The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicines
by Matthew Wood
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Book Summary Information
Author: Matthew WoodEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1997-09-15
ISBN: 1556432321
Number of pages: 580
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Accessories:
- Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)
- RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
Book Reviews of The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicines
Book Review: A Masterpiece, A Classic, A Literary Goldmine for the Herbal Miner of Truth
Summary: 5 Stars
As a student of Western herbalism though not Homeopathy specifically or soley, I still found--continue to find--this book one of my greatest literary assets in understanding the contexts, traditions and mostly importantly the herbs I am studying.
Throughout the book (and his other books) readers will not fail to notice the author's strong personal perspective emphasizing the spiritual aspects of understanding plants. At times I found this intriguing, at other times nauseating, and occasionally both at the same time. Your reaction to this will depend on your own predilections in matters of spirituality and religion. The thing that made Wood's spiritual anecdotes interesting to me was the way he is able to intelligently narrate and describe them and weave them into the fabric of the overall story he tells.
Above all else, this book is a book of powerfully written stories about herbs. Each herb discussed in the book has its own story and it is told through the lens of experience of previous herbalists, the vast herbal literature from the dawn of Western history to the present day, as well as the authors' own insights and experiences and those of his patients and colleagues. The strength of these stories is the fact that Wood is able to include so much information from so many sources and still end up with a bunch of fascinating, readable stories rather than a dry, dead series of academic monographs. Each section is so well sourced and cited, even the staunchest critic would have a very difficult time assailing the scholarship found in this book.
Ultimately you should buy this book for three reasons: 1. Wood does the herbs justice. You can tell he loves them by the way he writes about them and draws them. His respect for his subject is clear as day. 2. He respects his readers, including skeptical or reluctant students of herbalism and does them justice too, inviting them into his world to take a look without harsh judgments or proclamations or pontifications. If there is one thing I cannot abide, it is an author who hates their readers and you'd be surprised how many there are. Wood never commits this unforgivable crime. 3. You'll re-read this book. I think people should avoid buying books (if possible, many things just aren't available at the library) unless they plan to re-read them. Here is a book I've read parts of multiple times and I haven't had it for more than six months!
I have one more thing to say. I wish Matthew Wood would write two or five more books exactly like this one but with different herbs and stories. I'll buy them.
Summary of The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicines
Matthew Wood is recognized world wide as one of the United States' most reknown herbalists. His previous book, Seven Herbs: Plants as Healers, was a watershed in teaching herbal healing as a part of total wellness. In The Book of Herbal Wisdom, this is continued and enlarged in wonderful detail. This is a must-read for anyone working in the natural health field or interested in self healing with herbs. For those of us who consider not only our physical relationships to the herbs, but also the metaphysical ones, this book is invaluable. It affirms that when we work closely with nature, and the energies of the herbs and herbal medicine, we all are much better off. This is a work that empowers the reader and gives them a very deep knowledge of the herbs discussed.Alternative Medicine Books
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