A Modern Herbal

by Alys Fowler

THE BEST GARDENING BOOKS OF THE YEAR - GARDENS ILLUSTRATED'Informative and enthusiastic' i PaperPLANT-BASED MEDICINE FOR A CALMER, HEALTHIER LIFEIt's easy to turn to the pharmacy when we're stressed, sick or feeling under the weather, but what if you turned to your garden instead?In this accessible and easy to use manual, horticultural expert, former Gardener's World presenter and Guardian columnist, Alys Fowler, shows how to take control of your health by adopting a more natural lifestyle.For thousands of years, people who had no access to clinical medicine knew how to boost their well-being by using the ingredients they found in plants. Herbs are the people's medicine; often freely available and abundant, they are ready and waiting to be plucked from around you to soothe and heal your body and mind.With guides for how to use and grow over 100 herbs - for example how to use fennel for indigestion, camomile for anxiety and nettle for hayfever - you'll soon be heading into the garden, rather than opening the medicine cabinet.Offering a fusion of botanical, practical, cultural and historical information, A Modern Herbal reveals how common herbs are the simple, cleansing way to better health and happiness.AS SEEN IN THE GUARDIAN'An important and accessible herbal for the 21st century . . . For anyone delving into herbs for the first time or those who want to broaden their herbal repertoire in the garden and home, this book is much needed' Gardens Illustrated

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening, Plants

ebook

First published July 11, 2019

About the author

Alys Fowler trained at the Horticultural Society, the New York Botanical Garden and the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew. After finishing her training, she worked as a journalist for the trade magazine, Horticulture Week, and then joined the Gardeners' World team as a horticultural researcher.
Alys is a gardener who loves food. She has an allotment and an urban back garden with two chickens, lots of flowers and plenty of vegetables. Her inspiration for urban gardening comes from her time volunteering in a community garden on the Lower East side in Manhattan, New York City. Much of the ethic, thrift and spirit she encountered there is found in her work today. She is author of several books and writes a weekly column on gardening for the Guardian.

Reviews

[Apuella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent reference for finding basic information on the health benefits and medicinal applications of various plants, as well as methods of preparation. Presentation is great, and illustrations are beautiful, but not of great use for identification beyond giving a cursory idea of the plant in question

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting introduction followed by an A-Z of useful herbs listing uses, how to grow, and warnings. There is both an alphabetical index and index by ailment.

To try: camomile, lemon balm, field poppy.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting read on the medicinal uses of herbs. Lots of information and recipes, often involving teas and baths - what could be better? Time to stock up the garden 😀

[Lucy Caney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource book for any gardener; easily laid out in alphabetical order with a handsomely clean presentation, this is one of those books to gift to yourself and any other gardener you know.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would never have thought that I'd give 5 stars to a book about herbs, but this is really amazing. I've been raving about it to my fellow herb lovers and so many people are lining up to borrow it.

[ReadingSloph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat little book of different herbs and their uses.