Re: Making my own herbs By: Brysing Moderator / Adept
Post # 4 Jun 25, 2015
And what part of a herb to use. Sometimes one part is good,another part of the same herb can be harmful. For instance, I grow rhubarb; the stalks are a delight to eat, and have many uses. The leaves are poisonous!
The best book I know about herbs is this "De Materia Medica" Pedanius Dioscorides. Old but pretty good. In Spain we have an online version, this is the link http://dioscorides.eusal.es/
Do not take any plants without being absolutely sure, that's my advice.
Re: Making my own herbs By: Lark Moderator / Adept
Post # 6 Jun 26, 2015
If you are unsure which part of the plant to use or how to preserve it I'd suggest you do more research on herbs until you have a handle on that. In addition, are you trying to grow medicinal herbs or magical herbs? That can make a difference in how you go about it. Here are some books that I'd suggest:
"The Master Book of Herbalism" by Pau Beyerl
" Culpeper 's Complete Herbal: Updated With 117 Modern Herbs" by Nicholas Culpeper and Raven Starhawk Cunningham
"The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism : Basic Doctrine, Energetics, and Classification" by Matthew Wood
Also, you might check around in your area to see if that are any herbalist societies. Becoming a member is a great way to learn from those who have been practicing herbalism for a long, long time.
Thank you very much. I was unaware there were even herbalist societies around! How helpful that would be!!!!! I will check into it. Thank you kindly. I will also look in to the book you mentioned.
I just ordered a wonderful herbal encyclopedia, can't wait to get it and start making my own dried herbs. I have passion flowers everywhere here! I have to take advantage of that, what a wonderful thing to have access to!
Re: Making my own herbs By: WhiteRav3n / Knowledgeable
Post # 13 Jun 26, 2015
If you want to wild craft (identify herbs and plants already growing and use them) I highly recommend Botony in a Day by Elpel. Both my daughter and I have become quite good at identifying at least 50% of the plants in our area with Elpel's pattern method to narrow it down and that's just within last Fall and this Spring. I'm so thankful we have taken the effort too because we have many poisonous ones like Deadly Nightshade growing naturally like weeds all over the neighborhood.