Backyard Medicine: Harvest and Make Your Own Herbal Remedies

by Julie Bruton-Seal, Matthew Seal

Backyard Medicine is a beautiful book, packed with nearly 300 color photographs and over 120 herbal remedies that you can make yourself. It gives a fascinating insight into the literary, historic, and world-wide application of the fifty common plants that it covers. It is the sort of book you can enjoy as an armchair reader or use to harvest and make your own herbal remedies from wild plants. Anyone who wants to improve his or her health in the same way that human-kind has done for centuries around the world, by using local wild plants and herbs, will find this book fascinating and useful.

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

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2009

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does not detail every herb found in the wild, just those commonly found in our yards or nearby, not only in America but Europe and Britain. Very thorough in what those are good for physically, which parts of each plant are used for various complaints, and how to use them (teas, ointments, oils, etc.) with recipes.

[emyrose8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5- Really cool resource! It makes me sad that it’s winter and I have to wait until spring to collect all my local herbs. This book gives distinct information on how to preserve/use the parts of the herbs as tinctures, infusions, decoctions, electuaries, oxymels, and lots of other ways. It features a number of plants commonly found in North America. For each plant, it tells the typical medical uses, related species, parts used, habitat, distribution, description, pictures of the parts used, and instructions for how to make the various remedies. If there are cautions in using the plant, it tells you that as well. Very thorough book!

[Annie Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a needed new wave of herbal remedy and materia medica (diving into the ingredients that make up an herbal lifestyle) books. In my mind, what sets good ones apart is the right blend of accessibility - photos, drawing and inspirational organization, and information that's usable.

By that recipe, this one is a winner - it's focused in scope (you are going to find some of what they speak of in your yard), yet thorough in what you can do with the things you find.

They are writing and foraging from England, which, if you live in New England, well, is semi-applicable. I found it close enough.

Stays on my shelf as a reference.

[Brittany Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent reference book for people interested in identifying medicinal plants. The plants and descriptions are extremely detailed and helpful. I especially liked the recipes for tinctures and medicinal syrups and concoctions. Very helpful!

http://brittanysblogofrandomthings.bl...

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not so useful a book to me. Mostly focused on weeds, which I wouldn't be too inclined to grow due to my inability to effectively contain them. Also, there's a lot of antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, antipain stuff in here, and not nearly the kind of diverse range of qualities I've seen talked about in other books.

[Brooke Dierkhising · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a helpful book! The format is easy to understand - alphabetically listing the herbs, including interesting background/history behind each herb, its medicinal uses, and how to harvest and prepare. And the herbs are common too, so I can easily apply the knowledge. Illustrations are lovely and the pictures are perfect for identification. I reference this book all the time.

[Liz Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this and probably won't use it as the author intended. I did find some herbs that could help with my eye problems and my ask about supplements next time I go to a health foods store. I liked the pictures and the quotes about the herbs. I also thought the author was very clear about recipes.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite reference book, but it's a good comprehensive guide to everyday weeds that you can find around you. It's been very helpful for me in figuring out what resources are already in my yard.

[Samantha Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, very well organized, colorful pictures to identify the plants, love that not only will it tell about the plants but what you can do with it as well, a must to have in your herbal library.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had hoped for more. Apparently, if you know what plant you'd like to use medicinally, this book is laid out for you. If you'd like to work from illness and find the treatment....not so much.

[Michael Blackmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite general herbal books. It doesn't cover everything, but what it covers it covers well.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, clear, nice pictures, great recipes, some cute writing. I love the old quotes. I'd like to have a book just like this one for herbs that readily grow in/are native to Northern California!

[Regina Spiker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book of knowledge and how to!

[Cordula Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that will help you to get the most of your backyard plants .
Or plants you should consider planting.

[Ann]

Backyard Medicine by Bruton-Seal & Seal @ 2009, ISBN: 1602397015, PB, GS 11/2013 $14.95

[Karen Skiling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books about herbs and herbalism I've ever read!

[Signe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great herbal!

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for home herbalists.

[Nicole Tul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book lots of information

[Rachele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continue to read as needed. Lots of wonderful information on plants/herbs that can help you be healthier.

[Amberwench · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of the most common "weeds" for healing. Contains use recipes and a few good photos- a plant identifier such as 'Weeds of the West' makes a good companion book for full identification.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed explanation and really well done photos of plants to use for medicinal herbs.

[Lori Gibbany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information I am going to keep reading over and over again

[Lizzytish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource, good photos, written in an easy to understand format. Very organized.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great reference for many medicinal plants. I wish there was more time spent on identification as many plants listed are VERY closely related to toxic plants.

[Pamela Richards-Woodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excited to take this book with me on a trek around our farm to discover more herbs with which to create products we can use.
Love the color pictures and all the related info.

[Julie Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative book. It's one of my 'go-to' guides.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK

[jimtown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like & use this book as a guide to making up some herbal tea from weeds & wildflowers from my yard. Very concise information is put together well. There are photos for identification, use ideas and the 'recipe' or methods of drying, infusing or mixing up the concoctions. I like to think Practical Magic<\i>, The Witches of Eastwick, or Hocus-Pocus<\i>, whichever of those movies that showed the big apothecary cabinet.

I don't drink, but there was a super easy recipe for a small batch of dandelion beer that is tempting to try to make. Just a few common ingredients. A great reference or field guide that I want on my shelf.