Product Description

Discover a trove of herbal knowledge. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs is a virtually endless source of useful information and herbal know-how. Presented in an A-to-Z format, supplemented with easy-to-use charts and lists, beautifully illustrated with drawings and color photographs, it is the only book on herbs you ever need to buy. More than 1 MILLION copies sold!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #94729 in Books
• Published on: 1998-01-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 545 pages

From Publishers Weekly
This excellent reference is thorough, easy to use and fully illustrated with black-and-white sketches of individual plants and color photographs. More than 140 herbs are discussed in alphabetical order, including history, uses and cultivation. The uses of herbs are further explored in chapters on bathing, dyes, gardening, cooking, healing and cosmetics. Abundant recipes proffer food and drinks, perfumes, toilet waters, poultices and medicinal syrups. While the authors are enthusiastic about the healing properties of herbs, they caution readers not to treat themselves for serious ailments, and provide information on dangerous plants and abuse of common, generally safe herbs. They also report recent studies and controversies such as that surrounding comfrey, a popular healing herb that has been found to cause liver disease in rats. Instructions for planting different types of herb gardens and a brief, general history of herbsfrom their use by the ancient Chinese to the American colonistsround out the book. Kowalchik and Hylton are Rodale editors.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
An excellent reference on the legend, history, culture, and use of popular herbs. Since it has few color photographs, this is a good companion to The Random House Book of Herbs (above), which has many more pictures but far less information. (LJ 11/15/87)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Customer Reviews

Very good informative resource
Well, I must say that this book is good value. I like the very detailed descriptions of the plants, the details on the plant including history, uses, medicinal, and the folklore. It does seem a bit odd that the other sections like "herbal baths", "Dangers of Herbs", and "Gardening with herbs" etc are also sorted alphabetical with the plants themselves but whats wrong with a differnt style. I like how they label certain plants on the first page as toxic, or possible carcinogen etc clearly.
The one thing I'm a bit dissapointed with is that there isn't a really big push for the precautions with each herb. There is a section warning about the use of herbs and how someone shouldn't just take herbs at home for ailments, but for each individual herb there doesn't seem to be a real caution with them unless its considered a real toxic herb. But as far as the others I felt there wasn't enough of a sense of this plant can cause harm if its used impoperly or mistaken for something else. Though I suppose they just mentioned that all in the one section.
However, over all I am absolutely amazed with the book and the information contained within. Definitly worth it.

best herbal guide there is
And I've looked over quite a few

The illustrations and writing are very good and tasteful, and the information provided by the book are very valuable and interesting, and very very thorough. Each plant in the book has its attributes described, an illustration that gives you an idea of what it looks like, its history, its uses, and very thorough notes about propogation and cultivation. There are very interesting topic sections on dyes, fragrance, and so on.

The only complaint I might have is that they didn't include enough plant.

Extremely Helpful
This book is perfect for the beginner and a great reference for the experienced herb gardener..I couldnt imagine not having this book in my collection..I use it almost everyday..