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The New Healing Herbs: The Ultimate Guide to Nature's Best Medicines: Featuring the Top 100 Time-Tested Herbs

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Discover how to get the most from nature’s oldest remedies

In this revised edition, The New Healing Herbs provides up-to-date profiles of 100 of the most widely used medicinal plants, detailing the therapeutic benefits and healing properties of each of these amazing natural cures. Inside you’ll

• Valuable advice for buying, storing, and preparing herbal remedies

• Clear, concise dosage instructions and safe-usage guidelines

• A comprehensive cure-finder chart with treatments for more than 100 common conditions--Ginkgo to improve and even reverse symptoms of macular degeneration...Cinnamon to treat cuts and scrapes...Marshmallow to boost immunity...St. John’s wort to speed healing...Coffee for weight loss...Ginger for colds...Apples as a source of first aid...And much more!

684 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

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553 people want to read

About the author

Michael Castleman

26 books5 followers

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5 stars
116 (40%)
4 stars
114 (39%)
3 stars
49 (16%)
2 stars
9 (3%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Jess.
31 reviews2 followers
November 23, 2020
This is a handy to have reference book for some of the more common herbs. It's laid out quite well and easy to read. A bit of historical reference is given for each herb, as well as it's Latin names. The common/historical uses for each herb is given as well as it's ideal growing conditions.

The safety recommendations from the American FDA are listed for each herb, though that information is most likely out of date, as the book was published in 1991.

It's most likely not the most comprehensive herb reference book on the market, but I'm sure at the time of publishing it was probably pretty close. It is a good jumping off point for anyone wanting to read a little further into any particular herb. Worth having on the bookshelf.
Profile Image for Anjie Brown.
36 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2008
This one is really good as a reference book. It has an encyclopedia-like section that gives detailed descriptions of what each herb can be used for and bunches of recomendations. I got it from the library, but I'm going to buy my own copy.
20 reviews1 follower
September 4, 2008
Comprehensive, gives studies to back up claims, talks about history, describes various treatments. A great reference book for anyone granola or not.
Profile Image for Renee Marie.
19 reviews54 followers
November 3, 2014
no-nonsense (nearly) complete catalog of herbs, their history, uses, and contraindications. For those of us who need a 'dummy' book on herbs, I recommend reading this oldie but goodie.
Profile Image for Marcel Patrick.
32 reviews2 followers
July 25, 2020
I’ve had this book on my bookshelf since I can remember, only occasionally dipping into it from time to time. With so much spare time on my hands this past three months I’ve found myself more and more revelling in the hedgerows of the British countryside and reacquainting myself with the abundant plant medicine that is available on our doorstep.

This book has been my companion and has made an excellent accompaniment to the book Hedgerow Medicine by Julie Bruton. What I’ve liked most about this book is the folklore and history of each of the plants use throughout the ages helping one to reach deeply into the past and connect with this rich history of ours. It is however written by an American author so does not detail some of the common plants used for healing in the Uk but nonetheless it is a rich resource for any budding herbalist.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
545 reviews
June 6, 2018
I am happy that shepherd's purse is in the list for menstruation reduction. I am excited to try out goldenseal as the only other option. I haven't heard of it for that use. However I am suspicious of following his recommended dosage because self experiment with shepherd's purse let's me know that 1 teaspoon in 1 cup of water steeped for 10 minutes isn't going to work. I use at minimum 1/4 of powder. Making a savory pancake is my favorite method, just add one egg. The alcohol extract is expensive and doesn't work. Its easy to null its effect by accidentally also using one of the many herbs designed for emmenagogue.
Profile Image for Susan.
4 reviews
January 25, 2021
Great reference book. In my opinion, can be a bit overwhelming for a novice herbalist. Still...excellent guide.
Profile Image for shelby ☽.
221 reviews6 followers
June 6, 2023
This is a very handy book! It is a catalog of common herbs, from A-Z, along with their histories, uses, warnings and recipes. Not the most comprehensive one out there, but it is *very* good.
1 review
July 23, 2024
Cannabis is not listed. Can not be the ultimate guide to the curative power of herbs without listing cannabis.
Profile Image for StrangeBedfellows.
581 reviews37 followers
December 11, 2012
Perhaps not the best book on herbs, but definitely an informative resource. Easy to navigate, this book contains a huge listing of herbs and their properties, preparation notes, cautionary notes, and more. I'm not always happy with the images and physical descriptions, but I've always been glad I purchased this.
Profile Image for Kadrina.
24 reviews
July 11, 2012
This book is great for the beginner in working with herbs.
Profile Image for Jamie.
469 reviews11 followers
October 6, 2012
Probably the best and most extensive guide to herbs I've ever read.
Profile Image for Maggie Fout.
50 reviews4 followers
August 16, 2013
This is an awesome guide! Really easy to understand and very encompassing!
Profile Image for J Crossley.
1,719 reviews18 followers
November 15, 2017
This book takes an in-depth look at healing herbs and ways that you can incorporate the herbs benefits into your life.
2,107 reviews61 followers
April 5, 2017
Nothing special. Good coverage and depth, but bad organization
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

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