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Post by lavandulagirl on Apr 3, 2007 6:34:17 GMT -5
This is a pretty inclusive site for herbal info - you can use it to look up herbs alphabetically, or to look for herbs based on what you'd like to use them for. I think it's a great start for someone looking for an online herbal...www.naturalark.com/herbenc.html
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jason
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Post by jason on Apr 3, 2007 9:46:54 GMT -5
That's great. Thanks LG
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brook
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Post by brook on May 10, 2007 10:24:49 GMT -5
Great site. And, as a practicing herbalist myself, I cannot stress enough that you read, and understand, all her disclaimers.
Contrary to popular imagination, many herbs do have contraindications. And the New Age mantra, "it's natural so it's got to be good" is so much BS.
Herbs can kill you as readily as cure you.
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Post by lavandulagirl on May 10, 2007 13:15:15 GMT -5
Not only do they have contrindications, but there are some real horror stories involving people who decided to quite pharmameds and start going herbal all in one fell swoop. Often, your body must be weaned off of prescription meds. Anyone who decides to self medicate without education is asking for serious trouble.
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brook
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Post by brook on May 10, 2007 14:28:31 GMT -5
Amen, Sister!!
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Post by downinmyback on May 10, 2007 19:49:52 GMT -5
I know the meds i take for my maintenance back pain has to be weaned off in steps to prevent seizures.
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Post by cannaisseur on May 10, 2007 22:31:35 GMT -5
LG, you got any other sources? I thought this one had a lot of different herbs, but its pretty incomplete, but like you said a good start. I have been looking for a site that has a lot of detail, and a lot of herbs with their dosage, etc.
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Post by lavandulagirl on May 13, 2007 5:50:49 GMT -5
Try a couple of these, too. I don't know what Brook would say (so perhaps he'll weigh in  ) but I try to stay away from some of the ancient herbals - they're great for conversation, and they have some good info, but I met a woman recently who says she refers only to Culpeper, and he was wonderful for attributing curative properties to plants based on their appearance. (For example, any plant that exudes a milky substance when broken would be good for nursing mothers.) I think this particular woman had bought way in to here new age paganhood, if you know the kind of person I mean. (Not disparaging pagans at all, by the way, just describing the type) I did include a link to the online version of Culpeper, though. It is a good thing to cross reference your herbals, I think, and he did give a lot of good info, too.www.healthy.net/scr/MMList.asp?MTId=1www.holisticonline.com/Herbal-Med/hol_herb.htmwww.bibliomania.com/2/1/66/113/frameset.html
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brook
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Posts: 127
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Post by brook on May 13, 2007 8:39:22 GMT -5
Actually, I love Culpepper and other old herbals and grimoirs. To read, of course, not to take as reliable.
Sometime, when I feel up to typing it, I'll give y'all Albertus Magnus' reciept for how to make her love you, and cleave only to you. But be warned, among other arcane ingredients, it includes the "haires" from the nether regions of a Wolfe.
Anyway, for actual phytomedicine I have several modern herbals. And my first move is to check the E-Commission monographs, to see where they stand on things. And reseach through some of the various wellness centers, etc.
Although I'm a pagan myself, Lav, I know exactly the type you're talking about. And hold them in the same level of disdain.
Should I tell you, for instance, about the supposed Native American healer who prescribed---long distance, and without knowing what other drugs (phyto and allepathic) she was on---wormwood for someone who, if she'd have taken it, would have been dead in minutes. But what the hell; herbs can't hurt you, right!!
And for those who don't know what we're talking about, wormwood carries a list of contraindications as long as your arm, even for healthy people. It is not the sort of thing one prescribes blythly. And certainly not if you arent' there to monitor reactions.
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Post by lavandulagirl on May 13, 2007 9:38:30 GMT -5
Rodale's Encyclopedia of Herbs has an entire chapter on dangerous herbs. It discusses mis-identifying herbs, the variance in potency, and also has a table with safety rankings for herbs with known unsafe potencies. (Wormwood is listed as unsafe by some sources used, and dangerous by others). Although the book is not technically an herbal, I really value it for info on not only uses for herbs, but also cultivation and descriptive info. I think you can pick it up in trade paperback at any big box bookstore for about 20 bucks.
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Post by tuttamatta on Sept 17, 2008 23:47:50 GMT -5
Hi everybody, a lot of good info here, I've been interested in this subject for years and just a couple of years ago I stumbled on this site: www.herbsarespecial.com.au/ and I was really impressed, so much that I ordered her book (How can I use herbs in my daily life? by Isabel Shipard). What really sold me on her book was what she had to say about comfrey, very controversial subject in recent years, it was clear to me that she had done a very extensive research on the subject. You can only get the book from her in Australia, so, you end up paying pretty much the same for shipping as for the book, but, let me tell you, I did not regret it for a second, it is one of my favorite books on herbs and alternative medicine. One more point, you can get a lot of info on her website without ordering the book, check it out, it is very informative. Paola |
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Post by orflo on Sept 18, 2008 0:29:35 GMT -5
I contacted herbsarespecial once, and, I had my doubts. I don't remember exactly the details, but some things were listed wrong, some pictures had wrong names....
But maybe that's OK now, so I'm glad you're happy with the book
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) but I try to stay away from some of the ancient herbals - they're great for conversation, and they have some good info, but I met a woman recently who says she refers only to Culpeper, and he was wonderful for attributing curative properties to plants based on their appearance. (For example, any plant that exudes a milky substance when broken would be good for nursing mothers.) I think this particular woman had bought way in to here new age paganhood, if you know the kind of person I mean. (Not disparaging pagans at all, by the way, just describing the type) I did include a link to the online version of Culpeper, though. It is a good thing to cross reference your herbals, I think, and he did give a lot of good info, too.