The Wild Medicine Solution: Healing with Aromatic, Bitter, and Tonic Plants

by Guido Mase

Restoring the use of wild plants in daily life for vibrant physical, mental, and spiritual health. Explains how 3 classes of wild plants--aromatics, bitters, and tonics--are uniquely adapted to work with our physiology because we co-evolved with them. Provides simple recipes to easily integrate these plants into meals as well as formulas for teas, spirits, and tinctures. Offers practical examples of plants in each of the 3 classes, from aromatic peppermint to bitter dandelion to tonic chocolate As people moved into cities and suburbs and embraced modern medicine and industrialized food, they lost their connection to nature, in particular to the plants with which humanity co-evolved. These plants are essential components of our physiologies--tangible reminders of cross-kingdom signaling--and key not only to vibrant physical health and prevention of illness but also to soothing and awakening the troubled spirit. Blending traditional herbal medicine with history, mythology, clinical practice, and recent findings in physiology and biochemistry, herbalist Guido Mase explores the three classes of plants necessary for the healthy functioning of our bodies and minds--aromatics, bitters, and tonics. He explains how bitter plants ignite digestion, balance blood sugar, buffer toxicity, and improve metabolism; how tonic plants normalize the functions of our cells and nourish the immune system; and how aromatic plants relax tense organs, nerves, and muscles and stimulate sluggish systems, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. He reveals how wild plants regulate our heart variability rate and adjust the way DNA is read by our cells, controlling the self-destructive tendencies that lead to chronic inflammation or cancer. Offering examples of ancient and modern uses of wild plants in each of the 3 classes--from aromatic peppermint to bitter dandelion to tonic chocolate--Mase provides easy recipes to integrate them into meals as seasonings and as central ingredients in soups, stocks, salads, and grain dishes as well as including formulas for teas, spirits, and tinctures. Providing a framework for safe and effective use as well as new insights to enrich the practice of advanced herbalists, he shows how healing wild plant deficiency syndrome --that is, adding wild plants back into our diets--is vital not only to our health but also to our spiritual development.

Genres: Health, Gardening, Nonfiction, Food, Medicine, Herbs, Reference

328 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2013

Reviews

[Edit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides valuable information about a couple of aromatic, tonic and bitter herbs, however it also contains a lot of (seemingly random) scientific information about different subjects. It is not an easy read for those only interested in getting to know a couple of useful herbs and begin their herbal journey, but an excellent read for those with scientific background interested in medicinal herbs. I liked that he involved some historical background of certain herbs, it was pretty entertaining, but the pharmacological approach here and there was a little bit overwhelming to me. The recipes are very basic compared to other authors (Rosemary Gladstar, James Green etc). I felt that the info about the specific herbs wasn't very detailed compared to other (to me less important) things like Heart Rate Variability or DNA structure.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was so educational and really got me excited about the concept of plants as medicine. It dives into the science behind why herbs are so good for us and why we should bring back wild herbs (many of which we call “weeds”) into our diets. It inspired me to learn more about how herbs can help with inflammation (since I personally have to deal with that given my autoimmune condition) and gave me ideas for more herbs to grow myself.

[Rebecca Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I attended a class by Guido Mase at an herbalism conference, and was immediately struck by his vast knowledge, unusual approach, and enthusiasm for his work. His class was a breakthrough for me as a beginning herbalist. But this isn't a book just for herbalists, it's a book for anyone looking for better health, by bringing us back into nature, and into a coevolving relationship with the foods and medicines we've forgotten. This is simpler than you might think! Such an inspiring book. The recipes are basic and easy, I can't wait to try them.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, one of my top 10 favorite books on herbal medicine. Well written and even a great primer for someone new to herbal medicine.

[Joel LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful look into aromatic, bitter and tonic herbs, delving much deeper and looking much more closely than much other books. Highly recommended!

[Gay Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked section on how to forage for edible weeds, the 13 essential plants for human survival and a few recipes.

[tonia peckover · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. A readable yet somewhat technical book about the ways wild plants interact with our body's ecosystems to support health. Mase shows how traditional diets and traditional medicines included these wild plants and how our bodies have suffered today from their exclusion. Some of the plants he highlights are not as familiar as others, but he also includes everyday plants (especially aromatics) that we can better utilize for our every day health. Loved this book and plan on reading it again to better understand the science.

[Jay Callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are lots of books about herbs and herbalism, but this one is remarkable for combining clear description of the scientific bases for the use of aromatic, butter and tonic herbs, with eloquent, knowledgeable and evident long personal knowledge and affection for these 15 plants. I wish there were more like this book.

Guido (and Rosemary Gladstar, of course) are the Eliot Colemans of Herbalism, and that is high praise.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only do I really appreciate Mase's perspective and what he can bring to the herbal community, I loved how approachable this book is and how he spotlights only a few choice herbs for each section (aromatics, bitters & tonics) as to not be overwhelming.

[Triin Ülesoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super good book about bitter herbs! gave me a lot new insight!

Im also making homemade bitters, you can see my webpage at Bite the Plant . people who have used them report a lot of benefits for their digestion and overall wellbeing!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you only read the chapter on Bitter that would be enough (though the rest is good too).

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information and novel theories. I've never seen heart rate variability (HRV) mentioned in an herb book. Being a HeartMath Coach, this caught my attention.

[Deb.mcquillangmail.com · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good info, but somewhat technical. There are some recipes at the back, though.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too many herbs. Format was not as useful as other herbals as it didn't have bulleted sections such as actions, constituents.