Culpeper's Complete Herbal: Over 400 Herbs and Their Uses

By Nicholas Culpeper

Book Overview

From Artichoke to Rhubarb- Vine to Hawthorn- The Complete Herbal provides the most comprehensive listings of herbs and their uses in existence.

First published over 350 years ago by herbalist and apothecary Nicholas Culpeper, this encyclopedic guide had an extensive impact on modern holistic medicine. This includes his description of the qualities of foxglove, later used to treat heart conditions.

In this illustrated edition, over 400 herbs are described in detail, along with their 'government and virtues', remedies, and cautions. Although much of the medical advice must be taken with a pinch of salt, the engaging tone, enthusiasm, and expertise of the author are irresistible and highly entertaining.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1789506522
• ISBN13: 9781789506525
• Release Date: September 2019
• Publisher: Arcturus Editions
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Great person to buy from

I ordered this item for my father in law. I asked that it be shipped to him. The item was returned to the seller and she promptly refunded my money back with out my even knowing!!! THAT IS WHAT I CALL GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE.

a classic book for the student of holistic health!

This is a great book with wonderful color illustrations by one of the master practitioners of our Western Medical Tradition. This is one of the few books that identifies each herb with its planet association. This relationship is an important element to an holistic approach to health. "As above so below". "

An Valuable and Even Charming Reference for Herbs

It is rare to find an herbal reference guide to herbs so charmingly and exactly illustrated. Gardeners will find the illustrations helpful to see what less familiar herbs look like. But Culpeper's Color Herbal offers much more. Each herb is listed individually with a color illustration, a description, other information, specific exerpts from 16th century herbalist Nicholas Culpepper, and description of modern medicinal uses. This allows the reader, or the herbalist, the unique opportunity to compare traditional uses of the past with modern uses and current scientific research on active compounds. It is interesting to see which herbs science has proven to have medicinal value similar to the old uses. I was surprised, for instance, to find that Culpepper's old remedy for bronchitis, Colt's Foot (a familiar garden weed), is actually the source for a substance used in modern over the counter cough remedies! I was even more surprised when an Eyebright solution stopped a case of conjunctivitis - my first venture into herbal treatments! Descriptions are given for which parts of the herbs are useful medicinally. Appendixes I have not seen elsewhere provide 1) definitions of old time ailments, like the agues, for which old Culpepper prescribed, 2) a listing by ailment which herbs old Cullpepper used for which ailments and 3)a modern listing by ailment of which herbs are considered useful now. All of this information is presented extremely clearly and concisely - about half a page is devoted to each herb - making it an easy reference in a world of complicated herbals. I would not say this is THE total, definitive guide to herbs. It IS an herbal to come back to time and again in my library for reference and just plain pleasure. I recommend it for beginner through intermediate herbalist, those who want to venture into / expand their herb garden into specifics, the history lover and to the curious. A keeper.