Boreal Herbal Wild Food and Medicine Plants of the North

by Beverley Gray

The Boreal Wild Food and Medicine Plants of the North is an indispensable guide to identifying and using northern plants for food and medicine. Whether you're hiking in remote areas or gardening in your backyard, this easy-to-use handbook will help you recognize and use fifty-five common wild plants that have extraordinary healing properties. With The Boreal Herbal you will learn how to soothe pain with willow, staunch bleeding with yarrow, treat a urinary-tract infection with bearberry, and create a delicate and uplifting skin cream from sweetgrass. Author Beverley Gray has also included dozens of healthy and delicious recipes, including Wild-Weed Spanakopita, Dandelion Wine, and Cranberry-Mint Muffins.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Nature, Health, Food, Gardening, Plants

440 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Tasha · Rating 1 out of 5]

While this book contains beautiful photography, recipes, etc, I could not get around the amount of non-scientific potentially harmful information regarding each plant.
While the author did consult a native healer, her emphasis was on how she uses the various plants on her family with no elder or western medical guidance, which could lead to some very, very bad results if others were to copy her.

Also, while being about plants in the boreal forest, the author focuses mostly on the Yukon, which is not as helpful if you live in a different geographical area.

I did not finish reading this all the way through as a result - I gave up in frustration.

[Gdaiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

My most favorite herbal book! Beautiful, practical and informative! The only book you need for Northern herbs. If i had to choose the only book to keep that would be it

[Steven Allat · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I only could own a few books about plants, nature and living off of the land . . . this one would be essential.
I really enjoyed the balance between practical information on plant use, the energetic and/or spiritual connection we have with plants and the easy to read and understand layout of the entire book.
I am already an avid forager, aspiring to know how to live more and more off of the land (even in my urban area), and this book gives me a lot of the information I need to do that.

Very thoughtful and thorough.

I had borrowed a copy from a friend to review, but I will be getting a copy of my own asap.

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing resource for foraging and learning how to use the plants of the north. Definitely one I’ll be referring to often.

[Nico Janow · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not much factual information, and the author's emphasis on non-scientific information makes it hard to trust anything she writes about the herbs. Herbs certainly can have medicinal uses, but basing it purely on folklore and anecdotal evidence isn't very useful. I've seen better books, with more details of what the herb can do, and more detailed cautions about using it.

[Adèle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was SO PUMPED for this book. I got it for Christmas. However.... It's very centered on the Yukon. I am nowhere near the Yukon. I have been and it's gorgeous...but I was hoping this book would be more Canada wide. I don't find it it is... I am also extremely disappointed to see that Cedar is NOT included in this book. 😡🥺
Womp womp.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent photos and drawings for field ID. descriptions and applications for alaskan/circumpolar plants, berries and trees, with instructions for various preparations. information presented concisely and clearly, and helpful indices cross-referencing ailments and plant properties.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Tons of information with great photos and illustrations. I found it very helpful and educational. I highly recommend it. The author is a longtime herbalist and aromatherapist based in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. I plan to visit her shop next time I'm in Whitehorse.

[Dana Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

The pictures in this volume are stunning. However, I have to agree with other reviews, the lack of factual information in this book is dangerous. This title was used as a text to explore local plants in the Alaskan Arctic. Many of the plants are the same; however, I deferred to a more authoritative guide and local Elder knowledge before actually harvesting anything.

There are far too many anecdotal stories and recipes for moonlight infusions. Had this volume contained facts and collaboration with the local peoples to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge, it would be much better. As it is, this is a really pretty book with lots of areas for improvement.

[Mallee Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This non-fiction book deals with wild foods and medicine plants in Northern Canada. It describes how and when to forage for different plants such as chickweed or wild rose.

What I find useful beside the information under each plant, are the excellent clear photographs to help identify the right plant. Additionally, at the back of the book are recipes incorporating wild foods, but best of all, is a chart explaining each herb’s health benefit in healing ailments. I wouldn’t be without this book.

For more of my 5 out of 5 reviews visit https://readandwrite.blog/malleestanley/

[Megan T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A blessing to have a guide to Northern plants. I use this book often as a reference for identification and harvesting. I usually use another book or books to decide on the medicinal uses, as I find this book kquite vague on that topic. However, it contains many useful recipes, including the bases of various preparations. A reference I use often.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a favourite for years. I live in the NWT and not the Yukon, but the info is still applicable.

I would say this is an intermediate book for foraging. The recipes require you to harvest multiple plants over the warm seasons. If you don’t know plant properties (from western science and/or traditional knowledge) then I recommend supplementing this book with another.

[Emma Gray Lamont · Rating 5 out of 5]

clear descriptions and beautiful pictures! ive referenced this book so many times since getting it and would highly recommend it!

[Trace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous book that is stuffed with information, recipes color photos. I want my own copy!!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful reference for plants in the boreal areas of America.

[Fira · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favourite. I'm always recommending it and talking about it!

[Karen Maskarinec · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful book written at the intersection of science and tradition, with art and practicality and spirituality all close - it is a Gettysburg (a lovely quiet place where many roads converge) of books, without the battle! Beautiful photos make it almost impossible for a person with a fair degree of visual perception to be confused about a plant's identity, and the logical arrangement of a vast amount of material appeals to the mathematical thinker. After "The Brothers Karamazov," it is the book I would most like to have written myself.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

NO goodreads I do not want neopagen antivaxxer essential oil recs, I just want to know how to preserve spruce tips 😭😭😭😭😭

[Myra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource for the forager!!

[Erin Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who wants to both understand & thrive in the north.