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Product Description This book has been described as the herbalist's bible. For the beginner, it's an outstanding introduction to the subject. For those who are already knowledgeable, it is a ready reference and thorough review. To challenge the serious student, it lists questions at the end of each chapter: What family of herbs, useful at other times, should not be used by pregnant women?Mary Carse wrote the book for use in her own classes, over more than 25 years of teaching students. She constantly revised and honed the book, leading up to its publication for the general reader.There are a great many herbals. This one deserves to be on the bookshelf of everybody who has a serious interest in the subject. Review As expenses for conventional medical treatments skyrocket, many people have embraced alternative forms of medicine. One of the fastest growing practices is herbalism-a return to traditional healing techniques using plants commonly found throughout North America.Mary Carse, a registered herbalist, has written a thorough guide for anyone interested in treating disorders with plants and herbs that can be cultivated or found in nature. Many of the techniques in the book have been largely forgotten and in danger of being lost, since they have been limited in use by isolated communities in the Appalachians or Indian reservations, until the publication of this guide. The book, generously sprinkled with illustrations, offers information on the most frequently used herbs-how to find them and how best to prepare them for use. The book is cross-referenced with a listing of common disorders and the best ways to treat them with herbs.The author offers a laid-back, easy to understand writing style that fits perfectly with the philosophy that herbalism embraces. People that seek a simpler and more natural way to live are likely to accept the subtleties of herb-growing and herb-gathering and the realization that time, by slowing down, takes on new meaning and becomes part of the healing process. The author encourages the serious reader to step back from the fast, instant-cure world of conventional medicine and treat the disorder at a more leisurely pace. Taking the time to boil water and let a remedial brew steep slowly is part of the treatment not found by simply popping a pill.The book, based on 25 years of instruction, is a labor of love. The author has stipulated that all royalties are to go to a monastery in Massachusetts. -- From One of the best herbal resource(s)...I have ever seen, authoritative...broad...great contribution to the field of herbal medicine. -- Richard H. Bernstein, M.D. About the Author Mary Carse, a registered member of the National Institute of Medicinal Herbs (Great Britain), has spent many years helping others to help themselves. She combines a cautious, traditional approach to herbalism with the best of modern research. Her Vermont garden and the surrounding countryside are the source of many useful herbs.