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    The Herbal Bookshelf    




Eclectic Herbalism

Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs edited by Claire Kowalchik
My copy of this exhaustive herbal reference is falling apart. This book gives complete information for a wide variety of herbs, including cultivation information, culinary and craft uses, medicinal uses, and folklore. Separate chapters detail dying, cooking, companion planting, and many other aspects of herbalism. If you have only one herb book on your shelves, this should be it.
The Green Witch Herbal by Barbara Grigg
Lots of practical uses for herbs, around the home, in the kitchen, as cosmetics, and as medicines. Lots and lots of recipes, including many from hundreds of years ago!
Brother Cadfael's Herb Garden by Rob Talbot and Robin Whiteman
You don't have to be a fan of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael novels to appreciate this exploration of medeival herbalism. The authors explore the monastery herb garden, and give medicinal, culinary, and other uses for a variety of herbs, all listed by their medeival names. Truly a beautiful book.


Cultivating Herbs

The Garden Primer by Barbara Damrosch
Basic gardening Bible. Takes you from designing your garden right through to the final harvest. This book contains much more than herbs - flowers, trees, shrubs, and vegetables are also covered. It's one of the most well-worn books on my gardening shelf, and one that I give as a gift to friends who are just starting out.
Herb Gardening by Patricia Hopkinson
From the American Garden Guides series. How to design and plant your herb garden. Lots of full-color photographs to help you identify your herbs.

Magical Herbalism


Magickal Herbalism: The Secret Craft of the Wise by Scott Cunningham
A basic primer for all aspects of magickal herbalism. Chapters on gathering and storing herbs, making charms and amulets, as well as specifics for several areas of magickal purposes such as divination, healing, and love. How to make incenses and scented herbs. A magickal herb garden. Correspondences and properties for a long list of herbs.
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham
Besides short chapters on many of the aspects iof magic herb use, Cunningham includes entries on almost every herb known to Witchcraft. He discusses the use and history of each, and includes folk names in case you're searching for that elusive ingredient from an old recipe.
The Wicca Garden by Gerina Dunwich
Magickal uses and how to's. Planning and growing your own garden, harvesting herbs, and even spells to help your garden grow.
Magick Potions by Gerina Dunwich
Although I'm not a big fan of Gerina's spellwork, I find her herbal information fascinating. Here she gives instructions on making and using incenses, oils, and other herbal potions. Includes correspondences for a wide variety of herbs.
Wicca Craft by Gerina Dunwich
A little bit of everything in this book. Uses for herbs in magic and cooking, correspondence tables, and ideas for the Sabbats.

Herbal Medicine

The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman
A beautiful book with many full-color photographs. An explanation of holistic medicine; a practical section with instructions for making decocotions, infusions, creams, and ointments; a complete list of herbs with their healing properties and uses; and a discussion of each body system, its ailments, and suggested treatments.
The New Age Herbalist by Richard Mabey
This is another with good photographs of the herbs. I found the herb list to be a little confusing as the herbs are listed by family name, not by common or even Latin names. But it does have some very useful information!
The Family Herbal by Barabra and Peter Theiss
Written by a German couple who make their living as "apothecaries." This book provides wonderful practical advice on everyday treatments for common family ailments, emergency first aid, and a chapter on growing your own herb garden.
The Complete Medicinal Herbal by Penelope Ody
Another book with lots of great photos. There's a discussion of the history of herbalism, including Chinese and Native American medicine; a listing of over 120 herbs; recipes and instructions for many herbal remedies; and a section on the systems of the body and their ailments and treatments.
Wisewoman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susan S. Weed
Susan Weed gives a wealth of information on using herbs to keep mother and baby healthy and comfortable during pregnancy. Includes notritional information as well as ideas for pain relief during labor.

Crafting with Herbs

The Soapmaker's Companion : A Comprehensive Guide With Recipes, Techniques & Know-How by Susan Miller-Cavitch
My soapmaker's bible - my copy is dogeared and stained!!. If you want to go to the trouble of mixing lye, melting fats, and measuring essential oils, then you need this book. The recipes are wonderful, and she teaches you how to make your own recipes and determine the correct fat-lye ratio.
Natural Soapmaking by Marie Browning
OK, so you're not actually making the soap - this is basically "melt and pour" using premade plain white soap. Marie shows you how to make wonderful handcrafted soaps without having to don a rubber suit and stir boiling lye. Many lovely recipes.
Making Herbal Dream Pillows by Jim Long
A sweet little book from the Spirit of Aromatherapy series. Jim gives properties for a number of herbs, instructions for making dream pillows, and many of his own recipes.
Creating Fairy Garden Fragrances by Linda Gannon
Basically a book pf pot-pourri recipes. Linda gives a little fairy folklore, and then lots of wonderful recipes for creating luscious-smelling pot-pourri.
At Home with Herbs by Jane Newdick
Almost a Martha-Stewart-type book! Many mnay ideas for things to do with herbs--crafts, cooking, and even a section on home-made cosmetics.
The Pleasures of Herbs by Phyllis Shaudys
This book goes month by month, with ideas for crafts and cooking, as well as what you could be doing in your garden right now! My very first herb book!
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  MIDI Selection: Country Gardens