Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs & Spices: From a Medical Anthropologist's Files, Here Are Nature's Own Healing Herbs and Spices for Hundreds of Today's Most Common Health Problems

This is an easy to read and understand book with so much information on how herbs and spices can be used for healing. I am so impressed with books written by this author that I have purchased three already. If health is your goal, here is a good starting place. Not only knowing what foods to eat, but understanding why. I am trying to fine tune my diet so I get the very most from it. I have already lost over 100 pounds by changing what I eat. I eat what I want, but choose to eat the things that are good for me first, before I indulge in something I like, that may not be the best choice. This book helps me make good choices and shows me ways to spice things up when needed. I highly recommend this and his other books as well.

The author is an old-style gent and something of an oddball. I like that in a man! The information is well written and much of it is all but impossible to find elsewhere. In addition to telling you what various herbs are good for he tells you what parts of the plant to use, how to prepare and use it and any cautions you should know. Get this book if you're serious about moving away from the kinds of pharmaceutical poisons they're advertising on TV all the time (you know, it'll reduce wrinkles but your liver may shut down or your heart may stop!) This isn't the only reference you'll need, but it's one of the best.

Trying to use herbs and spices for healing I wanted something to help me. My friend recommended this one. I have found it very helpful and easy to use

If you wanted to know something about what you thought was a "weed" or what you knew to be an herb then this is your book. You'll find much more than just info and it is organized like a pro has done it. All of Heinerman's books are the greatest resource. If anyone says something has no cure that is just the sign that there IS!!!!!!!!!! Cancer, AIDs, Herpes (all kinds), you go on, I don't have time. Genesis 1 and 2 prove it. Not illustrated though so get yourself a good book about the plants in your part of the country.

Book is very informative with in-depth explanations of the herbs and spices and their usage in healing. I've already started drinking a brew, (tea) made with fresh Thyme that is beneficial for lung congestion. Have ordered Fenugreek seeds, when made into a tea is suppose to be beneficial for tinnitus. I use a lot of homeopathic herbs and spices, having so much of it consolidate in one book makes it a book one wants to keep at their fingertip!

All the books I have I like this one the best

Love this book. Wish he would do an update on it. But the information is astounding.

Great ideas to use spices etc. for better health.

I've always been interested in herbal medicine, and I believe that using herbs for minor health complaints is a more gentle method of healing than turning to traditional medicine. However, I do feel herbs cannot cure everything, and that there are times when going to a doctor is necessary.Although in the introduction of his Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs and Spices, Heinerman states that a medical doctor should be the first person consulted in perplexing health situations, it doesn't seem that he really believes this. After just browsing through this book, I came across numerous outrageous claims that disturbed me, because they might prevent individuals from seeking proper medical care.For example, he provides "proof" that red clover can cure cancer, in the form of a letter written by a man in the 1800s whose face was partially eaten away by cancer, and goes on to say, and I quote: "...so long as red clover blossoms are available for making into a tea, there should NEVER be any reason why cancer victims need to go to medical doctors to have their bodies poisoned..." (p.393)He makes other ridiculous claims based on single anecdotes, such as the one that drinking red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy can make for a painless labour, because one woman with 8 children in Utah said so...he also mentions an herbal supplement which one doctor told him can prevent a person from acquiring the AIDS virus. It's terrifying to think that someone might read this, take the supplement, and think that they don't have to take the proper precautions to protect themselves from AIDS.The section on Daffodil consists of Heinerman explaining about the different varieties of plant, then saying that all the bulbs are quite poisonous. Then, he tells a lengthy story about a swing dancer from the 30s, who sprained her ankle dancing. The woman's father-in-law, who was a gardener, made up a poultice of cooked daffodil bulbs to apply to her foot, alternating hot and cold. After a few days, the swelling was almost gone. Well, really! The swelling of a sprained ankle will go away in a few days with hot and cold treatments. It really doesn't matter if you're using daffodil bulbs or a bag of frozen peas. I can't believe the author takes single anecdotes like this one, and places them in his book as "proof" of an herb's efficacy...with no mention whatsoever as to what substances or properties of the herb, may have helped the individual in question.We also read a story about a woman who had bad varicose veins on both legs--and after application of a calendula ointment for one month, all the varicose veins had disappeared completely. I'm sorry, but this is too far-fetched for me to be able to believe. I could believe that the veins were reduced, or that the woman's pain was lessened, but not that they disappeared completely. Common sense tells me this is not possible.For some herbs which are well known, such as dandelion, he does mention specific compounds in the plant which are known to have healing properties. But for many, many others, he relies entirely on anecdotes from single individuals to back up his claims. To me, this is insufficient research, plain and simple. I will keep this book on my shelf, since I am interested in herbs in general. Perhaps I will someday use some of the simple recipes for salves and herbal teas in here. But I will take most of what this author says with a grain of salt. And I would advise other readers of this book to do the same.