugar support, bone support, brain and memory support, bronchodilators, carminatives, cartilage support, demulcents, detoxification, digestion and gut support, diuretics, essential oils, expectorants, flower essences, heart support, herbal "aspirins", hypoglycemic herbs, immune modulators, immunostimulants, lymphagogue, men's health support, nerve repair support, nervines, nootropics, nutritive herbs, reproductive support, sedatives, sleep aids, teas, tonics, topical applications, topical skin support, thyroid support, vascular support, women's health support (hormones, menstruation, etc).

◆ Some herb monographs:
Artichoke Leaf (Cynara scolymus)
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus)
Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri)
Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa, syn. Cimicifuga racemosa)
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
Blueberry and Bilberry (Vaccinium spp.)
Boswellia (Boswellia carteri, B. serrata)
Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Cacao and Dark Chocolate (Theobroma cacao)
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californiaca)
Celery (Apium graveolens)
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)
Codonopsis (Codonopsis pilosula)
Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus)
Damiana (Turnera diffusa)
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis)
Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)
Elder (Sambucus nigra)
Elecampane (Inula helenium)
Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
Ginseng (Panax)
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
Gotu Kola (Cantella asiatica)
Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre)
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum)
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum)
Kava (Piper methysticum)
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Linden (Tilia spp.)
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Lycii Berries (Lycium barbarum, L. chinense)
Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis)
Medicinal Mushrooms
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
Milky Oat Seed (Avena sativa)
Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Oat Straw (Avena sativa)
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Pedicularis (Pedicularis spp.)
Peppermint (Menta x piperita)
Pineapple and Bromelain (Ananas comosus)
Plantain (Plantago spp.)
Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus)
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)
Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis)
Rose (Rosa spp.)
Rose Hips (Rosa)
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
Schizandra (Schisandra chinensis)
Seaweed
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus)
Skulicap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Tart Cherry (Prunus cerasus)
Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus)
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis, syn. Betonica officinalis)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)
Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon spp.)

◆ Charts:
➳ Herb Nutrient chart at 8%
➳ Nervous-Endocrine System Herb Continuum chart at 15%
➳ At a Glance: Herbs for Digestion and Elimination chart at 21%
➳ At a Glance: Herbs for Detoxification chart at 25%
➳ At a Glance: Herbs for the Immune System chart at 29%
➳ At a Glance: Herbs for the Respiratory System and Sinuses chart at 32%
➳ Factors That Increase Your Risk of Diabetes, and Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load charts at 34%
➳ At a Glance: Herbs for the Heart chart at 40%
➳ At a Glance: Herbs for Pain Management chart at 50%
➳ At a Glance: Topical Skin-Care Herbs and Formulas chart at 57%
➳ Dosing chart at 69%, and another more in-depth Standard Herb Doses chart at 74% that includes information for dosing tea, tinctures, and vinegars.
➳ Choosing the Best Remedy for the Job chart at 75%

◆ Recipes: ranging from teas, soups, pesto, seasoning salts, bone broth, super-infused tea, infused bonbons, bath tea blends, and salves.

◆ Protocols to address different tiers of complaints, including: general wellness, chronic support, and preparations to aid with acute sicknesses.

◆ In-depth section outlining The Female Cycle (at 61%) including Estrogen Dominance, Ovulation, Progesterone Dominance, and how to support each one. A chart is included. There's also a ton of information regarding estrogen in general, to support every cycle of a woman's life as they age.

◆ Sourcing Herbs: Information on harvesting/wildcrafting and storing herbs, as well as tips for buying herbs from reputable sources.

◆ Herbal Preparation: Chapter 19 includes information on preparations for baths, capsules, compresses, creams, decoctions, herb-infused oils, herbal cordials, herbal honeys, herbal vinegars, hydrosols/flower waters, infusions, poultices, salves and lip balms, and tinctures (fresh and dry).

◆ Appendix and Index: The end of the book has a lengthy Appendix I - The Latin Names of Herbs, an Appendix II which includes resources to learn more information as well as safety resources and where you can source herbs online, and an Index which also includes the indexing of photographs included in the book.

◆ So much, much more. Seriously, give this a read!

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures, lots of great info and recipes. I've been studying many things she mentions in this book but there is a fair amount that is new. Will be a great reference book.

[Mindy Kannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly useful information. Will be using this book as an ongoing reference guide.

[Emily Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this book for a few years and used it as a reference book, but I decided to read it cover to cover. Herb books are the most cozy and calming bed time books for me and this was no exception.

This is a great herbalism 101 book that gets into the body systems rather than just herbs. I also love that there is a focus on lifestyle. Overall, a great book for learning to care for your body and your family in a holistic way with a focus on herbalism.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a very well laid out book listing herbs, their uses, teas, tintures, and medicinal applications. Another one to add to my collection.

[Joann Dunnavant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great breakdown of herbs by system.

[Janis Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Storey Publishing for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.

Where to start? Another simply amazing book from a publisher I can’t seem to fault. ‘Body into Balance’ was a breath of fresh air for this wannabe herbalist.

Clear, concise and easy to read formatting, glorious pictures and a really good overall tone were all used in this book. What do I mean by the tone? Well, reading it felt welcoming. You could tell the person who had written it was passionate not only about the topic, but about SHARING this knowledge with others.

I love the introductory where it went over the basics, went over the reason for the book and all in all helped the reader ease into what it was all about. You could read this entire book from end to end just to learn what it’s all about, but I could really see myself referring to sections of it as needed.

The balance is true too. This is not a book telling you to ignore “modern medicine” and the like, but simply to allow herbal remedies be part of your health routine – alongside a decent holistic medical practitioner. Seriously, this is my way of thinking and therefore definitely my kind of book.

And I strongly recommend people read the introduction – it is well worth it and is filled with valuable information on how to use the book, what herbal health is all about and a lot of other wonderful information. So even if you’re just going to use it as a reference guide – read the intro first! It really is aimed for the novice through to the advanced herbalist and it’s there for a reason – so read it!

I could go on and on about the different sections of the book and why I liked and felt them so important to read… but I fear I would start repeating myself rather quickly. So I will just say – yes! This book is a terrific and very comprehensive book on better health through herbalism and one I feel should be in the home of those looking for a better health/ life balance.

Would I recommend this book to others? Yes I would. Absolutely I would! As said, I feel this would be a terrific tome for any home wanting to have a more holistic and healthy approach to living. It’s not just about cures and remedies when you’re sick, it is about all over, everyday health through better nutrition, better mindsets, etc. This isn’t your “cures to colds and flus guide” this is your “how to live better through real foods guide”. And the level of information given, to me, seemed perfect for all levels of herbalism from your beginners, your intermediates (like me) through to those who have been doing it all their lives. This book might be about herbalism… but it about so much more too that the benefits are boundless.

Would I buy this book for myself? Oh yes, a very BIG yes. If you look on Amazon you will see it’s on my wish list. I am running out of unique ways of explaining how good ‘Body into Balance��� really is. Can I just say I clicked with this book, felt it perfect and want it to come join the ever dwindling space in my bookshelves. The only reason I didn’t give it the full 5 stars is due my usual “written for USA readers, not Australians” thing I have. And this is a fault that lies with me the reader and not the book.

In summary: I love this book, ‘Body into Balance’ is a fantastic reference guide to better, healthier living and one that should be in the home of anyone truly interested in better health through better foods/herbs. I highly recommend.

[Amy Kreydin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria Noel came out to the American Botanical Council here in Austin in September to talk about her new book. It was a delight to meet her and I'd been looking forward to her book release for months!

I prefer to teach and learn via body systems and this book is setup to do just that in a very accessible format for the reader. Maria Noel covers profiles of plants, descriptions of physiology of a body system, and wellness tips through each section. The pages are beautifully illustrated with water color and line drawings and color photographs. I like recommending this book to steer folks closer to the food-as-medicine approach to wellness than an army of supplements sitting on the kitchen counter.

[Rebekka Steg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thorough introduction to each of the body's systems, and which herbs can best benefit, help and support them. The author covers respiratory, digestive, immune, nervous, memory, reproductive and circulatory systems, including how to deal with specific diseases and how to generally optimize and keep them healthy. Furthermore she covers how to use the herbs, with specific recipes and preparation techniques. Highly recommended, especially to keep on the shelf as a go-to resources when you have specific issues or questions.

*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best herbal books I've ever read, probably one if two I'd want to own and keep on the shelf to constantly reference. The author has a knack for explaining in really interesting and easy to follow terms - she's got a solution for nearly everything and I'm left feeling super empowered. "There's an herb for that."

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully done and packed to the gills with information. Love it.

[Tresh~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely useful and practical guides. I’ll continue to reference this book for sure.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covered a variety of herbal remedies and natural treatments (like foods and diet, supplements, and flower essences) to help your body get back into balance so that it can heal. The first sections were about types of herbs (like adaptogens and nervines), then the author covered the various major body systems (like respiratory, digestive, and reproductive). In each section, the author profiled different herbs useful for that part of the body and also provided advice focused on specific conditions (like insomnia or carpal tunnel syndrome) with recommendations on how to treat them. The herbal profiles contain the common name, Latin name, what health affects they provide, how best to use them, dosing information, and sometimes even information on how to grow them or harvest them from the wild. The last sections described step-by-step how to make your own infusions, tinctures, salves, etc., and how to buy and store herbs. Overall, I'd recommend this informative book, especially if you are new to using herbs.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this book out from the library. I did not read this book cover to cover but went to the areas I was interested in. It is organized well and has great info about the different herbs. I also loved their short definitions of different types of herbs like adaptogenic, demulcent, etc. Finally great tea and other recipes. This went on my wish list to own.

[Sara Monk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reference guide to understanding the different systems of the body and how they function. Not only does the author mention different types of herbs for different ailments, she also talks about lifestyle and diet choices. The book also includes various recipes throughout.

Overall I learned a lot. I plan to keep this as a reference book.

[Lini Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book on herbal medicine thus far! I liked that the author arranged the herbs by body systems. It felt very thorough without going over my head. I found myself retaining the information well, and her layman’s term-style of writing helps me recall the information well in conversation. Highly recommend if you’re wanting to dabble into herbal medicine.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the way the book was broken down into all the various different systems of the body, giving you write ups on different herbs to use for each one. It wasn't an in depth look into each herb but enough of a view to use it. The book ends with simple ways to use herbs from teas to salves and more. The book will ne used as a good reference guide in the future.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well illustrated with plenty of general system information. The monograph information itself was a bit lacking in depth/layout. I'd recommend this more for people who only dabble in herbs and not for people who already have many herbals.

[Laura Smith (Jewett) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource to own and keep on your shelf. It was hard to read cover to cover, but I flip through it every couple months to find holistic approaches to headaches, fatigue, skin outbreaks, colds, etc.

[Ayana Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and a plethora of wisdom. Well written and I am grateful to find a great resource where the information is not over stated or written solely based upon the author’s experience.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic resource. Maria covers so much. Great recipes throughout and gorgeous photos.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great info

[Kathy Stoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved learning about the herbs!

[Teddi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended to me by jim mcdonald. A great beginners herbalist book.

[Mai-Liis Kivistik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book!!!

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and interesting guide to herbal medicines and plant aides. Have been trying some in cooking a bit and will continue to try other forms. Easy read.

[Hannah Persyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference, excited to do a deep dive into her further reading list

[Dr. Hannah Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite an academic read, and this book's wealth of knowledge is incredible. I thought this would address what herb is useful for what disease, as this is what my Western-educated mind is trained to expect.

Instead, this book has protocol points for each specific type of disease and looks at lifestyle-based and environmental-toxin-based approaches to eliminate pathologies. It addresses sleep, stress, diet, environmental toxin exposure, and exercise as the baseline for the treatment of chronic illness, and then suggests specific herbal and holistic remedies for targeting the root cause.

There are many interesting sections explaining the physiology and pathophysiology of different illnesses, up to biochemical detail. Then it explains how each remedy addresses the underlying pathophysiology! The section on reproductive health was more informative than my M.B.B.S Gynaecology syllabus!

I see myself coming back to this for future reference, and plan to use these tips in my clinical practice!

[Danica Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent herbal text that focuses on wholistic health. It was such a surprise find, recommended from someone on the Reddit r/herbalism. It’s more of an intermediate level herbal, but beginner friendly. I got it out from the library, but after a little reading, purchased it as a reference in my herbal library. The author has done some quality research and conveys nuances between similar herbs, something many herbals fail to do. It’s not a this herb is good for this and that book, although it does profile herbs according to body systems. Really, I can’t say enough good things about this book and author, because it’s been a delight reading it, and it has also been extremely validating knowing that there are other herbalists out there who approach herbs and while-body health in the same way I do. Also appreciated that there was not much woo woo silliness in the text, which many otherwise good herbals suffer from. I’m surprised that I don’t see this herbalist’s name mentioned as much as I do Rosemary Gladstar’s - I like RG, but for very beginners only.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

One can never have too many books on herbalism. I thought I had enough until I came upon this book and it’s definitely a keeper! I love the way the author presents the information on herbs, the body systems and lifestyle/diet advice. Very helpful for those who want to dig in deeper! And beautifully laid out with photos!