The Essential Herbal for Natural Health: How to Transform Easy-to-Find Herbs into Healing Remedies for the Whole Family

by Holly Bellebuono

From tinctures to ease tummy aches to elixirs to enhance energy, making your own remedies from easy-to-find herbs can be a satisfying and pleasurable way to connect with nature and your family's health. While entering the “herb world” can be intimidating—many of today's herb books are filled with cultivation tables, harvest techniques, dye charts, and aromatherapy guidelines— The Essential Herbal for Natural Health provides a welcome entry point for those wishing to experience the beauty and simplicity of natural herbal remedies safely. By focusing on just thirteen foundation herbs, you can easily jump into the world of herbs while still creating a wide range of remedies and recipes. With something for everyone in the family—men, women, and children—these simple recipes can be made to cure coughs, calm anxiety, moisturize skin, and more.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published March 13, 2012

About the author

Author and herbalist of 30 years Holly Bellebuono explores philosophy, natural health, entrepreneurship, and the human experience. Author of 8 nonfiction books, Holly has lectured in England, Costa Rica, Canada, and across the US from Boston to Hawaii at conferences, retreats, and universities, delivering strategies and inspiration.

Holly is a multiple award-winning small business entrepreneur who coaches business owners to develop strategies and pursue environmental and social commitments--especially women's empowerment, women's equity and self-agency.

Her documentary book Women Healers of the World: The Traditions, History & Geography of Herbal Medicine, was named The Thomas DeBaggio Book of the Year 2015 by The International Herb Association. To create the book, Holly interviewed dozens of women from around the world, sometimes requiring translators, to learn about cultural traditions and personal beliefs that inspire herbal medicine.

The Bellebuono School of Herbal Medicine is an official school of the American Herbalist's Guild. Her signature program, Herbal Medicine FOUNDATIONS, provides comprehensive trainings in herbal medicine for men and women of all ages. Visit https://school.hollybellebuono.com/ to learn more.

Holly is also a nonprofit leader; she holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Appalachian State University and has served as Executive, Program and Fiscal Director for human service, education, and environmental nonprofit organizations. Awards include two Small Business Owner of the Year and a Nonprofit of the Year Award. Holly’s specialty is Grant Management and she is a professional member of the Grant Professionals Association, having stewarded dozens of state and foundation grants for nonprofits making an impact.

Holly welcomes inquiries from people interested in hosting her as a speaker on sustainability, personal and business transformation. Contact her at www.HollyBellebuono.com.

Reviews

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book with some basics abt herbs and how to use them for health. I love how she divides into sections (the sections for mamas and new babes are esp great) and she gives lots of great instruction. Good book not to skip!

[Kate McKinstry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely readable and helpful and educational! I’ve always loved herbal teas, but I’m completely new to the world of tinctures, salves, and other methods of herbal healing. And sometimes Pinterest is too much because half the time I don’t know what I’m looking for and how to organize it. This book gave enough theory and enough recipes to make herbal medicine seem manageable without being overwhelming. I’m looking forward to buying this book (I had borrowed it from the library for my first read) and adding some of these plants to my garden next year!

[Sam (Hissing Potatoes) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book:
-recommends putting a mixture that includes essential oils on a teething baby's gums
-regularly recommends douches
-recommends a garlic tampon for a yeast infection
-aside from those for pregnancy/nursing, includes not a single contraindication note for health issues or prescriptions

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book from the preface all the way until the end. Herbology can be intimidating at first and a lot of books thrust you right into it without enough explanation and leave you feeling confused.

This book is set up wonderfully with a short preface we get a glimpse at the life of someone who understands herbs and their properties and uses them on a day to day basis, while remaining realistic about modern medicine. The book starts off by introducing herbs in an easy to understand fashion.

Before you know it we're into individual descriptions of what the author has classified as the essential "bakers dozen" of herbs. She spends time educating you on each of the thirteen herbs, outlining their uses and their effects on the body.

Then you get into the fun (yet still informative) stuff such as medicine making methods and easy to follow guidelines for making everything from an herbal poultice to capsules. She shares with us remedies and recipes that can prove to be useful and effective in every household.

This book will prove to be a great addition to any herbalists book collection or for anyone who wants a good introduction into herbs and their practical uses. It's informative, easily understood, and incredibly helpful.

Not to mention, reading Ms. Bellebuono's description of her time in the meadows and forests of North Carolina really inspires me to fill my garden with herbs this spring and do a little exploring of my own...and perhaps heal my dogs from all their mishaps with herbal remedies too.

[angeljoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part recipe book, part herbal textbook, The Essential Herbal for Natural Health is a worthy resource for those looking to use natural, herbal remedies. It is very easy to read and understand. The information is laid out in an organized fashion, with insight into several herbs and their benefits. The chapters are laid out in such a way that it is easy to quickly access the information you need for a specific concern.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with recipes and colorful narratives, this book espouses the use of familiar herbs which are easy to grow and effective. Some of my favorite recipes include the digestive tonic, the "Squibnocket Soother" and "Fertili-tea." I love that the herbs are familiar and easy to obtain and even grow in my semi-arid home.

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but as usual I'm too lazy to follow any of its instructions...

Mi è piaciuto il libro e ancora di più le illustrazioni, ma come al solito sono troppo pigra per "seguire le istruzioni"...

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND SHAMBALA PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PREVIEW

[Estela]

Like illustrations

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and a very beautiful book.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really detailed book, but way too complicated for me at this point!

[Lisa]

Nice recipes, and some good herb info.