Hygieia: A Woman's Herbal

by Jeannine Parvati Baker

A Woman's Herbal combines the ancient practice of herbalism with women's holistic health. It's an encyclopedic work covering how specific herbs can help with birth control, menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, and much more. Personal stories, dreams, and poems enliven the text. The author is an outspoken activist in the need for women to be in charge of their own health, to use natural remedies, and to be less reliant on the western medical establishment.

According to the author, the book is named after Hygieia, the Greek goddess of healing.

The book is beautifully and artistically designed with black and white drawings and photos, hand-lettered pages, and original artwork. And it's easy to use when it comes to finding a particular herbal remedy for a health issue.

For example, it recommends 96 herbs to help with pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation. Some of the herbs include Bayberry (for ovaries and womb troubles), Milkwort (to help increase the milk supply of nursing mothers), and Wild Cherry (to help relieve pain during childbirth).

From the

"This book grew out of the need to be healthy and re-own the powers of naturally healing ourselves. In no way do we suggest that this book can replace a relationship that already exists between yourself and a healer/doctor. Oftentimes we do need help from someone else—and sometimes, we are startled into running to the doctor's office for a cure when the situation could best be handled at home. And nowadays, treatments given to women by medical men sometimes prove to be iatrogenic, i.e., causes of even more serious diseases. This work is inspired not from any personal, negative reaction with western medicine but rather from my positive relationship with Self as Healer and herbs as the main tool in this process."

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Reference, Herbs, Womens, Nature, Witchcraft

248 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1979

Reviews

[Vik · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST BOOOK OF MY LIFE

[Sara Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreamy, mystical, far out, somewhat lightheaded, not entirely out of date. Informative.

[Astrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me as a great women's herbal, and for the most part, it is. As with many herbals, the language and ideas are colorful and left-of-center, but that's part of it's charm. If you are looking for a strictly rational, medical approach to herbalism, you certainly won't find it here! Rather, this book is very human, mixing artwork, dreams, emotions, societal influences and of course, herbs and their uses and contraindications.

I admit that I would have rated this higher, but I took issue with one of the ideas she introduced at the end, which kind-of ruined the rest of the book for me.

[Marion Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lent this book to a niece in the 1990s and never got it back, but I think about it a lot, and am about to order it again. I found it useful and empowering then, and am looking forward to revisiting it now.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a little too mystical for my tastes, but gives some of the best advice of using herbs while pregnant/breastfeeding.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very old school hippie resource on women's health herbal.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hippie-Licious women's herbal from the 70's!

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has some good information and some questionable information (a bit outdated, perhaps?). The rhetoric was disturbing and not empowering, as the author intended it to be. Rather, it was embarrassing. If you're looking for info on herbs, look elsewhere. You'll be able to find the same info without the trash talk.Sorry, Aunt Kyle, just not my cup of tea (excuse the pun).

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book since I was very young, my Mother kept it around the house. I learned quite a bit of interesting, and sometimes very far out, ideas about being female and all the fun stuff that goes with it.

[C.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother gave this book to me after I had reached puberty my first menses. This book is informative and honest and I bought a copy for myself to read again. A must in my opinion for modern, hippy, pagan, earth living, feminist-ish women everywhere.

[Aijun Molloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

CLASSIC- even includes recipies for eating your placenta!
author passed away from hep-C complictions last year!!
RIP-cutting edge godess!!!!

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the section on "Nursing and the Green Tit"!

[Shockmesane212 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but somewhat outdated.

[Lumen Natura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really helped me to begin thinking about fertility and contraceptives in different ways.

[Tif · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the information in this book and since it was written in the 60's it has information that is not easy to obtain now.

[Shannon Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use to own this year ago and mourn its loss. It is an invaluable piece of work for any woman and/or healer.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book worthy reading and adding to your permanent library.

[Serenity L · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an old hippie book. It constantly refers to other books so I suppose I'm supposed to acquire them as well? I can't take it seriously....