Making Plant Medicine [Paperback]

Richo Cech (Author), Sena K. Cech (Photographer), Anne Gunter (Photographer)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0970031203 | ISBN-13: 978-0970031204 | Publication Date: February 28, 2000

Making Plant Medicine is about making herbal medicine. This is a modern medicine making book and formulary with its roots in original herbalism designed for every medicinal herb gardener to cultivate the full potential of the plant-human relationship. Richo Cech tells very good stories based on his experience as a global wanderer, herbalist and medicine maker. In the context of his lifelong love of gardening, he has procduced this long-awaited book that is original, amusing and absolutely useful.

Part 1: Medicine Making
* drying and processing herbs
* making tinctures the easy way
* the mathematics of tincturing and solubility factors
* basic formulas for fresh and dry tinctures, including dosages
* vinegar extracts, glycerites, herbal succi and syrups teas, decoctions, herbal oils, salves and creams poultices, compresses and soaks

Part 2: A Gardener's Formulary
This section covers well over 100 herbs that are readily cultivated in North America. The listings include: conservation status, parts used, specific formulas, practical uses, dosages, contraindications and an overview of alternate species.

Since the beginning, the garden has been a haven of good values, both physical and spiritual. The act of gardening provides a balm for every wound. May your medicine be of the garden, and may it be of benefit to all.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Making Plant Medicine will satsfy both beginners and advanced do-it-yourselfers in herbal medicine. --Prevention Magazine

An excellent overview of making herbal tinctures, vinegars, glycerites, water-based preparations, syrups, slaves, baths, poultices, etc. Clearly explains the methods for making everything from simple teas to professional quality, mixed solvent tinctures equal to those in health food stores. Includes "A gardener's herbal formulary" covering over 110 herbs, with over 500 formulas, giving medicinal action, dosage, and use. Interesting stories of his own experiences give the book immediacy and bring the processes "off the page" and into practical focus. --JL Hudson, Seedsman

"Making Plant Medicine" has been to bed with me. What more can I say? --English Herbalist Mike Brook

About the Author

Richo Cech is an internationally recognized expert on the cultivation, processing and usage of medicinal plants. His early work in African archeology and ethnobotany coupled with a life-long interest in seed saving eventually materialized in an extensive collection of seeds. This collection became the basis for Horizon Herbs, a company dedicated to the worldwide dissemination of medicinal herb seeds. Richo serves on the executive board of United Plant Savers, an organization dedicated to the conservation of Native American medicinal plants. Richo strongly believes that organic cultivation of medicinal plants provides a necessary alternative to the harvest of precious plant resources from the wilds. Richo is the author of a popular series of pamphlets on the cultivation of medicinal herbs and a new book entitled "Making Plant Medicine." Horizon Herbs, PO Box 69, Williams, OR 97544-0069 [phone].

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Horizon Herbs (February 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970031203
• ISBN-13: 978-0970031204
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ever wondered about making herbal medicine? Here you go!, July 24, 2006

By 

ThePaperbackStash.com (FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Plant Medicine (Paperback)

Cech writes a book I've been waiting for - something truly in depth that talks about tinctures in more than just a paragraph or so. While saying it's perfectly fine to make tinctures in the 'simplers manner' - and he explains how to do this - his reasons for making consistent batches with measurements for continued accuracy and control makes perfect sense. He brings up the merits many herbalists do regarding the benefits of alcohol as a medium - besides preserving the herbal properties better than other products in nature, besides working better to extract from most herbs over glycerine and ACV, and besides bringing up how alcohol is such a wonderful carrier of herbs or other substances through the bloodstream into the body, he brings up the important points on how little of alcohol is consumed when taking the standard tincture dose, and eases some common misconceptions. Several chapters are devoted to tinctures alone, through various ways of extracting, detailed information on straining, pressing, and sifting. Things I've never read anywhere else were in here, quite a treat considering all the herbals I've read out there.

But of course that's not all. Full chapters are devoted to glycerites and which herbs are best suited for them, Vinegar extracts, Teas and Decoctions, Herbal Syrups and Succi, Oils, Salves, Creams, Poultices, Soaks, and Compresses. The best herbs for each are given, with examples, and it's hard to walk away without being more confident than if you read other standard herbals briefly brushing over this important aspect of herbalism.

A true gem of Making Plant Medicine is the Herbal Formulary, which showcases over 500 herbs with each having it's exact best method of preparation discussed, as well as ratio. Before reading this, for example, I hadn't known Astraglus was best extracted in water with just a bit of alcohol to preserve as an unusual type of tincture/tea, rather than just a tincture alone. Tidbits about my favorite herbs makes this book priceless. It's backed with contradictions and use of each herb, and even packs more punch by delivering personal testimonials, dosages, and - of course - a full chapter devoted exclusively to the mathematics of tincturing. Marvelous!

Written in a straight forward, down to earth, and enthusiastic manner, it's hard not to get excited about herbs all over again when you read the stories of Richo and his family, their adventures with the herbs, and how complex our plants and bodies really are. A book that does not merely skim the surface in any stretch of the imagination.

99 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay, but NOT easy......, June 25, 2005

By 

Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Making Plant Medicine (Paperback)

Are you ready to begin making your own tinctures, vinegar extracts, herbal infusions and teas as well as other decoctions? Richo Cech, long time herbalist par excellence describes how to macerate, use various solvents or menstruum solutions, and create complex combinations or medicinal compounds. Although Cech clearly prefers an alcohol-based menstruum, he supplies formulas for other approaches for those who cannot tolerate alcohol.

I have found the formulas which don't require alcohol provided by James Green in THE HERBAL MEDICINE-MAKERS HANDBOOK easier to execute and less costly because they don't use as much fancy equipment and my husband will use them, but Cech insists that to make long lasting solutions you will want to use grain alcohol or a good brand of Vodka as well as the "proper tools". I use essential oils for various purposes, and dried herbs in teas, and in my experience both hold up at least one year. We use them so fast I can't speak to longevity or shelf life (At this very moment as I type, I have applied an oil mix to my right hand to relieve pain from various causes such as arthritis and carpel tunnel, and it is working fine). I suppose if you are making up batches for sale you might have more concern with preservation, but I wouldn't worry about using an alcohol based formula on a child so much as tinctures are mostly diluted in water. (Cough syrup is an exception).

If you are a gardener (or not) and are wondering how to preserve some of nature's bounty for medicinal (compressesses, salves, creams and other medicinal compounds) you might consider buying both books (Cech and Green) and conducting your own experiments, to see which approach works for you. This book has a dearth of illustrations, or else I would give it more stars.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Thorough and Comprehensive Fundamental Course in Herbalism, June 1, 2006

By 

Laura "Herbalist-in-Training" (Asheville, New Caledonia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Making Plant Medicine (Paperback)

With relevant and interesting anecdotes, Cech describes the fundamentals of plant medicine making in this comprehensive book. Any beginning herbalist will appreciate how Cech covers the traditional/folk methods as well as scientific methods of making herbal medicine.
The love and respect Cech has for the plant world shine through. Reading this book is like being an apprentice to a knowledgeable and experienced herbalist of the highest caliber.