I wonder if there really is a "herb bible" out there? It seems that most books have a specific focus. Some are fantastic for identifying the various herbs/plants/weeds and give basic information for their uses. Some are good for more specific usage but don't have any plant ID info. Others cram a lot of all round info in but don't go into specifics. In my opinion though, they are all useful. I would imagine that it would be a tome if there were a book that was able to capture everything that you wanted!
The one I LOVE for IDing herbs/plants/weeds is the Nature's Medicines book. I would have to say that I was very surprised that a Readers Digest book was so good (is published for NZ and Australia - so very relevant for me). Beautiful clear photography for IDing. Good basic info on how to make remedies, storage etc. Each herbal page includes uses, what to harvest and when, any contraindications and cautions and basic info on prescribing. There is a small section at the back on treatment of specific ailments.
The Green Witch Herbal is a good all round book as well. Not laid out in a very user friendly way though I don't think. Depends on how you want to use it. There are the odd sketched pictures of herbs throughout, but not there for IDing. The first half is on Home and Kitchen and has sub-sections on Hair, Beauty, Teas and Skin and then the second half moves on to Remedies for areas of the body: Circulatory system, Digestive, Respiratory and Skin. So it's all in there, but takes a bit of sifting through if you recall reading something, but may not remember where (and the index does not necessarily capture it all as some things are mentioned conversationally). A little frustratinng, but once again, a goody.
Naturally Healthy Babies and Children is lovely. It is really written as a holistic guide to living naturally with its focus on children's wellbeing including herbal remedies for illnesses/conditions, nutrition and general health. I like it as it prescribes for children - whereas it can be hard to know with some books when they mostly focus on adults.
Healing Wise and New Menopausal Years take a slightly different approach to health and healing. Susun Weed talks of nourishing the body - so her approach is really a preventative, but if you are dealing with health issues she gives a scale of how to deal with them from being introspective and accepting right through to hospital/surgery/drugs. This perspective really helped me with our situation with Nathan where he was on long-term high-dose steroids over 7mths - for someone who has never given my kids OTC medicines or prescription drugs before it kind of knocked me (but of course I didn't hesitate to use them as it was our only option at the time and having been through a relapse, it still was the only thing that worked unfortunately). It just messed with me when you often read from people using/advocating natural medicine that they'd never take their kids or themselves to hospital or use medicines (yet I felt that maybe they had never been in that type of situation before where they had to make that choice?). She talks in length about the use of wild weeds and how to use them (she's big on infusions using dried herbs). There are a variety of recipes for eating and using the plants.
The Natural Health Book by Dorothy Hall is written by a New Zealand Herbalist. I like the casual style where it is very much anecdotal. I like the odd book like this. She goes into a natural lifestyle approach and also discusses nutrition. Opening our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs is like that too. Feel good books full of warth and humour but still pack a punch with good solid info.
The other books are good wee additions to my library, but haven't "drawn me in" as yet. I always look them up when seeking a good all round base of info when I'm wanting to know something though.
I have just started up a Health Journal where I intend on documenting what I try for any ailments we may suffer from. The first example is my seasonal asthma that kicks in during autumn. I don't require inhalers or medications as it's not bad, but do suffer from a bit of breathlessness and tightness at times along with the asthma cough. So for now, I'm going to give herbs a go and being on myself, I will see or feel improvments.
