The Herbal Apothecary

582 Pages·2017·18.49 MB·English

THE HERBAL
APOTHECARY
100 Medicinal Herbs and How to Use Them
JJ PURSELL
with photos by Shawn Linehan
Timber Press
Portland, Oregon
To Cordelia, who rooted me on through the entire journey, and also to
the plants—thank you for choosing me.
Contents
Preface
FROM HERBAL TRADITIONS TO MODERN PRACTICE: AN
INTRODUCTION
The Way of the Herbalist
An Ancient Medicine
Plants to Pharmaceuticals
BASIC HUMAN ANATOMY
The Cardiovascular System
The Respiratory System
The Gastrointestinal System
The Endocrine System
PLANTS FROM THE TRADITIONAL WAYS: A DIRECTORY OF
MEDICINAL HERBS
Getting to Know the Plants: How to Read the Plant Directory
Agrimony
Angelica
Balsam fir
Balsam poplar
Bayberry
Bearberry
Bistort
Blackberry
Black cohosh
Black haw
Black walnut
Blessed thistle
Bloodroot
Blue flag
Blue vervain
Bogbean
Boneset
Borage
Buckthorn
Bugleweed
Burdock
Calamus
Cedar
Centaury
Chaga
Chaparral
Chickweed
Chicory
Cleavers
Couch grass
Cowslip
Cranesbill
Culver’s root
Echinacea
Elder
Elecampane
False unicorn
Fennel
Gentian
Goat’s rue
Goldenrod
Grand cactus
Gravel root
Greater celandine
Hawthorn
Hops
Horehound
Horny goat weed
Horse chestnut
Hydrangea
Jamaican dogwood
Juniper
Lady’s slipper
Larch
Lemon balm
Licorice
Linden
Lobelia
Lovage
Lungwort
Maitake
Mistletoe
Motherwort
Mullein
Nettle
Oatstraw
Oregon grape
Pennyroyal
Plantain
Poplar
Purple loosestrife
Queen of the meadow
Raspberry
Rauwolfia
Red clover
Red root
Reishi
Rosemary
Sage
Schizandra
Self heal
Shiitake
Skunk cabbage
Solomon’s seal
Sorrel
Squaw vine
St. John’s wort
Sumach
Sweet violet
Thyme
Tormentil
Usnea
White oak
Wild carrot
Wild cherry
Wild yam
Wood betony
Wormwood
Yarrow
Yellow dock
AN HERBALIST’S LABORATORY
Creating an Herbalist’s Kitchen
Formulating Herbal Blends
Delivering the Herbs: Herbal Applications
HERBAL TREATMENT PLANS
Acne
Bumps, Bruises, and Other Childhood Conditions
Fatigue and Brain Function
Female Complaints
Inflammation and Pain
Insomnia
Menopause
Respiratory Ailments
Skin Conditions
Stress and Adrenal Problems
Tummy Complaints and Irritable Bowels
Wounds
Metric Conversions
Herbal Suppliers
References
Acknowledgments
Photo Credits
Index
About the Author
Preface
As a child I was always drawn to plants, leaves, flowers, and such.
I used to collect acorns as prized possessions, and my imaginary
friends were talking trees. Although many of us grow up and often
get distracted from our true callings in life, I was fortunate to have
the plants persistently remind me of the work I was meant to do.
For me, herbalism is a way of life. It is walking with intention
every day and giving thanks to the bounty that is all around us,
sustaining us. While modern medicine has propelled us into drastic
healing measures, herbs continue to create opportunities to return
to a gentler approach to health and wellness.
A long time ago, I heard a story about how plants came to help
people. A few years later I was walking in the woods and suddenly
realized I’d become quite lost. After wandering for hours, I sat
down to calm myself and noticed the most beautiful grove of trees.
Looking up at them, I felt the warm sun on my face and then felt
what seemed like a mother’s embrace. As the trees comforted me, I
remembered the story and took out my notebook to write it down.
This is the story I remembered.
A long, long time ago, we used to be all one—the humans, the animals, the
rock people, the water, the wind, the plants, and everything else that was on
the Earth. Together we formed one tribe and shared the same language. We
were able to communicate and keep the balances of nature in check through a
relationship of mutual respect and boundaries.
Then a man killed a bear, and everything changed drastically. This direct
act of taking a life upset the balance of the world and great grief settled over
the land.
The bear clan came together to discuss what needed to be done. Because
such an act had never before happened, most of the bears were unsure of how