Secret Medicines from Your Garden
A weed is a plant whose uses have yet to be appreciated.
Plants have been used as medicine and in healing solutions for as long as we’ve inhabited the earth. Everything from their roots, bark, seeds, leaves, berries, and flowers have a medicinal purpose. Pioneers and herbalist from long ago used the doctrine of signatures and their instinct to discern the benefits of wild and domestic plants and verbally passed on this information for future use. Today these sacred and ancient remedies, as well as new insights and resources are available for those seeking knowledge. My newest book, Secret Medicines from Your Garden, Plants for Healing, Spirituality & Magic, is a comprehensive guide to connecting and working with the beloved plants that grace our earth.
Content
Part One
A Wildcrafting Primer
Part Two
Exploring Invisible Dimensions of the Plant World
Part Three
Enjoying Nature’s Bounty
Part Four
Formula Making
There’s more to plants than just their medicinal value. Plants have specific energetic characteristics, signatures, wisdom, and a spirit that can profoundly affect our bodies, and that is what this book is all about. The author shares remedies, folklore, and traditions that take us through the seasons and many cultures including Native American, Celtic, and Egyptian.
The first section walks you through the signatures of plants that catalogs the language of plants. This system was originally developed for those who did not have access to printed herbal resources. It includes the plant’s habitat, whether the plant goes alone or in a group, its stems and roots, leaf shape and texture, smell, taste, color, growing season and more.
The second part talks about the invisible dimensions of the plant world. There is a chapter on animal spirit medicine which is an Ojibwa tradition which was another way of classifying plants and passing down the information. For example snake medicine; it’s a herb that’s going to go into your body and purge poisons. Echinacea is a good example of this. A bear medicine would be more aligned with the stomach, and the digestive tract and the Osha root would fit this category.
The third section shares some basic kitchen medicine which everyone should know. The book continues with the health benefits and magical lore of bee medicine; honey. It also talks about hedgerows, conifers, and trees for healing. There are lots of colorful images that show what the plants look like including their flowers, buds, seeds, nuts, stems, leaves, and root systems.
The last section is putting your skills to work and making some herbal formulas from tinctures to poultices. You’ll be introduced to the ‘triangle system’, an eighteen-part formula system, which is used for deeper, longer-lasting complaints or for long-term constitutional prescribing. Included are recipes throughout so you can make medicines from wild and domesticated plants easily found in yards, forests, meadows, and hedgerows, and you’ll learn what to plant to ensure you have leaves, berries, and flowers all year. Chapter Seventeen has an extensive chart that shows which plants will improve the function of our organs and systems. Some examples are to use black walnut as a bone builder, or devil’s claw as a joint cleanser, or amaranth as a throat tonic.
Secret Medicines from Your Garden is a treasure trove of plant knowledge. It’s a valuable resource for those who want to learn about how to use Mother Nature’s plants in their daily lives to rebuild, rejuvenate and reform your health.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own, yours may differ.