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The Physick Garden: Ancient Cures for Modern Maladies
The intriguing tales of the plants that have been used to heal and cure our bodies, brought to life with beautifully surreal illustrations from Alice Smith.
Since the dawn of time, people have used plants as remedies, to both positive and deadly effect. These herbal treatments have become enshrined in folklore , in old wives' tales and in the curious names we have given local species. Many have also found their way into modern medicine cabinets – but not always in the form you would expect.
This book imagines a physick garden of healing plants that have been used across the globe by different generations. But were Italian Renaissance women dicing with death when they dropped belladonna in their eyes? Can comfrey really be used to heal broken bones? And can St John’s Wort scare away more than bad spirits?
Taking you around the body , from the brain to the bowels, The Physick Garden introduces 80 plants with curious medicinal pasts. With striking illustrations and lively tales , this book will show that sometimes there is method in the madness.
Since the dawn of time, people have used plants as remedies, to both positive and deadly effect. These herbal treatments have become enshrined in folklore , in old wives' tales and in the curious names we have given local species. Many have also found their way into modern medicine cabinets – but not always in the form you would expect.
This book imagines a physick garden of healing plants that have been used across the globe by different generations. But were Italian Renaissance women dicing with death when they dropped belladonna in their eyes? Can comfrey really be used to heal broken bones? And can St John’s Wort scare away more than bad spirits?
Taking you around the body , from the brain to the bowels, The Physick Garden introduces 80 plants with curious medicinal pasts. With striking illustrations and lively tales , this book will show that sometimes there is method in the madness.
- GenresNonfiction
176 pages, Hardcover
Published April 26, 2022
5 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Alice Smith
165 books12 followersLibrarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Others:
Alice Smith: Cookbooks
Others:
Alice Smith: Cookbooks
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 2, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐
One of my great bucket list wishes is to create my own physick garden, so I was excited to dive into this book. It did not disappoint! The illustrations were gorgeous. Opposite each illustration, they summarize a specific plant (other common names, uses, history). Some might find them to be too brief to be very useful, but I think this book makes a fantastic starting off point for anyone interested in creating their own physick garden, or anyone just interested in plants and their many uses. This would definitely make a splendid gift, and gets two thumbs up from this reviewer!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
One of my great bucket list wishes is to create my own physick garden, so I was excited to dive into this book. It did not disappoint! The illustrations were gorgeous. Opposite each illustration, they summarize a specific plant (other common names, uses, history). Some might find them to be too brief to be very useful, but I think this book makes a fantastic starting off point for anyone interested in creating their own physick garden, or anyone just interested in plants and their many uses. This would definitely make a splendid gift, and gets two thumbs up from this reviewer!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
July 14, 2022
The Physick Garden by Alice Smith is the ultimate guide for anyone interested in herbal remedies and healing.
Since the dawn of time, people have used plants as remedies, seeking to brew and bottle both the positive and deadly effects of Mother Nature. These herbal treatments have become enshrined in folklore, in old wives' tales, and in the curious names—The Physick Garden tells their stories.
From the brain to the bowels, The Physick Garden introduces readers to 80 plants with curious medicinal pasts that found their way into modern medicine cabinets. Striking illustrations and lively tales bring these plants to life on the page. Gardeners, witches, and healers will love this reference book.
Unlike other herbal compendiums, this volume focuses on the history of the plants, rather than their practical usage. WARNING: Always consult your doctor before taking herbal medicines.
Since the dawn of time, people have used plants as remedies, seeking to brew and bottle both the positive and deadly effects of Mother Nature. These herbal treatments have become enshrined in folklore, in old wives' tales, and in the curious names—The Physick Garden tells their stories.
From the brain to the bowels, The Physick Garden introduces readers to 80 plants with curious medicinal pasts that found their way into modern medicine cabinets. Striking illustrations and lively tales bring these plants to life on the page. Gardeners, witches, and healers will love this reference book.
Unlike other herbal compendiums, this volume focuses on the history of the plants, rather than their practical usage. WARNING: Always consult your doctor before taking herbal medicines.
May 11, 2022
I absolutely adore the illustrations! They are so beautiful. Very short descriptions but it’s a great overview of the topic! I really enjoyed the descriptions of the histories of the plants alongside their uses.
Thank you netgalley for the arc!!!
Thank you netgalley for the arc!!!
April 22, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! It gives concise overviews of many common and not so common plants, listed by the part of the body their use is meant to affect. The unique, artistic illustrations are gorgeous!
June 6, 2022
The Physick Garden: Ancient Cures for Modern Maladies by Alice Smith is an attractive and fun glimpse at some plants that have been, and often still are, used in treating health issues.
This is not, nor was it intended to be, a detailed exploration of each of the plants mentioned. But I don't think many people seriously think it is, it is just something to complain about. It is, however, accurate in the detail into which it goes and offers some very nice illustrations, which also serve to help associate each with a body part it is said to affect.
I really enjoy books like this for several reasons. First, I like attractive books that give a glimpse into a much larger topic. It gives me both some idea whether I want to learn more as well as simply broadening my knowledge. Maybe more to the point, and related to part of my first reason, is I use books like this as a springboard for looking up more information on the things that interest me. For example, a 400-page book that went into detail on these and other plants, while a nice reference, would not serve me most of the time. This, however, gives me enough information that I can then do some targeted research, whether with a more detailed book or, more likely, online, on any plants I want to know about. Plus, hey, I like the drawings.
I would recommend this to those who simply want to peek into the world of herbal medicine as well as those who like to add attractive books on subjects they may know a lot about.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via Edelweiss.
This is not, nor was it intended to be, a detailed exploration of each of the plants mentioned. But I don't think many people seriously think it is, it is just something to complain about. It is, however, accurate in the detail into which it goes and offers some very nice illustrations, which also serve to help associate each with a body part it is said to affect.
I really enjoy books like this for several reasons. First, I like attractive books that give a glimpse into a much larger topic. It gives me both some idea whether I want to learn more as well as simply broadening my knowledge. Maybe more to the point, and related to part of my first reason, is I use books like this as a springboard for looking up more information on the things that interest me. For example, a 400-page book that went into detail on these and other plants, while a nice reference, would not serve me most of the time. This, however, gives me enough information that I can then do some targeted research, whether with a more detailed book or, more likely, online, on any plants I want to know about. Plus, hey, I like the drawings.
I would recommend this to those who simply want to peek into the world of herbal medicine as well as those who like to add attractive books on subjects they may know a lot about.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via Edelweiss.
May 5, 2022
While I found this book on herbology extremely interesting, the explanations were not detailed enough for my taste - I would have preferred the texts to be at least twice as extensive, to be frank. I especially loved the bits on name provenience and terminology, which I enjoyed translating into my native languages out of curiosity, where the origins of plants' names often coincided. The illustrations, which were the reason I chose to read this beautiful manual, are a bit of a disappointment, since at closer inspection they all seem to be, at least in part, only collages of perhaps pre-existing pieces? I'm not sure.
Time to establish a goodreads shelf for medical content, I think.
***I received a digital copy from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***
Time to establish a goodreads shelf for medical content, I think.
***I received a digital copy from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***
May 31, 2022
This book is led by the illustrations, rather than the text. They are beautifully done, although somewhat abstruse at times, particularly as they were attributed to the herbs and various parts of the body.
The herb profiles are good for beginners, or those gardeners hoping to be inspired to grow more, and various, medicinal herbs. There are no sources given for the information, but the information is accurate and well researched.
It’s good to see books published which cross some of the traditional boundaries, and where illustrations are so valued.
The herb profiles are good for beginners, or those gardeners hoping to be inspired to grow more, and various, medicinal herbs. There are no sources given for the information, but the information is accurate and well researched.
It’s good to see books published which cross some of the traditional boundaries, and where illustrations are so valued.
May 19, 2022
This is a beautiful book that contains a lot of information in one place. It is less something that could be used to identify and look up the properties of particular plants, but as a compendium of plants it's a beautiful object and one I would use as a reference - I will pick up my own hard copy of this. The illustrations mix botanical and medical illustration in a way that I find very beautiful and that also conveys a lot about the plants themselves.
May 17, 2022
Excellent read with beautiful illustrations! The only thing missing is illustrations of just the plants. Definitely a book to pick up for reference purposes.
Thank you for the ARC from NetGallery and the publisher.
Thank you for the ARC from NetGallery and the publisher.
July 10, 2023
Hermosas imágenes que conquistan a primera vista, en cuanto a la información de cada hierba, creo que podría ser más abundante .
De todas maneras hermoso y recomendado libro para tener en casa para consultar
De todas maneras hermoso y recomendado libro para tener en casa para consultar
September 15, 2024
Hermosas imágenes, pero el contenido textual es bastante flojo.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews