This clear and comprehensive reference on the full range of healing herbs is an indispensable guide to the herbal remedies most used in the Anglo-American and European traditions. Each remedy is defined in terms of its main pharmacological actions and its therapeutic application to modern health problems.

Supplement your healthcare with the most widely used, time-tested natural and herbal remedies. This book provides: a complete guide to the most effective and widely employed herbal remedies; an alphabetical listing of definitions for each remedy and herb in terms of its main pharmacological components and useful therapeutic applications; and a useful and well-organized reference for the application of traditional medicines to modern health problems. The dictionary covers both common and obscure plants and herbs: the ubiquitous dandelion, artichoke, and garlic, as well as the rarer scullcap, ribwort, and pipsissewa, to name just a few. "A thorough guide to the medicinal resources of the natural world, including listings of both diseases and medicinal herbs."

This book is the revised and updated first trade paperback edition of the successful hardback published in 1985. The book aims to provide a concise reference source for both general and professional readers. The work covers herbs in terms of their functional effects on the body, symptoms and diseases - the herbalist's approach and therapeutic classifications of remedies (e.g. astringent, bitter, diuretic, laxative, anti-inflammatory or circulatory stimulant). There is an extensive system of cross-referencing which the reader is encouraged to use.

The beloved best-selling classic for the modern herbalist—a definitive guide to 250 safe and effective herbal medicines, preparations, and single-herb remedies to make at home. This comprehensive, full-color guide offers detailed and easy-to-follow instructions for making and using approximately 250 all-natural DIY herbal medicines. With practical tips, in-depth preparation techniques, and an inside look at some of the authors’ own favorite formulas, The Modern Herbal Dispensatory walks beginners and advanced herbalists alike through: • The 12 major categories of herbs, from aromatic to sweet • Herbal preparations: the many ways to prepare and use herbs, from capsules and tinctures to standardized extracts and essential oils • Choosing the best dosage form for each category of herb • How to harvest, dry, and use fresh herbs • Extractions: terms, equipment, solvents, and calculations, plus how to extract herbs in water, alcohol, glycerin, and vinegar • Advanced techniques: like percolation extracts, fluid extracts, and soxhlet extracts • Preparations like oil-based extractions, topical applications, concentrates, lozenges, traditional Chinese methods, and more • Formulas and dosages: how to design herbal formulas and use herbs safely and effectively • Herbal insights and need-to-know wisdom, like why different preparations of the same herb affect the body differently; which herbs are medicinal when dry, but could be toxic when fresh; and why beginners typically see more potent results with formulations versus single-herb preparations The text includes multiple appendices, recommendations for further reading, in-depth full-color photo guides, and a helpful index. With advice on herbal preparations for 100+ illnesses and conditions and a comprehensive materia medica, The Modern Herbal Dispensatory is an enduring classic and beloved plant-medicine reference manual for herbalists, natural medicine practitioners, and anyone seeking safe, holistic, at-home care and inexpensive all-natural remedies.

Well-respected herbalist David Hoffmann's comprehensive and practical guide to herbal medicine. • Discusses the history and modern practice of herbalism, including Chinese, Native American, and Welsh influences. • Includes a practical reference section listing the effects of various herbs, with prescriptions on how to use them for a wide range of illnesses. • Covers the fundamentals of growing, drying, storing, and cooking with herbs. • Over 45,000 copies of previous edition sold. This compendium of medical herbalism by one of the most eminent herbalists practicing today is both comprehensive and practical. Answering basic as well as complicated questions about herbal medicine, it provides both the novice and the experienced practitioner with a reliable framework in which to develop their herbal skills. A discussion of the history and modern practice of herbalism, encompassing the influences of Welsh, Chinese, and Native American herbal medicine is followed by a practical reference section that lists the various actions herbs have on the body (carminative, anti-inflammatory, etc.), with examples of herbs and their mode of activity in each category. Herbal prescriptions for various illnesses are also organized under the main systems of the body so that information can be quickly and easily referenced. A final section covers the fundamentals of growing, drying storing and cooking with herbs, as well as the making of infusions, decoctions, oils, and ointments. The author also provides helpful introductions to aromatherapy and plant medicines.

The Complete Guide Series is the perfect first reference for a new enthusiast to natural health care. Assuming the reader has limited prior knowledge of the subject, each guide offers self-assessment questionnaires, profiles of key constitutional types, and extensive coverage of the most popular remedies for everyday complaints. Special attention is given to providing the most current information on self-help recommendations, sources of remedies, nutritional advice, botanical Latin names, and helpful addresses. These highly authoritative and accurate reference books offer an easy and appealing approach to understanding and using the most successful approaches to natural healing.