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Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive Home Reference Guide to 550 Key Herbs with all their Uses as Remedies for Common Ailments
An illustrated guide to 550 medicinal plants offers readers the most up-to-date scientific data on these miraculous gifts of nature, as well as information on how to prepare remedies to treat more than sixty common ailments.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 66 reviews
April 7, 2025
A fantastic all-in-one guide to herbs and herbal medicine. If you were to have only one book on herbal medicine, this is the one to get. It's authoritative, comprehensive, well laid out, lavishly illustrated, and clearly a labor of profound love on the part of the author and all those who worked on it. I knew nothing about herbal medicine before I got this book; now I feel that I have a very solid introduction to it. The book is jammed with information, but very invitingly and appealingly presented. I read a lot of books, and few indeed would I rate as highly as this one. I recommend it without any reservations.
September 20, 2018
Really, this is 2.5 stars and all of them are for formatting--there are large, color photos and single pages for every "key" herb and additional photos for the others. The book includes some short, basic instructions for how to create tinctures, creams, lotions, etc. It has some interesting information on the history of herbal medicine, but again it is limited. There is a short section on remedies, but other books would be needed for more in-depth formulas.
The largest failure for me is the complete lack of sources for the claims made.
The largest failure for me is the complete lack of sources for the claims made.
April 24, 2012
Comprehensive and well illustrated, just as you would expect from DK. However, the content is largely unconvincing. Time after time, we are told about Medieval practictioners or a trial which demonstrated positive effects. So, if something was enodrsed by a single trial, it would still be listed as effective.
Similarly, the author knows that we are all often underwhelmed by the response of traditional medidicine and that women inparticular tend to feel like our problems are not fully addressed. So, it plays to that - laying on the alternative/mother nature/a woman's craft to seduce us into thinking this is somehow better than regular medicine.
Nearly filed this in the magic section of my library but relented and included it in health because I'm sure some remedies do work on the law of averages and as yet undiscovered medical compounds. However, don't believe the hype and trust in this as alternative medicine. Some of it complementary perhaps. Indeed, I suspect the authors know this too and hence the frequent admonishments not to take during pregnancy and warnings about poisonous effects.
Similarly, the author knows that we are all often underwhelmed by the response of traditional medidicine and that women inparticular tend to feel like our problems are not fully addressed. So, it plays to that - laying on the alternative/mother nature/a woman's craft to seduce us into thinking this is somehow better than regular medicine.
Nearly filed this in the magic section of my library but relented and included it in health because I'm sure some remedies do work on the law of averages and as yet undiscovered medical compounds. However, don't believe the hype and trust in this as alternative medicine. Some of it complementary perhaps. Indeed, I suspect the authors know this too and hence the frequent admonishments not to take during pregnancy and warnings about poisonous effects.
December 15, 2021
very informative
Very through and informative. I am a novice at all things plant related and very much appreciated the illustrations and photos.
Very through and informative. I am a novice at all things plant related and very much appreciated the illustrations and photos.
April 6, 2024
Overall: I love a good encyclopedia. This was one of the first I added to my collection. Pretty resourceful stuff, a great starting point for diving into herbal remedies. Insightful knowledge about the historical use of herbal medicine, it traces herbs and their technical applications back to various historical societies. Contains two indexes (indices??), one by ailment and another that is alphabetical.
(-1) Star because it doesn't talk about herbal temperament and encyclopedias are inherently Eurocentric...
Favorite Concept: "In the same way that taking a watch apart and identifying its key parts will not show you how it works as a whole, dividing up a medicinal herb into its constituent parts cannot explain exactly how it works in its natural form."
(-1) Star because it doesn't talk about herbal temperament and encyclopedias are inherently Eurocentric...
Favorite Concept: "In the same way that taking a watch apart and identifying its key parts will not show you how it works as a whole, dividing up a medicinal herb into its constituent parts cannot explain exactly how it works in its natural form."
August 3, 2022
The kindle version of this book is absolutely horrible!! Don't waste your money on the kindle version because it's literally not readable.
October 25, 2023
This is a great book for beginners! It’s visually appealing and incredibly practical with its breakdowns of each herb. I definitely preferred the in-depth pages of the first 100 herbs, but it is nice that so many more are included at the end since it would be impractical to do so for all 550. There were a few things I was side-eyeing, such as including points about homeopathy and the certain claims about severe illnesses like AIDS and cancer. The author was very tempered in discussing those things, which I appreciated, but it was still a little suspicious. However, I think that the layout of this book and the wealth of information make it easy to overlook the few sentences I was dubious of, and I’ll definitely be using this as a resource for years to come.
September 14, 2018
A clear and concise go to book, on herbal medicine.
I understand that not every beneficial herb on the
planet could be covered due to the size of the book, but felt that
they mostly covered on Western and Asian herbal medicine. Rooibos, Devil's Claw,
African Potato are African medicinal plants that have been medically
proven and were left out.
I understand that not every beneficial herb on the
planet could be covered due to the size of the book, but felt that
they mostly covered on Western and Asian herbal medicine. Rooibos, Devil's Claw,
African Potato are African medicinal plants that have been medically
proven and were left out.
December 12, 2024
It's got some issues (I think due to author perspective and bias) but it was on sale and it's in an area of interest. Not in the alt-right don't trust doctors way though. I don't feel like I could reliably give it a rating.
October 17, 2018
Too much information covered, not enough detail.
April 4, 2019
Had lots of information, but not exactly what I was looking for. I have read other books with a layout that I found easier.
July 1, 2024
Lots of information but the text is ‘interesting’. Very white colonialist in tone.
July 24, 2024
I just got done reading through Andrew Chevallier’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine and as promised here’s my review:
🌿🌱☘️🌻🌼🌸🌹
I found this encyclopedia to be a well researched and organized resource that serves to be and authoritative reference and an accessible introduction to the therapeutic use of plants.
This book begins with an insightful introduction to the principles and history of herbal medicine, offering readers a solid foundation. It then delves seamlessly into the phytochemistry and mechanisms of action, explaining how different plant compounds interact with the human body to promote health.
One of the most valuable aspects of this book is its comprehensive herbal profiles. Each profile is thoughtfully organized, providing common and scientific names, descriptions, traditional and current uses, active constituents, dosage recommendations, and safety precautions.
This structure makes it easy to find and understand the key information about each herb.
🌿 Highlights:
- Detail and Accuracy: The book’s detailed profiles on over 550 herbs are thoroughly researched and presented in an easy-to-read format. Each herb’s therapeutic properties, historical context, and modern applications are well-documented.
- Visual Appeal: The encyclopedia is aesthetically illustrated with high-quality photographs and diagrams that enhance the learning experience. Visual learners will particularly appreciate the clear, colorful images that accompany each herb’s profile.
- Practical Use: Chevallier includes practical advice on how to prepare and use herbal remedies, making this book not just a theoretical reference but also a practical guide. The sections on different forms of herbal preparations and dosage guidelines are especially useful for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.
🌿 Criticisms:
This book does offer insight and knowledge on the use of herbs and the history of medicine on a global scale. However, I do think a lot has been left out. Continents like the Americas and Africa are too vast to encompass the rich history of medicinal practices both ancient and current within the confines of a strict word count.
I think there was room for more diversity on the subject to be touched on, it just wasn’t wholly displayed.
🌿Conclusion:
Overall this is a fantastic resource to begin an herbalist journey with. It has many factual details on the plants themselves, as well as instructions on how to use them. The history is a tad Eurocentric, but there was an effort to make sure there was global representation. I suggest if you want to know more about specific practices on a regional level to look into books that are niched down to the region you want to explore more about.
I do give this book 4 stars for being a great resource, lacking one star for my only criticism.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌿🌱☘️🌻🌼🌸🌹
I found this encyclopedia to be a well researched and organized resource that serves to be and authoritative reference and an accessible introduction to the therapeutic use of plants.
This book begins with an insightful introduction to the principles and history of herbal medicine, offering readers a solid foundation. It then delves seamlessly into the phytochemistry and mechanisms of action, explaining how different plant compounds interact with the human body to promote health.
One of the most valuable aspects of this book is its comprehensive herbal profiles. Each profile is thoughtfully organized, providing common and scientific names, descriptions, traditional and current uses, active constituents, dosage recommendations, and safety precautions.
This structure makes it easy to find and understand the key information about each herb.
🌿 Highlights:
- Detail and Accuracy: The book’s detailed profiles on over 550 herbs are thoroughly researched and presented in an easy-to-read format. Each herb’s therapeutic properties, historical context, and modern applications are well-documented.
- Visual Appeal: The encyclopedia is aesthetically illustrated with high-quality photographs and diagrams that enhance the learning experience. Visual learners will particularly appreciate the clear, colorful images that accompany each herb’s profile.
- Practical Use: Chevallier includes practical advice on how to prepare and use herbal remedies, making this book not just a theoretical reference but also a practical guide. The sections on different forms of herbal preparations and dosage guidelines are especially useful for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.
🌿 Criticisms:
This book does offer insight and knowledge on the use of herbs and the history of medicine on a global scale. However, I do think a lot has been left out. Continents like the Americas and Africa are too vast to encompass the rich history of medicinal practices both ancient and current within the confines of a strict word count.
I think there was room for more diversity on the subject to be touched on, it just wasn’t wholly displayed.
🌿Conclusion:
Overall this is a fantastic resource to begin an herbalist journey with. It has many factual details on the plants themselves, as well as instructions on how to use them. The history is a tad Eurocentric, but there was an effort to make sure there was global representation. I suggest if you want to know more about specific practices on a regional level to look into books that are niched down to the region you want to explore more about.
I do give this book 4 stars for being a great resource, lacking one star for my only criticism.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 27, 2023
Possibly the definitive beginners guide to plant medicine. I picked it up because I'm a fantasy writer who is sick and tired of having to stop my writing to google medicinal herbs every time one of my characters gets sick or injured.
For my purposes, I couldn't have asked for a better source. In addition to a compendium of 550 herbs, their medicinal uses, their place in folklore, chemical properties, preferred environments, where to find them, and lots of color photographs, the book also contains an overview of the histories of plant medicine in various cultures, step by step guides on how to make infusions, decoctions, poultices, ointments, etc., and advice on harvesting, cultivating, and processing plants. I focused mainly on the North American herbs, and I can't wait to beat the crap out of my fantasy characters so I can heal them with my new knowledge of herblore.
Beyond that, I would caution readers without medical backgrounds against using this book as a DIY guide to making medicine. While many of Chevallier's claims about the effects of plants on the body seem convincing, a number of others struck me as scientifically specious -- For example, that certain herbs can detoxify the body, allowing your organs to "invest greater resources in repairing and strengthening damaged tissue and weakened organs" (12). It's my understanding that medical professionals have roundly criticized alternative medicine's claims that it can "detoxify" the body. Many of the herbs that I read about are described as diuretics, which makes me wonder if the plants themselves contain toxins that the body is trying to expel. And should we really be taking hemlock as medicine? What do you think, Socrates?
Adding to the confusion, the book sometimes uses vague and nonpharmaceutical language. One herb promises that it "stimulates the uterus" (50). Um. What??!
To his credit, Chevalier is careful to warn about plants' toxicity, allergens, which ones shouldn't be taken during pregnancy, and which should only be taken under professional supervision. And I can certainly understand why some readers would turn to medicines that can be grown cheaply at home. Healthcare should be free, and modern medicine needs to do a MUCH better job at meeting the needs of women and other marginalized groups.
For my part, I won't be rolling the dice with any of these herbs, accept for the ones I already know to be edible. You can stuff me full of barley and basil, but let Socrates keep his hemlock.
For my purposes, I couldn't have asked for a better source. In addition to a compendium of 550 herbs, their medicinal uses, their place in folklore, chemical properties, preferred environments, where to find them, and lots of color photographs, the book also contains an overview of the histories of plant medicine in various cultures, step by step guides on how to make infusions, decoctions, poultices, ointments, etc., and advice on harvesting, cultivating, and processing plants. I focused mainly on the North American herbs, and I can't wait to beat the crap out of my fantasy characters so I can heal them with my new knowledge of herblore.
Beyond that, I would caution readers without medical backgrounds against using this book as a DIY guide to making medicine. While many of Chevallier's claims about the effects of plants on the body seem convincing, a number of others struck me as scientifically specious -- For example, that certain herbs can detoxify the body, allowing your organs to "invest greater resources in repairing and strengthening damaged tissue and weakened organs" (12). It's my understanding that medical professionals have roundly criticized alternative medicine's claims that it can "detoxify" the body. Many of the herbs that I read about are described as diuretics, which makes me wonder if the plants themselves contain toxins that the body is trying to expel. And should we really be taking hemlock as medicine? What do you think, Socrates?
Adding to the confusion, the book sometimes uses vague and nonpharmaceutical language. One herb promises that it "stimulates the uterus" (50). Um. What??!
To his credit, Chevalier is careful to warn about plants' toxicity, allergens, which ones shouldn't be taken during pregnancy, and which should only be taken under professional supervision. And I can certainly understand why some readers would turn to medicines that can be grown cheaply at home. Healthcare should be free, and modern medicine needs to do a MUCH better job at meeting the needs of women and other marginalized groups.
For my part, I won't be rolling the dice with any of these herbs, accept for the ones I already know to be edible. You can stuff me full of barley and basil, but let Socrates keep his hemlock.
December 26, 2021
The book is divided into sections; an The Development of Herbal Medicine which includes how medicinal plants work, a brief categorisation of different active constituents (One of the best I've seen in the books I own but still lacking a lot of information) and then a brief history of Medicinal Plants throughout world history.
The 100 Key Medicinal Plants have a page per plant listing Habitat & Cultivation, Related Species, Key Constituents, Key Actions, Research, Traditional & Current Uses, Parts Used and Key Preparations & Their Uses
The 450 Other Medicinal are Plants list Description, Habitat & Cultivation, Parts Used, Constituents, History & Folklore, Medicinal Actions & Uses, Research, Related Species.
(Both sections include 'Cautions' however I find these to be incredibly lacking as many plants in this book have multiple interactions and contraindications with both pharmaceuticals and herbal medicines and even regular food. I would encourage everyone to do a lot more research into the different cautions for all these plants and to not rely on this book.)
The final section; Herbal Remedies For Home Use explains how to grow, harvest & process plants and then turn them into herbal remedies. It is only in this section that there is a page on Using Herbal Remedies Safely that briefly explains that herbal remedies can interact with other medicines but doesn't explain that herbs can interact with herbs as well.
Several pages are dedicated to Remedies for Common Ailments that are divided into Allergies, Circulatory Problems, Skin Problems, Digestive Disorders, Nerve & Stress-related Problems, Respiratory Tract Problems, Musco-skeletal Problems, Urinary & Fungal Infections, Reproductive & Menstrual Problems, Pregnancy, Infants & Children, Older Adults.
A glossary defines some Medical & Botanical words and terms, A General Index and An Index of Herbs by Ailment
Fantastic reference book for anyone interested in plant medicines. This book is fairly well laid, plants are listed alphabetically based on their Scientific/Botanical/Taxonomic name with the Family name in brackets and the common name below.
The 100 Key Medicinal Plants have a page per plant listing Habitat & Cultivation, Related Species, Key Constituents, Key Actions, Research, Traditional & Current Uses, Parts Used and Key Preparations & Their Uses
The 450 Other Medicinal are Plants list Description, Habitat & Cultivation, Parts Used, Constituents, History & Folklore, Medicinal Actions & Uses, Research, Related Species.
(Both sections include 'Cautions' however I find these to be incredibly lacking as many plants in this book have multiple interactions and contraindications with both pharmaceuticals and herbal medicines and even regular food. I would encourage everyone to do a lot more research into the different cautions for all these plants and to not rely on this book.)
The final section; Herbal Remedies For Home Use explains how to grow, harvest & process plants and then turn them into herbal remedies. It is only in this section that there is a page on Using Herbal Remedies Safely that briefly explains that herbal remedies can interact with other medicines but doesn't explain that herbs can interact with herbs as well.
Several pages are dedicated to Remedies for Common Ailments that are divided into Allergies, Circulatory Problems, Skin Problems, Digestive Disorders, Nerve & Stress-related Problems, Respiratory Tract Problems, Musco-skeletal Problems, Urinary & Fungal Infections, Reproductive & Menstrual Problems, Pregnancy, Infants & Children, Older Adults.
A glossary defines some Medical & Botanical words and terms, A General Index and An Index of Herbs by Ailment
Fantastic reference book for anyone interested in plant medicines. This book is fairly well laid, plants are listed alphabetically based on their Scientific/Botanical/Taxonomic name with the Family name in brackets and the common name below.
June 6, 2020
5++ star book. This book is all in one. It tells story of the development of the herbal medicine from the ancient world and the tradition of each continent, then to modern world. The next section is is a list of herbal plants with its details and picture.
The book is easy to navigate with the help of general index at the back of the book, so readers can find correct herbs for their aliments. Also, there is section dedicated to beginner who want to try to grow or make their own herbal remedies with techniques such as infusion, devotions, tinctures, tonic, etc. I totally recommend this book!
The book is easy to navigate with the help of general index at the back of the book, so readers can find correct herbs for their aliments. Also, there is section dedicated to beginner who want to try to grow or make their own herbal remedies with techniques such as infusion, devotions, tinctures, tonic, etc. I totally recommend this book!
February 27, 2024
Not suitable for Kindle. Photos of pages only.
This may be a good book and I'm giving it 4 stars for now but may change this after trying to read it on my desktop.
On Kindle the only option for text sizing is by pinching the individual photographed pages and resizing them. Seems to be a practice for DK Books. Note, the page photos don't even fill the screen, with huge borders of black on all 4 sides. This makes reading on Kindle tablets of smaller size impossible, with apparent font sizes of about 2 or maybe 3 pt font sizes.
I would encourage the author to find a new publisher who will properly convert the work rather that creating a series of page photos.
This may be a good book and I'm giving it 4 stars for now but may change this after trying to read it on my desktop.
On Kindle the only option for text sizing is by pinching the individual photographed pages and resizing them. Seems to be a practice for DK Books. Note, the page photos don't even fill the screen, with huge borders of black on all 4 sides. This makes reading on Kindle tablets of smaller size impossible, with apparent font sizes of about 2 or maybe 3 pt font sizes.
I would encourage the author to find a new publisher who will properly convert the work rather that creating a series of page photos.
November 14, 2024
I found the organization very confusing. For example, dogwood is listed in the index as on page 200, but it is not there, and because the entries are alphabetized by scientific name not common name, I could not look it up. Further, some plants are in the sections "Key Medicinal plants" and some in "Other Medicinal Plants." The photos are nice and the descriptions are good. This is a great coffee-table book, but not the reference I was hoping for.
Read
May 10, 2020With more than 550 plant descriptions as well as the way you can use them to improve your physical and mental wellbeing and a scientific appendix with the latest research being conducted on Herbal medicine, this is a great book. I did not read it page by page, and I guess that's not the way you consume a read like this.
April 25, 2021
This is the kind of book I’ve been looking for in regards to herbs. There is detailed instructions on how to make various medicinal concoctions. There is an easy to use section for various ailments and the plants that could help. It mentions studies to backup what these herbs do but it also references folk uses.
February 24, 2021
Excellent layout, well organized information with good graphics and easy-to-read use of textboxes. It has detailed pages on 100 of the most important herbs as well smaller segments for many more herbs, and a table of herbal remedies for common ailments.
DK Publishing once again does good work.
DK Publishing once again does good work.
November 18, 2021
Really useful book if you want to have a balanced and healthy diet. This encyclopedia helps me a lot in times when I need to boost my immune system due to seasonal changes. Also, it helps me treat my individual health issues and maintain healthy diet within our family.
March 5, 2022
Packed full of information. If you were to only have one book on herbs and herbal medicine this is the one. Features great illustrations to go with the information.
I’m learning lots from this book, I believe it’s a must read for everyone to learn about nature.
I’m learning lots from this book, I believe it’s a must read for everyone to learn about nature.
February 15, 2025
Hard to read
The content was very good. Covers more plants than most books. My only problem was the format it was written in was very small, and zooming in I ended up on different pages or aa blank one.
The content was very good. Covers more plants than most books. My only problem was the format it was written in was very small, and zooming in I ended up on different pages or aa blank one.
December 29, 2018
Recommended by my teacher as the best book when taking "Intro to Medicinal Plants, Herbs, and Spices"
August 12, 2019
I use this book all the time! It's great!
February 2, 2021
Really just flipped through it. Good for brief introductions.
January 13, 2022
This was a very informative book about herbals and their medicinal uses as well as remedies and types of medicines to be made from herbs and how to make them. Lovely Work <3
August 3, 2022
An EXCELLENT resource for my kitchen/med cabinet! It's clear yet concise enough not to feel overwhelming.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 66 reviews