Plant Power: The Humorous Herbalist's Guide to Finding, Growing, Gathering & Using 30 Great Medicinal Herbs

by Laurel Dewey

Book Overview

Plant Power is your one-stop guide to effectively growing and using 30 great medicinal herbs. Offering first-hand knowledge and years of herbal experience, author Laurel Dewey (a.k.a.The Humorous... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0970111045
• ISBN13: 9780970111043
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Safe Goods Publishing
• Length: 420 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.8" x 9.8"

Customer Reviews

Plant Power

I probably have 50 herbal medicine books on my shelf but I have NEVER read a book that was as comprehensive as "Plant Power." I really love this book and refer to it on a regular basis. The author, Laurel Dewey, has obviously put a great deal of time and thought into each chapter. Her hands-on knowledge of medicinal plants is amazing and she is able to breathe new life into a subject that is often dull or too complicated. This is the kind of book I wish all herb writers would write. It's cleverly done, well laid out, easy to follow and simple to understand. I purchased two additional copies for my sister and cousin for Christmas presents. It will be the kind of gift that keeps giving for a long time to come. Well done!!!

Plant Power

I probably have 50 herbal medicine books on my shelf but I have NEVER read a book that was as comprehensive as "Plant Power." I really love this book and refer to it on a regular basis. The author has obviously put a great deal of time and thought into each chapter. Her hands-on knowledge of medicinal plants is amazing and she is able to breathe new life into a subject that is often dull or too complicated. This is the kind of book I wish all herb writers would write. It's cleverly done, well laid out, easy to follow and simple to understand. I purchased two additional copies for my sister and cousin for Christmas presents. It will be the kind of gift that keeps giving for a long time to come. Well done!!!

Great herbal book!

This is a great book for both novice and experienced herbalists. Dewey describes 30 herbs in depth, with information about how to recognize the plants, how to grow and gather them (none of those applicable to a current Manhattanite!) and, more to my purpose, how to use them. Her advice is very helpful, often describing ways in which the herbs can be used which can't be easily found in other herb books (and we have many of them!). My only regret is that there are only 30 herbs discussed -- I don't have a great resource for the ones not included!

The best book on growing, and using medicinal herbs.

After years of research, writing and editing, Laurel Dewey, The Humorous Herbalist, has released her second book, Plant Power. This is not a continuation of her first book. This one is 415 pages and in a nutshell, includes three major sections: The Basics covers growing a medicinal herb garden, including what to grow, how to grow and in which soils, harvesting, dying and seed collecting of herbs. The Ethics chapter discusses the art of "valid crafting", an old term for an herbalist or nature lover who walks the fields in search of wild plants. She discusses the character and life of the herbs, as well as the ethics involved in gathering, offering readers much food for thought on how to behave in the wild. In the Herbs section, Dewey covers in-depth 30 useful medicinal herbs from alfalfa to yellow dock, including their character, where they can be found, and how to grow, harvest and use them. In her introdcution, Dewey writes, "There seemed to be a desire by many practitioners in alternative medicine to create an aura of mystery when discussing the use of herbs." In this book, Dewey makes great strides in breaking down those barriers. Excerpted from a review in The Glenwood Post, Colorado, 7/9/1999