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The Sensory Herbal Handbook
“A unique mix of knowledge and wisdom, respect and irreverence” – Bruce Parry
This book has been written for anyone who has heard the whispers of the wild and has been stirred to know more, for those with a political conscience and for lovers of the outdoors. Whether you are new to the ways of herbs or already a practising herbalist, it explains how you can take your physical and mental health into your own hands using the plants that grow around you.
Sensory Herbalism is a unique system of health devised by the Seed Sistas over 20 years of practice. It combines traditional herbal knowledge with an understanding of how the elements (water, fire, air, earth and spirit) and the ever-changing seasons interact with the human body. Their approach blends science, medicine, creativity, ritual, magic and fun into practical, easy-to-use tools that guide readers in developing their own relationship with plants. Illustrated with 140 artworks, photographs and diagrams, the book offers a revolutionary understanding of how to get to know and use your local medicinal plants. Understand plants better than ever before using the five tools of Sensory Herbalism: observation through the senses, intuition, interpretation, characterization and the poetic creation of plant dreams. Embark on a guided journey through the year, deepening your knowledge of each season’s featured plants and enhancing your wellbeing with herbal medicines, nutritious recipes and healing rituals.
This book has been written for anyone who has heard the whispers of the wild and has been stirred to know more, for those with a political conscience and for lovers of the outdoors. Whether you are new to the ways of herbs or already a practising herbalist, it explains how you can take your physical and mental health into your own hands using the plants that grow around you.
Sensory Herbalism is a unique system of health devised by the Seed Sistas over 20 years of practice. It combines traditional herbal knowledge with an understanding of how the elements (water, fire, air, earth and spirit) and the ever-changing seasons interact with the human body. Their approach blends science, medicine, creativity, ritual, magic and fun into practical, easy-to-use tools that guide readers in developing their own relationship with plants. Illustrated with 140 artworks, photographs and diagrams, the book offers a revolutionary understanding of how to get to know and use your local medicinal plants. Understand plants better than ever before using the five tools of Sensory Herbalism: observation through the senses, intuition, interpretation, characterization and the poetic creation of plant dreams. Embark on a guided journey through the year, deepening your knowledge of each season’s featured plants and enhancing your wellbeing with herbal medicines, nutritious recipes and healing rituals.
272 pages, Paperback
Published April 16, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 17, 2020
This is a really pretty book, and it's an introduction on how to approach plants in a more holistic manner and integrate them into your life. If that's what you're looking for, and you're not going to think too deeply into its presentation, that's wonderful. I'll be approaching plants a bit differently after this on my own end.
However, I was frustrated with this book. It needed another pass at proofing. The part about datura was a bit off-putting - it's a pretty dangerous plant! People get poisoned with it! Additionally, I didn't realize this was two (white) British women going in, because I figured a group of women calling themselves "sistas" would be black Americans, and that kind of put me on edge with the rest of the book. "Gypsy" is also used, which is not great, and while there's tangential discussion of white sage and its use by Native Americans, it's sort of glossed over. I get not getting into much in a British context, but again, it just didn't sit very well with me.
Overall, this is in the 2.5 star range. Sort of reminded me of an older hippie relative who knows some good stuff but you need to sift through to find it.
However, I was frustrated with this book. It needed another pass at proofing. The part about datura was a bit off-putting - it's a pretty dangerous plant! People get poisoned with it! Additionally, I didn't realize this was two (white) British women going in, because I figured a group of women calling themselves "sistas" would be black Americans, and that kind of put me on edge with the rest of the book. "Gypsy" is also used, which is not great, and while there's tangential discussion of white sage and its use by Native Americans, it's sort of glossed over. I get not getting into much in a British context, but again, it just didn't sit very well with me.
Overall, this is in the 2.5 star range. Sort of reminded me of an older hippie relative who knows some good stuff but you need to sift through to find it.
March 7, 2019
A well written, well presented guide to home homepopathy basically, it’s wonderful and helpfully labelled chapters and pages make it easy to use and innviting,. Using local and seasonal plants to help with your health is a great low cost way and great for the environment, a wonderful aid to any house.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
April 27, 2019
The Sensory Herbal Handbook is a passionate and experiential guide to a number of herbs that can be found in wild in the UK or grown within your own garden. These range from the popular rosemary to spicy horseradish to magical elder, with more besides. The authors apply a sensory approach to working with herbs — that is, using all of our senses to experience these plants and their wild medicines — along with some more magical influences (e.g. elemental correspondences and zodiac signs).
As both a witch and a flower essence practitioner, I both applaud and enjoy this approach, and feel it to be more well-rounded and holistic than just simply botanical or magical outlooks; by combining all the different ways we can work with our green allies, the Seed Sistas give us a completely approachable and unique guide to exploring and interacting with Nature. he science behind plants and human anatomy is fascinating and we are also given folklore, health benefits, rituals, poems, and recipes. The reader is encouraged to explore herbs and other plants with all their senses, and the inclusion of additional resources and a comprehensive index round off this book.
I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Watkins, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As both a witch and a flower essence practitioner, I both applaud and enjoy this approach, and feel it to be more well-rounded and holistic than just simply botanical or magical outlooks; by combining all the different ways we can work with our green allies, the Seed Sistas give us a completely approachable and unique guide to exploring and interacting with Nature. he science behind plants and human anatomy is fascinating and we are also given folklore, health benefits, rituals, poems, and recipes. The reader is encouraged to explore herbs and other plants with all their senses, and the inclusion of additional resources and a comprehensive index round off this book.
I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Watkins, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2019
A fabulous introduction to working with herbs, incorporating both health and ritual/magical uses for a variety of plants. I think whether you are interested in working with them for practical heath or ritual purposes you would find value in reading this book. There is also a lot of herbal history, great looks into the body systems and what plants work with each area. There's sections featuring plants separated by season, not only for harvesting purposes, but also magical associations. You can tell a lot of care went into writing this book and it made for a very enjoyable read!
March 8, 2019
This book has great information on the tools needed for sensory herbalism, what it is and the purpose behind it. The information is detailed as to what the uses of different plants are and how they help with a range of health issues.
I voluntarily read and received a free ARC copy of this title through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and received a free ARC copy of this title through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 2, 2019
I didn't get the chance to finish it but what I did read was very nice. The pictures were beautiful and I hope to buy it for myself one day.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2024
If this was the first herb book I had ever read, I might rate it a bit higher. It's very limited in the number of herbs covered.
March 31, 2020
I like the idea of the book and the overall approach. Amazing illustrations. It is s a bit clunky to read and doesn't flow so nicely, unfortunately. The authors have tried to pack a lot of information from a number of areas - from medicine to Eastern philosophies to herbalism and botany and tried to keep it practical and just doesn't work - feels a bit all over the place but still a lovely concept and a lovely book that will remain in my collection.
March 20, 2019
'The Sensory Herbal Handbook' is a manual for those wishing to have a deeper connection with the plant kingdom. It follows the elements through the cycle of the year by observing how they are expressed most fully in each season and expressed in the plants as they grow and develop through the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Working with imagination, story-telling, characterization, remedies, and recipes we are able to weave a flower garland of healing that transcends our three-dimensional reality. We can begin to perceive the superliminal magic of plants and their basic functions are better easily understood by attuning ourselves to the rhythms of nature.
Using the techniques outlined in this book will enable you to tune into your intuition which will unveil the true hidden secrets of nature. Aligning to the four elements and the corresponding herbs reveals a medicine that resides in every leaf, flower, seed, and root. When you begin to understand your own health emotionally and physically through the elements a conversation opens up between people and plants, a conversation that would otherwise remain as a breeze through the leaves or a droplet of dew on a petal. The more you begin to tune into your intuition the better you can understand herbs and the more you understand herbs, the more you will learn about yourself.
The symbiotic relationship between people and planet has been distorted for far too long and it’s time to wake up Mother Earth from her induced slumber. The plant kingdom manifests itself through the four elements and in order for us to appreciate its language we must learn how these elements manifest within ourselves. 'The Sensory Herbal Handbook' will unfurl itself into an invaluable source of wisdom for those willing to deepen their friendship with the plants, herbs, and flowers of the world.
Using the techniques outlined in this book will enable you to tune into your intuition which will unveil the true hidden secrets of nature. Aligning to the four elements and the corresponding herbs reveals a medicine that resides in every leaf, flower, seed, and root. When you begin to understand your own health emotionally and physically through the elements a conversation opens up between people and plants, a conversation that would otherwise remain as a breeze through the leaves or a droplet of dew on a petal. The more you begin to tune into your intuition the better you can understand herbs and the more you understand herbs, the more you will learn about yourself.
The symbiotic relationship between people and planet has been distorted for far too long and it’s time to wake up Mother Earth from her induced slumber. The plant kingdom manifests itself through the four elements and in order for us to appreciate its language we must learn how these elements manifest within ourselves. 'The Sensory Herbal Handbook' will unfurl itself into an invaluable source of wisdom for those willing to deepen their friendship with the plants, herbs, and flowers of the world.
March 31, 2019
I am so happy to be able to read such a great book about herbs and their uses. Having a mother who used herbs, plants and holistic medicine throughout my childhood is something that I have always remembered and still use today. This book explains how to use herbs for health and well-being. It is for the experienced and the novice. Using the plants that are growing in your area is a great way to know what you have and what's it is used for. The herbs can be used for mental and physical illnesses. The seasons are an important part of using herbs. My mother made sure that we had a certain plant to eat during the spring. The greens tasted good and she used it to " build our blood up for the coming year". I can't stress enough how great this book is. Having it on your bookshelf for a resource is a must. Just make sure you know what plants you are harvesting are to be sure they are not poison and that they are edible. Many herbs that are inedible can be used for any other purposes. Thanks to the Seed Sisters for all the information. I'm a nurse and I find this book timely and very interesting. I will be buying several copies for friends when it comes out. I received this book from Net Galley and Watkins Publishing for a honest review. I voluntarily read this book.
April 7, 2019
I don’t think I’ve ever came across a book about herbals that was this incredibly charming. Even though I received an advanced digital version of this to read, I will definitely buy this in print copy. The book will be a beautiful addition to any natural library of natural health or any magical library for that matter. I believe Sensory Herbalism, as described in this book, was made for people like me. Those enchanted by the magic of nature and its innate healing power. This would make an excellent gift for anyone interested in herbalism, natural medicine, healing, and magic. I’m grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me the pleasure of reading and reviewing this. I hope they put out more books like these.
April 19, 2019
This is a lovely introduction into herbalism and just what I was looking for. It will be a key reference for me whilst I find my feet. A beginners bible. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.
May 10, 2019
I have only touched the surface of this book and love it. I am training to be a herbalist and this book will help me to develop my knowledge and understanding of herbs and their use in health and well-being. The book continues all types of things including theory, identification of plants, poems, rituals and recipes. This is a book I can see me buying a hard copy of to keep to hand.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews