Review: All You Need
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 3, 2014
As the granddaughter of a drabarni—Romani herbalist—I have accumulated a headful of knowledge  concerning  herbs and the making of herbal medicines.  Patrick Smith’s Natural Herbal Remedies is the type of book I would have written because it contains all the important herbs and recipes that are needed in daily life.  They are herbs that are easy to grow or readily available and the recipes are easy but effective in their use.  No need for hundreds of herbs and mind-boggling ways of concocting them.  Every good herbalist thinks, “If I had to pack a small bag, which herbs would I select?” This is the art of simpling; less is often better and more effective.  I once had a closet of no less than 100 different herbal tinctures, salves, extracts and syrups.  I have returned to my roots (hmmm, pun probably intended) and have found, with the exception of very few problems, a mixture of one or two herbs will heal as thoroughly and quickly as a complicated mixture.  I own the Kindle edition of Natural Herbal Remedies. It has lovely, colorful illustrations of each herb.  Section 1 (Recommended Ingredients) describes the herbs and Section 2 (Remedies for Ailments) is a cross-reference, used to look up the ailment and match the proper herb.  Some herb books will discuss the history, have author anecdotes and go on for pages about the herb or condition being treated.  To me, a quick reference book like this is the one I want, especially if there is a mild emergency situation (mosquito bites count!) or if I feel ill and just want the facts.  Highly recommended as a reference book of available and affordable herbal curatives.