Mastering Herbalism: A Practical Guide

by Paul Huson

Mastering Herbalism shows how to make jams, sauces, soups, meat, desserts, beer, wine, teas, perfumes, incenses, beauty products, cures, aphrodisiacs, and potions with a variety of herbs and spices.

Genres: Herbs, Occult, Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Reference, Paganism, Magick

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Celeste]

Before Scott Cunningham, there was Paul Huson. I love this book, and the beautiful cover of my particular edition.

[Ryn]

I just love this stuff. This one is witchy and wonderful. I need to make some absinthe out of the wormwood in the herb garden and this book has given me the recipe and the inspiration.

[William Alan]

Mastering Herbalism has the pleasant air of a book written when herbs were still allowed to be mysterious. Paul Huson moves through their medicinal, magical, culinary, and folkloric uses with the same willingness to let practical knowledge rub shoulders with old superstition, planetary influence, charms, and the occasional wonderfully odd belief that modern books might hurry past. The result is less a tidy herbal manual than a cabinet of green curiosities, full of things one might grow, brew, burn, eat, hang over a doorway, or think twice about putting anywhere near the mouth. Not every historical or medical claim should be accepted uncritically, especially now, but Huson’s great strength is making plants feel inhabited by stories and possibilities. You come away with the sense that a garden is considerably stranger than it first appears, which is probably the proper beginning of herbalism anyway.

[Justin]

There is a bunch of information in here that you wont find in other books (magical herb use, detail cooking use). That being said, I want to know the properties of herbs and for that there are much better books

[Lynn Learie]

Great resource information; easily understandable. Love that recipes were included! 😀 Written in the 1970’s, the author’s ideas and insights concerning our planet are still so very relevant today. The “hippies” got it right.

[Deborah Martin]

How did I miss this gem early in my collecting books on magic and herbs?

First, I had to remind myself it was written in 1973. So much has been added to our knowledge of herbal medicine in the intervening years that I had to stop myself from choking when reading that section. My advice would be to read it, then do a lot more research before using this as a reference for herbal medicine.

Then I had to stop myself from laughing too hard when reading the language. In the section on aphrodisiacs/love potions, he makes reference to a "groovy love-object". I haven't heard those words in 40-plus years!

All that said, the vast majority of the information in the book is timeless. Growing tips are great, recipes (both cookery and magical) throughout are wonderful and the historical information presented is priceless. Highly recommended for the witch's bookshelf.

[Sarah]

This is an entertaining book, but the medical use of herbs along with comments on other abilities of herbs should only be taken as historical usage of herbs, not as a treatment for anything. The recipes are very interesting, especially the ones on how to make incense and various types of alcohol. It is dated in where and how to get herbs as now most groceries carry herbs marked as exotic in this book.

[Les]

Not as good as his classic 'Mastering Witchcraft' and to be truthful, I was a little disappointed but... it's still way ahead of many books on the subject, and a useful addition to my books shelf. A Keeper for sure!

[Justin]

There is a bunch of information in here that you wont find in other books (magical herb use, detail cooking use). That being said, I want to know the properties of herbs and for that there are much better books