Customer Reviews

The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicines

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Matthew Wood is one of the herbal mentors for my own herbal mentor who is an AHG recognized professional herbalist. Within her herbal apprentice program, this book is required reading, and it is a very good thing that it is. Matthew Wood discusses not only the medicinal values of the herbs but the energetics, almost to the point of the magical.

For those of us who consider not only our physical relationships to the herbs, but also the metaphysical ones, this book is invaluable. It is very affirming that when we work closely with nature and the energies of the herbs and herbal medicine, we all are much better off. This is a work that empowers the reader and gives them a very deep knowledge of the herbs discussed. It has the highest recommendation I can give it and should be rated even higher.

This herb book is one of the best I've read because of the vivid descriptions. I've been able to help myself much more effectively with herbs now than in the past due to the detailed descriptions. The author explains traditional systems of classifications and includes examples that really stick in the mind. It's obvious the author has a deep understanding and love of each plant.

As a student of Western herbalism though not Homeopathy specifically or soley, I still found--continue to find--this book one of my greatest literary assets in understanding the contexts, traditions and mostly importantly the herbs I am studying.

Throughout the book (and his other books) readers will not fail to notice the author's strong personal perspective emphasizing the spiritual aspects of understanding plants. At times I found this intriguing, at other times nauseating, and occasionally both at the same time. Your reaction to this will depend on your own predilections in matters of spirituality and religion. The thing that made Wood's spiritual anecdotes interesting to me was the way he is able to intelligently narrate and describe them and weave them into the fabric of the overall story he tells.

Above all else, this book is a book of powerfully written stories about herbs. Each herb discussed in the book has its own story and it is told through the lens of experience of previous herbalists, the vast herbal literature from the dawn of Western history to the present day, as well as the authors' own insights and experiences and those of his patients and colleagues. The strength of these stories is the fact that Wood is able to include so much information from so many sources and still end up with a bunch of fascinating, readable stories rather than a dry, dead series of academic monographs. Each section is so well sourced and cited, even the staunchest critic would have a very difficult time assailing the scholarship found in this book.

Ultimately you should buy this book for three reasons: 1. Wood does the herbs justice. You can tell he loves them by the way he writes about them and draws them. His respect for his subject is clear as day. 2. He respects his readers, including skeptical or reluctant students of herbalism and does them justice too, inviting them into his world to take a look without harsh judgments or proclamations or pontifications. If there is one thing I cannot abide, it is an author who hates their readers and you'd be surprised how many there are. Wood never commits this unforgivable crime. 3. You'll re-read this book. I think people should avoid buying books (if possible, many things just aren't available at the library) unless they plan to re-read them. Here is a book I've read parts of multiple times and I haven't had it for more than six months!

I have one more thing to say. I wish Matthew Wood would write two or five more books exactly like this one but with different herbs and stories. I'll buy them.

This book really helped my sister with Lyme disease. Matthew writes about Teasel Root which really helps with Lyme. If it weren't for this book, we wouldn't have known about this herb and we wouldn't have asked our local herbalist about it. The other stories he tells are just as interesting. We had our library buy it so everyone can read it.

Best reference for integrating herbal, homeopathic, Native American, and flower essence uses of a plant. Engaging style. Great examples that stick in my mind. History of plant use integrated well with modern usage.

My review of this book is written primarily for those who know they are in a spirit(ual) situation and need herbal (life-transforming) assistance. The Book of Herbal Wisdom provides living examples of conditions and living remedies to resolve these conditions. There is a broad scope of subject content, so its somewhat difficult to summarize this book in a paragraph. If you like ethnobotany, you have no excuse - read this book. If you are lacking a degree of health and feel a calling toward Natural remedies - read this book. I personally would go as far as advising you to order each herb listed in this text to use them in homeopathic or tiny dosages while you read about them. It may prove helpful in bringing this text to another level. It is in my opinion fairly high level reading but eloquent and smooth.

This is a truly engaging book, which is not something commonly said about herbals. Matthew devotes much care to each herb he discusses, revealing a great deal of knowledge, experience and insight throughout the book. It is tremendously informative - as such, it's a book that invites study, and certainly frequent reference, for readers who are serious about herbs.
As a work by Matthew Wood The Book of Herbal Wisdom deserves more than 5 stars, but as a bound paper book it deserves 2 or 3. Although my copy is relatively new it is already beginning to literally fall apart. True, I do open it frequently, but that is all the more reason the book should be well-bound - ideally in sewn signatures. This book was written to be used. It should also be designed to be used.

One of the best and most interesting herb books on the market. Matthew Wood's enthusiasm and knowledge mixed with anecdotal tales of friends and patients, makes this book a compelling read.

Matthew Wood brings a variety of his gifts together as writer, historian, herbalist and a man of prodigious memory and herbal storytelling. This book stands out as my favorite herbal reference because it treats each herb to a whole chapter. Any lover of plants knows that there is much more to describe an herb than the usual sort of important lists of information most commonly shared in herbal reference books. This book helps one to get to know these 41 herbs much as you would know a friend or relative in their habits and ways of helping.

I pick up this book over and over simply because it is such good reading and I don't remember everything. If you like to learn through story and beautiful prose, this just may be your book! It fills a very unique niche of herbal literature.

The 41 herbs are quite available in the Midwest habitat and many overlap into other areas.

My only disappointment is that there is not a second volume to cover the many other herbs that didn't fit into the first volume.

Matthew Wood is recognized world wide as one of the States' most reknown herbalists. His previous book, 7 Herbs: Plants as Healers, was a watershed in teaching herbal healing as a part of toatl wellness. This is continued and enlarged in wonderful detail in this new book .This should be a must read for anyone working in the natural health field or interested in self healing with herbs.