Culpeper's Color Herbal [Paperback]

David Potterton (Editor), Michael Stringer (Illustrator), E. J. Shellard (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2007

As charming and elegant as the 17th-century original, this groundbreaking herbal guide combines Nicholas Culpeper’s fascinating text with up-to-date information and modern full-color illustrations. Culpeper—a famed astrologer, physician, and author—covered almost 400 herbs and plants from Aconite and Adder’s Tongue to Yew and Yucca. For each entry, he gave both the Latin and common names, details on where to find it, its flowering time, astrology, and medicinal virtues.  Following the alphabetical list of herbs comes the inventory of illnesses and their cures, as it appeared in 1649.  Many of these plants still occupy a prominent position in the dispensaries of today’s herbalists, so in addition to Culpeper’s entertaining and often caustic comments and descriptions, there are notes on contemporary usage by an established practitioner

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

For over 350 years, this historic and definitive guide to herbal remedies written by physician Nicholas Culpepper has been the book to turn to for anyone interested in using herbs. This beautifully illustrated edition combines the charm, elegance, and information of his original 17th-century text with up-to-date, modern, practical usage. It includes details about where each herb can be found, its flowering time, astrology, and medicinal benefits.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402744943
• ISBN-13: 978-1402744945
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #618,559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Valuable and Even Charming Reference for Herbs, January 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Culpeper's Color Herbal (Paperback)

It is rare to find an herbal reference guide to herbs so charmingly and exactly illustrated. Gardeners will find the illustrations helpful to see what less familiar herbs look like. But Culpeper's Color Herbal offers much more. Each herb is listed individually with a color illustration, a description, other information, specific exerpts from 16th century herbalist Nicholas Culpepper, and description of modern medicinal uses. This allows the reader, or the herbalist, the unique opportunity to compare traditional uses of the past with modern uses and current scientific research on active compounds. It is interesting to see which herbs science has proven to have medicinal value similar to the old uses. I was surprised, for instance, to find that Culpepper's old remedy for bronchitis, Colt's Foot (a familiar garden weed), is actually the source for a substance used in modern over the counter cough remedies! I was even more surprised when an Eyebright solution stopped a case of conjunctivitis - my first venture into herbal treatments! Descriptions are given for which parts of the herbs are useful medicinally. Appendixes I have not seen elsewhere provide 1) definitions of old time ailments, like the agues, for which old Culpepper prescribed, 2) a listing by ailment which herbs old Cullpepper used for which ailments and 3)a modern listing by ailment of which herbs are considered useful now. All of this information is presented extremely clearly and concisely - about half a page is devoted to each herb - making it an easy reference in a world of complicated herbals. I would not say this is THE total, definitive guide to herbs. It IS an herbal to come back to time and again in my library for reference and just plain pleasure. I recommend it for beginner through intermediate herbalist, those who want to venture into / expand their herb garden into specifics, the history lover and to the curious. A keeper.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting for the historically minded..., January 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Culpeper's Color Herbal (Paperback)

...but I do not recommend Nicholas Culpepper's prescriptions. It is interesting to read what the 17th century physicians considered to be appropriate remedies and the illustrations are a wonderful aid to identification. However, if you want to practice medicinal herbalism, get a modern book to use in conjunction with Culpepper and take the advice of the modern book if there is a difference.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Generally a good basic book, June 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Culpeper's Color Herbal (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book and I enjoy using it. The drawings of the plants are well done, and usable for basic identification of plants,and I really enjoyed the updated usages of the plants that are shown. This book is worth purchasing but, I would not consider it a all in one reference book if you are interested in using herbs. For general information and for the historical aspects its a good fun, enlightening book. Well worth buying for your personal library.