The Herbalist's Way: The Art and Practice of Healing with Plant Medicines (Chelsea Green) | 
 enlarge | Authors: Nancy Phillips, Michael Phillips, Rosemary Gladstar
Publisher: Chelsea Green
Category: Book
List Price: $30.00
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Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 299237
Media: Paperback
Edition: Revised
Pages: 352
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 9.9 x 7.8 x 1
ISBN: 1931498768
Dewey Decimal Number: 615.321
EAN: 9781931498760
ASIN: 1931498768
Publication Date: August 19, 2005
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
This updated edition of The Village Herbalist provides a complete guide to the art and practice of herbalism, as well as an introduction to the herbalist's role in family and community life. Inspirational profiles of practicing herbalists from across the country add a human touch to the authors' wealth of practical herbal knowledge.
The Herbalist's Way includes time-honored healing wisdom from many cultures, as well as information on:
Roles and responsibilities of herbalists in their communities
Herbal workshops, conferences, and education centers
Growing, drying, and preparing medicinal herbs
Learning to listen tAo clients and recommend holistic treatments for healing and continued wellness
Licensing, marketing, and other legal and business issues facing modern herbalists
Comprehensive resources and suggestions for building your herbal library
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good overall, but read discerningly September 27, 2008
David A. Wandelt (Freehold, NJ United States)
The Herbalist's Way is not the sort of book one sits down and reads in one or even a few sittings; nor is it primarily a reference work to take down from the shelf when looking for a specific approach to mitigating a specific condition ("Depressed? Try St. John's Wort"). It is in some ways deeply philosophical and decidedly scholarly (quotations/assertions are well-documented where appropriate), while at the same time very practical. It's open and realistic about where a budding herbalist may fit into this country's existing health-care structure, and some possible traps of trying to make an herbalism practice into a lucrative business.
More than anything, The Herbalist's Way is about how a person interested in helping themselves and others live healthier lives can use their talent and interests to realize that worthy goal. It challenges the current thought that tends to look at an herb as an alternative to a pharmaceutical, analyzing it for active compounds, standardizing the levels of those compounds, and administering it as if it were a prescription-less drug.
Yes, there is information on the practical use of a few herbs, but it's much heavier on compassionate, responsible dealing with plants and people. It does contain some methodic information on medicine-making, but in the end, it serves better as a complement to reference works that contain primarily that kind of information.
Some might be concerned by its references to schools of thought decidedly more mystical-spiritual and pagan, such as diagnosing the health of any of six different organs by examining specific areas of their tongue, or establishing a spiritual connection with a personified Mother Earth. Still, it contains a lot of good information, so tread carefully and you and those you care for will benefit.
David Wandelt
Principal, Forward Glance Botanicals
 Inspiring and AWESOME!! February 27, 2007
Lorian Flowers (Pennsylvania, USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I cannot give enough praise to this work. The Phillips writing style is a delight and the information, invaluable. I disagree with the below review that disliked the "magazine" format...I loved it! It added so much interest and human element to the book. I thought the bio's of some of the more prominent (and not so prominent) herbalists were incredibly inspiring.
The authors treat their subject matter with tender loving care. When one reads this volume you feel as though you are having a chat with a good friend. Michael and Nancy are humble but authoritative in their presentation of community herbalism.
No aspiring herbalist should be without this book! It is a must have for anyone who wants to serve their community (or family)in any capacity as an herbalist.
This book presents so much information that is relevant to not only the herbalist, but anyone who is interested in herbs in general.
The only thing I regret about this book is that I didn't read it 10 years sooner!!!
Excellent in both philosphy and infomative application September 3, 2006
IvoryWitch (Knoxville, TN)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
The ONLY complaint I have about this book is that it was done in a sort magazine format where your reading was interupted by bios of prominent herbalists, with the text of what you were actually reading continuing on several pages afterwards. I'm ADD and reading is one way I like to train my mind to stay with one thing at at time. This book aggravated the symptoms of ADD and kept me trying too hard to stay focused on actually reading the text of the book. Wonderful little tidbits and advice and oodles of quotable quotes, definitely worth the read if you are an herbalist of any stripe.
Beautiful, informative and invaluable! November 29, 2005
Kiva Rose (Gila Wilderness, NM)
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
The Herbalist's Way is the very best book of its kind. Packed with practical tips, heartwarming humor and a very real understanding of the powerful healing plants herbalists daily work with, Nancy and Michael have created an invaluable guidebook for both aspiring and veteran herbalists. This book is not meant to be an herbal, aspiring instead to speak to the practical, spiritual and philosophical aspects of beginning and maintaining the practice of working with herbs, as herbalist, wildcrafter, farmer and/or supplier.
I really couldn't recommend this book any higher, the writing style is accessible and down to earth, and the design, including profiles of those most involved in the herbal field, lovely black & white photography and gorgeous pencil illustrations, is outstanding. I only wish Chelsea Green had released a hardcover version!
Nancy and Michael own Heartsong Farm Healing Herbs and create/sell some of the best tinctures and syrups I've ever had the pleasure of using. Nancy is a former apprentice and student of Rosemary Gladstar, and speaks with the same conviction regarding both ecological conservation and the spiritual aspects of healing and herbalism. The Phillips have given all of us deeply involved in the plant world a great gift in this inspiring and informative text. Enjoy!
~Kiva Rose, Herbalist
Bear Medicine Herbals
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