HOW TO USE THE BOOK

The HERB USER GUIDE is offered as an introduction to the fascinating study of Herbalism. It is a field of human endeavour that is at once healing, life enhancing, trans-formative and fun.

Actions are used here as a primary ‘road map’ for exploring this vast field. Individual herbs are described under their main action or in a chapter on the body system for which they are most commonly used. To find the main entry on a herb, please use the index.

Each action is explained in a way that ensures an understanding of what it is and how it works. Specific herbal remedies are then given that use this action well.

A unique feature is an overview of a range of remedies that can act in the way described, but also have affinity for the various bodily systems. Each section on an action ends with this information. In this way the book provides the basis for logical and holistic prescribing as described in the chapters on bodily systems.

As an example we can consider a possible herbal prescription to reduce high blood pressure. It might contain:

HAWTHORN BERRIES LIME BLOSSOM YARROW

All of these herbs have a reputation for being HYPOTENSIVE, that is a remedy that reduces elevated blood pressure. However, you will see after studying these herbs that we have the following actions represented:

CARDIOVASCULAR TONIC DIURETIC NERVINE RELAXANT

With a grasp of some of the physiology that underlies this condition the role of these actions becomes evident. In the section on the systems it is just such an approach that is taken.

No knowledge of physiology is assumed or needed. The processes involved are explained as the book unfolds.

The first step is to gain an overview of the general possibilities in herbal remedies though the actions rather than setting out to learn all the herbs piecemeal.

It is a dilemma to try to structure a way through the wealth of herbal knowledge without creating artificial divides. I hope my attempts to do this are useful and that you enjoy this book.