12 replies to this topic

[OPP]

I'm wanting to learn more about different ethnobotany/herbal remedy/everyday use plants and their uses and need recommendations for books.
This forum is great but alot of the plants mentioned are quite obscure to me and I have no idea of their uses.
Whist I can use various internet sources to read about such things I would like a hardcopy.
I saw something in the window of a legal high shop the other day but they were closed at the time so couldn't take a closer look.
What books do you guys/girls recommend?

[Psylo]

Although there are a few examples of not entirely accurate information, this is still a good one for your collection:

http://www.fishpond....h/9780892819782

[Marcel]

The book to which Psylo refers is awesome, albeit highly impractical as an actual guide to everyday herbal remedies.

For a great guide to making your own herbal remedies for headaches, sore throat, fevers, lack o' stiffy, menstrual cramps, small pox, St Vitus's dance, hysteria, feline AIDS, invertism, Kundalini Syndrome, consumption, Oriental singing sickness, Scarlet fever, etc, is Richo Cech's Making Plant Medicine, which you can buy from this reputable source (and make sure you buy it from them or get your local bookshop to order it for you; Amazon may have it cheaper, but what you'll save in cash you'll pay for in the sanctity of your soul.)

But seriously, Cech's book is great.

[Jonstn]

I picked up a nifty little fold out booklet thing from a soap shop called "herb and madicinal plant growing guide" has about 75varieties of plants and herbs, what they do, what time of year to grow, how to grow and germ etc it's a nice little read.

There would be better things out there, but it's good for what it is as for what I payed

[solomon]

Snu's Garden of Eden is by a mile the best ethnobotany book I have.


Ratch's Encyclopedia which was already mentioned is pretty good.
Plants of the Gods is an oldie but a goodie
Narcotic Plants - William Emboden.. Haven't seen many copies of this about but it is quite good, some obscure stuff in there

Got give the book Grow Your Own Drugs, based on the british tv show of the same name..
Was a bit sceptical at first but it has some great recipies for balms and insect reppelents in it.

Edited by centipede, 24 February 2012 - 06:40 PM.

[Alice]

If I could keep only one book it would be Snu Voogelbreinder's Garden of Eden.

[Distracted]

I picked up a book from a discount book store that suddenly appeared in a supermarket for $20.
I haven't used it much but that's only because of my present lifestyle but it looks quite good, nice photos and descriptions on all kinds of plants, hardcover and well.. $20 seemed ridiculously cheap to me for that much knowledge, I don't think the book store was selling for under budget either

Herbs
For Healthy Living
Recognition, Gatering, Use and Effect
Dr Ute Kunkele , Till R. Lohmeyer

Healing plants can be found almost anywhere in the natural world; by the wayside, in damp meadows, in your own garden. But how do you gather and recognize the produce of the herbs, shrubs, and trees? How do you avoid confusing them with poisonous species? What parts of the plants - leaves, flowers, roots, fruits or bark - are gathered and how do you use them?
In this book you will find more than 400 medicinal plants, all described in detail and accompanied by informative photographs.Thanks to easy-to-read tables, you can see at a glance what herbs can be used to treat which illnesses. Discover the wealth of plants and the many and varied therapies that Nature has to offer.

Edited by Distracted, 24 February 2012 - 05:36 PM.

[levicacti]

Australian Medical Plants (i think thats its title cant check now so not sure of author) is a good one for just aus natives containing anything that has been used as medicine, food, construction etc. there are definately lots of good general herb books but agree that for ethnobotany Garden of Eden is def my fav.

[Darklight]

For general health/ medicine, I routinely use Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants by Andrew Chevallier. Found it remaindered at a local bookstore, best $30 I've ever spent on a book. Covers preparation of plant products as well

For everything cool, Garden of Eden by Snu, as cited above. Expensive, but once you have a copy in your hands you'll know why it's worth it. A labour of love, and an invaluable reference you'll keep forever. I still use it as a first-stop before trying a search engine

[Zen Peddler BlueGreenie]

Medicinal PLants of the world by Ben-Erik Von Wyk and Michael Wink isnt bad - its not fantastic but its got some of the TCM herbs in it. 300 plants plus another 700 in a smaller section at the back.

Edited by Zen Peddler BlueGreenie, 28 February 2012 - 05:45 PM.

[OPP]

Thanks for the replies.
Been pretty busy and haven't had a chance to hunt them down.
Its on the to do list.

[Opticaldelusion]

The HHH book is a good one to start figuring out what is what also

[Opticaldelusion]

The book to which Psylo refers is awesome, albeit highly impractical as an actual guide to everyday herbal remedies.

For a great guide to making your own herbal remedies for headaches, sore throat, fevers, lack o' stiffy, menstrual cramps, small pox, St Vitus's dance, hysteria, feline AIDS, invertism, Kundalini Syndrome, consumption, Oriental singing sickness, Scarlet fever, etc, is Richo Cech's Making Plant Medicine, which you can buy from this reputable source (and make sure you buy it from them or get your local bookshop to order it for you; Amazon may have it cheaper, but what you'll save in cash you'll pay for in the sanctity of your soul.)

But seriously, Cech's book is great.

I have this one and I would also recommend, easy to read and simple to follow recipies, it's fantastic.

I bought mine from herbalistics and I believe they still stock it.

Edited by Opticaldelusion, 15 March 2012 - 09:40 PM.