This practical pocket guide, published in association with the Wildlife Trusts, describes 166 plant species with medicinal qualities that you can forage or grow in the UK and Europe.
Each species account provides accurate artworks and concise descriptions outlining essential details to help you identify species in the field, as well as essential information on their medicinal uses, toxicity and any risks or side effects to consider.
Tiffany Francis-Baker's introduction includes a brief history of foraging for medicine and discusses the benefits and risks of creating herbal remedies to supplement modern medicine. She offers practical tips on collecting wild plants safely and legally and outlines how to store, preserve and prepare medicinal plants, including making balms, teas and tinctures.
Easy to use and small enough to take anywhere, this is the perfect guide for anyone interested in making their own natural remedies.
Introduction
- What Are Medicinal Plants?
- Using Herbal Medicines Safely
- Growing Your Own Herb Garden
- Foraging Wild Plants
Storing, Preserving and Preparing Medicinal Plants
- How to Dry Leaves and Flowers
- How to Make a Balm
- How to Make Medicinal Tea
- How to Make a Tincture
Species Accounts
- Trees
- Shrubs
- Herbs and Flowers
- Succulents
Useful Resources
Glossary and Acknowledgements
Index
Tiffany Francis-Baker is a writer, artist and environmentalist from the South Downs in Hampshire. With a mixed background in the arts, rural heritage and conservation, her work is fuelled by a love for the natural world and a passion for protecting it. She writes and illustrates for national publications and has appeared on BBC Radio 4 and Channel 4. She has written numerous books, including the Concise Foraging Guide, Ebb and Flow, and The Bridleway.