Herbal Healing for Women

by Rosemary Gladstar

Simple, safe, and effective herbal remedies for women of all ages.

For centuries women have turned to herbs to cope with a wide variety of health problems and conditions. Comprehensive and easy-to-use, Herbal Healing for Women explains how to create remedies—including teas, tinctures, salves, and ointments—for the common disorders that arise in the different cycles of a woman's life.

Covering adolescence, childbearing years, pregnancy and childbirth, and menopause, Rosemary Gladstar teaches how herbs can be used to treat the symptoms of conditions such as acne, PMS, morning sickness, and hot flashes. A complete women's health-care manual, Herbal Healing for Women discusses:

-common disorders and the herbs that are effective for treating them
-how to select and store herbs
-preparation of hundreds of herbal remedies
-an alphabetical listing of herbs, including a brief description of the herb, the general medicinal usage, and when necessary, warnings about potential side effects.

By explaining the properties of specific herbs and the art of preparation, Rosemary Gladstar demonstrates not only how to achieve healing through herbs but good health as well.

Genres: Health, Herbs, Nonfiction, Reference, Nature, Cookbooks, Plants

508 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 10, 1993

About the author

Rosemary Gladstar is a pioneer in the herbal movement and has been called the "Godmother of American Herbalism." She began more than 35 years ago developing herbal formulas in her herb shop, Rosemary's Garden in Sonoma County, California. She is the founder of the California School of Herbal Studies, the oldest running herb school in the United States, author of The Science and Art of Herbalism home study course, and is the director of the International Herb Symposium and The New England Women's Herbal Conference held annually in NE. She is the author of numerous herb books including the bestseller Herbal Healing for Women, The Storey Book Herbal Healing Series, and Herbal Remedies for Vibrant Health. Rosemary is also the co-founder of Traditional Medicinal Tea Company and did all of the original formulations for the company. She has taught extensively throughout the United States and worldwide at venues as varied as backyard gardens, native villages, garden clubs to universities and hospitals. She has won numerous awards and certificates for her work with medicinal plants, but her greatest reward has been in watching the herbal renaissance soar from its birth and feeling in some small exciting way, a part of it.

Her greatest passion has been the work of United Plant Savers, a nonprofit organization that Rosemary founded in 1994 and is currently serving as Founding President. UpS is dedicated to the conservation and cultivation of at-risk North American medicinal plants and to preserving botanical sanctuaries across the U.S. to help preserve the land that these precious native species thrive on. For information on United Plant Savers, please visit: www.unitedplantsavers.org

Rosemary lives and works from her home, Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center, a 500-acre botanical preserve in central Vermont.

Reviews

[Kirbie Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this woman! Her herbal wisdom in this book is so valued and appreciated. I personally am so thankful for the list of herbs that are safe during pregnancy. I didn't know that threats of miscarriage could be helped by herbs. It's incredible. I do wish there was a bit more on herbs for postpartum. I took away a star because I disagree with some of her diet recommendations. Women need saturated fat from good sources, and red meat is especially important for us. She advises not to eat either. But I believe this was written in the 90s before we knew better. Still, I love this book and am so grateful for Rosemary's contributions to herbalism!

[Missi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is pretty good. I’m not a fan of the way the book is set up. I’d rather have a set of symptoms than a chapter on a life stage. There is a summary at the end of the chapter.

[Aneesa]

This book doesn't have enough pictures, but it does have recipes for Pimple Juice, Women's Power Capsules, Flood Gates Tea, Laxative Tea When Nothing Else Works, and Crone Candy.

[Astrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosemary Gladstar is one of my favorite herbalists. This book is a great resource for women of any age, as it is divided into three parts, each corresponding to a phase of a woman's life. Also teaches how to store and use herbs, and includes basic information about herbs specific to women.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous book for women interested in caring for themselves and their families. Very accessible and common sense approach to herbal healing.

[Vicki McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is probably full of woo, I still appreciate the compassion and gentleness of Rosemary's approach to natural healing alternatives for women that centers their bodies and needs. I love herbs and would like to think that using some of these remedies could be helpful - even if I know it might only be a placebo effect. Feeling good matters!

[Joshua J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one I highly endorse. It isn't just a book of herbal creations for various conditions, it's also a thorough of the conditions and recommendations. It also is placed through the different stages of a woman's life, with physiological explanation as to what's going on with their bodies and then how to best accommodate via herbal utilization and dietary considerations.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good I’m going to buy

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skimmed through this. It has so much valuable information, though not specifically the information I was looking for. I want to explore this further in the future.

[BO · Rating 5 out of 5]

i just started my herbal healing journey and this book was very informative for me!

[Aubrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invaluable resource for taking control of your own health!

[Clara 🦢 · Rating 5 out of 5]

it’s a little witchy but i tried something for cramps and it worked so ty ty

[Kat Vermillion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative. Intuitive. Clear and concise. A chapter for every phase of life with recipes and stories contained therein. Also a very realist approach to herbalism in the modern age.

[Erica Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every woman should read this book. I have read it multiple times. There is a plethora of information for every stage of a woman's life.

[Linn Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've got an older copy than this one, much loved and picked up in a second hand book store.

Love anything by Rosemary Gladstar - her writing is really down to earth but her decades of experience as a practising herbalist and teacher of medicinal herbs shine through with specific information (the fine print) so you can apply it in a practical way.

There is some really good information on herbal manufacturing in this book. I'm a professionally qualifed herbalist and make my own remedies up for my clients and Rosemary's recipes are pure gold.

This book looks at herbs for women and breaks it down into herbs for young girls, for the childbearing years & menstrual problems, pregnancy & childbirth and menopause (in doing so, weaving in the ancient concept of the three faces of the goddess - the maiden, the mother and the crone).

I consider this a reliable text book, not just another home herbal.

More recipes for teas, tinctures, oils, salves, pills, capsules and linaments along with how and when to use them.

Lovely illustrations.

[Kylin Larsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, Rosemary Gladstar, seems to know a lot about herbs. The book has sections that show how to use herbs; herbs for young women; herbs for women in childbearing years; herbs for pregnancy; herbs for menopause; and a highly useful index.

I have to say that although I enjoyed learning about the history of the herbs and possible uses for them, I haven't tried any herbs (except for prepackaged ginger tea to keep the pregnancy heartburn in check). I really believe that herbs are powerful healing tools and since my pregnancy is proceeding on the healthy track, I'm not going to experiment with anything that could possibly change that.

[Nadeja Teleute · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosemary Gladstar is an knowledgeable practicing herbalist and informative writer. I found the information accessible and useful to me as someone just beginning to work with herbal medicines. I appreciated that the beginning chapters described what each different type of medicine (i.e.- tea, decoction, infusions, tinctures, oils, salves, pills) used throughout the book was and directions on how each are made. Each page is packed with useful dietary recommendations and recipes for specific body-life-stage related and/or hormone influenced ailments.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosemary Gladstar is a rockstar in the herbal community and I don’t think she’s ever written a book I didn’t love. This one odd just as good as the rest. It’s organized well, from How to’s and tools at the very beginning then it moves through the years of womanhood, kinda ‘maiden, creator, sage’ thing going on here. I like it. I do wish there was more in the sex department, sage years, specifically in the recipes, but that’s probably an entire book by itself.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

not quite as scientific as i would like books like this to be, but still quite thorough. very conversational style of writing. i like the organization of this book. i think this would be a really good book for someone who is newly interested in learning about an herbal perspective regarding basic women's health issues.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gladstar is a wonderful, tone-setting herbalist; it's hard to say enough about her. That said, this book is less useful than many others, primarily because it's not aesthetically pleasing in the layout, which makes a difference in a book that I use for reference.

[Jo Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very specific to every phase and season of womanhood. The info on the herbs is extensive. The herbs discussed are specific to women's issues. Many, many recipes. It is easy to catch Rosemary's enthusiasm for herbs.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cured myself of endometriosis. If you are female and experience abdominal problems that are serious, you can email me or read this book to get help. I continue to find this book empowering each time I reference it.

[Maja Haloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book by Rosemary Gladstar. Like her other publications, the herbal information contains a fun mix of recipes, herbal folklore, and herbal recommendations. Her appendix has an an expanded list of additional reading/resources that are definitely worth exploring.

[Muhammed Zia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book !!!! Very informative but still fresh and interesting. Learnt a lot of new things and also enhanced my current knowledge as well. It did take me some time but WELL worth it. I also recommend this book found at https://amzn.to/2PiDgfs . Great For Herbalist Readers !

[Peter]

thus far, seems a good herbal. Woman seems to know her herbs and dance the intuition/science line pretty well

[Nicole Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosemary Gladstar does it again with simple easy to follow time tested remedies. She covers a wide range of female specific health issues in this book.

[Kathleen O'Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

All women should have this book available. Rosemary shares the joys of women focused herbalism in a powerful way.

[Jmaynard9221 · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is a wonderful introduction and guide to Women's (natural, organic) health. It is very well-written and easy to follow, which greatly helps if you are embarking on this kind of self-care.

[Swanelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

More in depth info on all the cycles of a woman's life, compared to the Gladstar's "Family Herbal".

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosemary Gladstar is the queen of medicinal herbs. Reading this book is like having a chat with her!