The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

1. Nature's Pharmacy: Rediscovering Lost Herbal Remedies

While most people tend to be obsessed with everything “new”—with technology, smartphones, social media, and cars that drive themselves—he has always been intrigued by what he believes was a happier, wiser, healthier America: a country of more independent people, who took responsibility for themselves, who were proud of being American, and who dreamed of building a better world.

Reconnecting with the past. The book champions a return to traditional herbal medicine, contrasting it with the modern world's obsession with technology and pharmaceuticals. It emphasizes the value of self-reliance and the wisdom of past generations who depended on nature for healing. This approach encourages readers to rediscover the knowledge of natural remedies that have been overshadowed by modern medicine.

Holistic approach. Herbal remedies are presented as part of a holistic philosophy that connects the mind, body, and nature. This perspective encourages readers to view health as more than just the absence of disease, but as a state of overall well-being achieved through a balanced lifestyle and a deep connection with the natural world. This involves not only using herbal remedies but also adopting practices like gratitude, deep nature connection, and mindful living.

Separating fact from fiction. The authors aim to save powerful remedies lost to history, distinguishing true cures from ineffective ones. This involves a critical examination of traditional practices, separating those with proven efficacy from those based on superstition or folklore. The book serves as a guide to navigate the vast landscape of herbal medicine, providing readers with a reliable source of information.

2. Ethical Harvesting: Respecting and Sustaining Plant Life

When looking at pictures for plant identification, be sure to look at pictures that depict plants in the various stages of their life cycle.

Responsible gathering. The book stresses the importance of ethical harvesting practices to ensure the sustainability of plant resources. This includes proper plant identification, understanding the plant's life cycle, and avoiding over-collection. Readers are encouraged to harvest only what they need and to leave enough plants behind to regenerate.

Sustainable practices. The book advocates for methods that minimize environmental impact, such as:

• Harvesting herbs early in the day
• Avoiding harvesting the whole plant
• Reseeding and replanting
• Tending the wild

Knowledge is key. The book emphasizes the importance of accurate plant identification to avoid harming endangered species or mistaking poisonous plants for medicinal ones. It encourages readers to use reliable field guides and to consult with experienced herbalists to ensure they are harvesting the correct plants.

3. Mastering Herbal Preparations: From Infusions to Poultices

The sooner you can prepare and store your herbs for use, often the more potent they are.

Diverse methods. The book provides a comprehensive guide to various herbal preparation methods, including infusions, decoctions, tinctures, salves, and poultices. Each method is suited for different types of plants and intended uses, allowing readers to tailor their preparations to specific needs.

Practical guidance. The book offers step-by-step instructions for each preparation method, including information on:

• Harvesting and drying herbs
• Encapsulating powdered herbs
• Making oil infusions and salves
• Creating tinctures and extracts
• Preparing poultices

Empowering self-reliance. By mastering these techniques, readers can become more self-sufficient in their healthcare, reducing their reliance on commercial products and gaining greater control over the quality and potency of their medicines. This knowledge is particularly valuable in situations where access to conventional healthcare is limited.

4. Backyard Allies: Common Plants with Potent Healing Properties

These remedies are just part of a holistic philosophy of being self-reliant - of connecting your mind with your body and your body with nature.

Accessibility of healing. The book highlights the medicinal properties of common backyard plants, empowering readers to find healing remedies in their own surroundings. This approach demystifies herbal medicine and makes it more accessible to everyday people.

Detailed plant profiles. The book provides detailed profiles of various backyard plants, including:

• Agrimony
• Aloe Vera
• Anise Hyssop
• Ashwagandha
• Black-Eyed Susan
• Boneset
• Borage
• Cabbage
• Calendula
• California Poppy
• Carolina Geranium
• Chamomile
• Chicory
• Chives
• Comfrey
• Common Flax
• Couch Grass
• Dandelion
• Dill
• Dock
• Echinacea
• Elecampane
• Evening Primrose
• Fennel
• Feverfew
• Garlic
• Goldenrod
• Greater Burdock
• Henbane
• Holy Basil
• Hops
• Horseradish
• Jerusalem Artichoke
• Lady’s Thumb
• Lamb’s Quarter
• Lavender
• Leeks
• Lemon Balm
• Lemon Thyme
• Lemon Verbena
• Licorice Root
• Lovage
• Lungwort
• Mallow
• Marshmallow
• Meadow Rue
• Milk Thistle
• Mormon Tea
• Motherwort
• Mullein
• Oregano
• Oxeye Daisy
• Peppermint
• Plantain
• Prickly Pear Cactus
• Prunella vulgaris
• Pulsatilla
• Purslane
• Red Clover
• Rosemary
• Queen Anne’s Lace
• Sage
• Sheep Sorrel
• Skullcap
• St. John’s Wort
• Stinging Nettle
• Sweet Grass
• Sweet Marjoram
• Thorn Apple
• Thyme
• Valerian Root
• Violets
• White Mustard
• Wild Lettuce
• Wild Teasel
• Wooly Lamb’s Ear
• Yarrow

Each profile includes information on identification, edible uses, medicinal uses, and harvesting techniques.

Empowering self-sufficiency. By learning to identify and use these common plants, readers can become more self-sufficient in their healthcare, reducing their reliance on commercial products and gaining greater control over their well-being.

5. Forest Medicines: Unveiling Nature's Hidden Treasures

They gave me new eyes from which to see our landscape here in North America.

Beyond the backyard. The book expands its scope to include medicinal plants found in forests, scrublands, and woodlands, revealing the hidden treasures of these ecosystems. This encourages readers to explore the natural world beyond their immediate surroundings and to appreciate the diversity of medicinal resources available.

Detailed plant profiles. The book provides detailed profiles of various forest plants, including:

• Amaranthus caudatus
• American Ginseng
• Angelica
• Arnica cordifolia
• Arrowleaf Balsamroot
• Bearberry
• Bee Balm
• Black Cohosh
• Bleeding Heart
• Bloodroot
• Blue Cohosh
• Butterbur
• California Buckwheat
• Cardinal Flower
• Cat’s Claw
• Cleavers/Bedstraw
• Club Moss
• Coltsfoot
• False Hellebore
• False Solomon’s Seal
• False Unicorn Root
• Fireweed
• Goldenseal
• Horsetail
• Kudzu
• Indian Tobacco
• Jewelweed
• Maidenhair Fern
• Male Fern
• Mayapple
• Mugwort
• Osha
• Parrot's Beak
• Partridgeberry
• Pipsissewa
• Red Raspberry
• Red Root
• Rhodiola rosea
• Solomon's Seal
• Spanish Moss
• Stone Root
• Unicorn Root
• Wild Comfrey
• Wild Ginger
• Wild Strawberries
• Wild Yam
• Wintergreen
• Wormwood
• Yellow Jessamine
• Yerba Santa

Each profile includes information on identification, edible uses, medicinal uses, and harvesting techniques.

Expanding knowledge. By learning to identify and use these forest plants, readers can expand their knowledge of herbal medicine and gain a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of ecosystems.

6. Trees and Shrubs: A Source of Powerful Remedies

We hope that this book will become a favorite reference for you and serve as a starting place on your health journey.

Woody wonders. The book highlights the medicinal properties of trees and shrubs, expanding the reader's understanding of herbal medicine beyond herbaceous plants. This encourages readers to consider the potential of woody plants as a source of healing remedies.

Detailed plant profiles. The book provides detailed profiles of various trees and shrubs, including:

• American Basswood or American Linden
• Ash
• Balsam Fir
• Balsam Poplar
• Bayberry and Wax Myrtle
• Bilberry
• Birch
• Black Crowberry
• Black Walnut
• Blue & Black Elderberry
• Burning Bush, Western
• Cascara Sagrada
• Chaparral or Creosote Bush
• Chokecherry
• Cottonwood
• Cranberry
• Devil's Club
• Dogwood
• Hardy Kiwi
• Hawthorn
• Honey Locust
• Horse Chestnut
• Juniper
• Meadowsweet
• Moringa oleifera
• Oregon Grape
• Quaking Aspen
• Red Alder
• Red Elderberry
• Red Mulberry
• Salal
• Sassafras
• Saw Palmetto
• Slippery Elm
• Sugar Maple
• Western Red Cedar
• White Pine
• White Sage
• White Willow
• Wild Rose
• Witch Hazel

Each profile includes information on identification, edible uses, medicinal uses, and harvesting techniques.

Expanding knowledge. By learning to identify and use these trees and shrubs, readers can expand their knowledge of herbal medicine and gain a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of ecosystems.

7. Mushrooms and Lichens: Nature's Potent Allies

Of course, my biggest gratitude is to the plants, lichens, and mushrooms that help us grow and heal. Without them, I wouldn’t be here walking amongst you today.

Beyond the plant kingdom. The book delves into the medicinal properties of mushrooms and lichens, expanding the reader's understanding of natural remedies beyond the plant kingdom. This encourages readers to explore the unique healing potential of these often-overlooked organisms.

Detailed profiles. The book provides detailed profiles of various mushrooms and lichens, including:

• Chaga Mushroom
• Lion's Mane Mushroom
• Lungwort Lichen
• Reishi Mushroom
• Turkey Tail Mushroom
• Usnea Lichen

Each profile includes information on identification, edible uses, medicinal uses, and harvesting techniques.

Unique healing properties. Mushrooms and lichens offer a range of unique healing properties, including immune modulation, anti-cancer activity, and nerve regeneration. By incorporating these organisms into their herbal practice, readers can access a wider spectrum of therapeutic benefits.

8. Household Remedies: The Healing Power of Everyday Items

While the authors, editor and publisher have gone to great lengths to provide the most useful and accurate collection of healing plants and remedies in North America, there may still exist typographical and/or content er-rors.

Unconventional medicine. The book explores the medicinal uses of common household items, revealing the hidden healing potential of everyday substances. This encourages readers to view their homes as a source of natural remedies and to embrace a more resourceful approach to healthcare.

Detailed profiles. The book provides detailed profiles of various household remedies, including:

• Activated Charcoal
• Bleach
• Boric Acid
• Cayenne Pepper
• Cinnamon
• Diatomaceous Earth
• Epsom Salts
• Listerine
• Potassium Permanganate
• Raw Honey
• Turmeric/Curcumin

Each profile includes information on uses, and safety precautions.

Accessibility and affordability. By utilizing readily available household items, readers can access affordable and convenient remedies for a variety of ailments. This approach empowers individuals to take control of their health without relying on expensive or inaccessible treatments.

9. Female-Specific Ailments: Herbal Allies for Women's Health

She has helped thousands of people treat themselves naturally by following her holistic wellness advice and by using herbal remedies.

Addressing unique needs. The book dedicates a section to female-specific ailments, recognizing the unique health challenges faced by women and offering targeted herbal remedies. This approach acknowledges the importance of gender-specific healthcare and empowers women to take control of their reproductive health.

Remedies for various conditions. The book provides information on herbal remedies for a variety of female-specific conditions, including:

• Amenorrhea
• Breastfeeding support
• Childbirth preparation
• Contraception
• Dysmenorrhea
• Endometriosis
• Fertility improvement
• Hormone regulation
• Labor support
• Menopause symptoms
• Menstrual cramps
• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Milk suppression
• Miscarriage prevention
• Morning sickness
• Pelvic inflammation
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Post-partum aid and depression
• Pregnancy & Labor
• Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS)
• Sex drive improvement
• Urethra inflammation
• Vaginal infections

Empowering women's health. By providing information on these herbal remedies, the book empowers women to address their unique health needs naturally and to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

10. Heart Health: Herbal Support for a Vital Organ

These remedies are just part of a holistic philosophy of being self-reliant - of connecting your mind with your body and your body with nature.

Supporting cardiovascular well-being. The book emphasizes the importance of heart health and offers a range of herbal remedies to support cardiovascular function. This approach encourages readers to take proactive steps to protect their hearts and to prevent heart disease.

Remedies for various conditions. The book provides information on herbal remedies for a variety of heart-related conditions, including:

• Anemia
• Angina
• High Blood Pressure
• Low Blood Pressure
• Blood Purification
• Blood Thinner
• Blood Coagulant
• Cardiac Insufficiency
• Cholesterol, Elevated
• Circulation, Increased/Vasodilator
• Clotting
• Heart Attack
• Heart Disease
• Irregular Heartbeat
• Myocardial Ischemia
• Nosebleeds
• Phlebitis
• Pulse Rate, Lowering
• Tonic, Heart
• Varicose Veins
• Vasculitis
• Vasodilator
• Venous Insufficiency, Chronic

Promoting heart-healthy lifestyles. By incorporating these herbal remedies into their daily routines, readers can support their cardiovascular health and reduce their risk of heart disease.

11. Emergency Preparedness: Herbal Remedies for Survival

While most people tend to be obsessed with everything “new”—with technology, smartphones, social media, and cars that drive themselves—he has always been intrigued by what he believes was a happier, wiser, healthier America: a country of more independent people, who took responsibility for themselves, who were proud of being American, and who dreamed of building a better world.

Self-reliance in crisis. The book emphasizes the importance of herbal remedies in emergency situations, providing readers with the knowledge and skills to treat injuries and illnesses when conventional medical care is unavailable. This approach promotes self-reliance and empowers individuals to take care of themselves and their families in times of crisis.

Remedies for various emergencies. The book provides information on herbal remedies for a variety of emergency situations, including:

• Bleeding, external
• Fevers
• Infections (Viral, Bacterial and Parasitic)
• Poisons

Essential skills for survival. By learning to use these herbal remedies, readers can acquire essential survival skills that could prove invaluable in a post-apocalyptic world or other emergency situations.

Last updated: February 11, 2025