Very informative and interesting book. I highly write recommend it. Very educational. Very enjoyable

As a whole this is a good introductory book. An added benefit would have been to include more/better photos of the herbs/plants described. More input on collection methods would be helpful too. As this is marketed as a beginner's guide, I suppose the included information is enough. I just wanted more so that it is more beneficial overall.

An interesting book with lots of great information for the beginning herbalist. A great addition to any home library. Perfect for the homestead.

This kind of life, life using D-I-Y herbs and plants and veggies and fruit for everything from health and skin care to healing balms to blood purifier syrups and teas for weight-loss and good digestion, hormonal balance and UTI, is extremely common in the sub-continent. Whether they belong to rural or urban areas, women in Pakistan, are practcally raised on using various organic methods. It’s cheap, natural, therapeutic, and a self-sufficient way of life. It’s cool that this way of life is appreciated and being mainstreamed from American rural areas to city-life as well.

But I wish, so wish, that Robinson had included pictures of the various plants she mentions that she grows or are found in her ‘homestead’ i.e. 80 acre farm in Missouri Ozarck, which sounds like a wonderful place to live and explore, since she talks so frequently about it in the book. In place of such real-time/ real-life images, there are ‘shutterstock’ images (stock graphic design images) for each plant/ herb.

I wish she’d shown the various processes she says she uses to ‘harvest’ / dry / collect various plants for e.g. I really wanted to see ‘the good knife’ she uses to scrape the fallen branches of white willow tree and get the inner bark, when ‘a good storm will result in several branches lying around the yard’.

I wish she had shown her medicinal cabinet (that she says she keeps ready concoctions in as the mother of 2 young boys).

I wish she had shown her storage cabinet or pantry where she keeps the dried plants or fresh produce, and 80 proof alcohol, beeswax, kind of items needed for these recipes.

I wish she’d shown the kitchen where she makes all the tinctures and salves and teas.

I wish she’d shown all of her tools (the mason jars, the drainers, double boilers, bowls, funnel, empty tea bags, and strainer cloths, pots and pans, trays, towels, hangers, etc.).

I wish she’d included how-to pictures (preferably 4 small ones on each page for every recipe / remedy) where she’d show what to do and the shape / color / end result, especially since she keeps mentioning how she likes to cook or make these recipes / remedies.

Even if Robinson lists the ‘prep time’ as 5 minutes and ‘cooking time’ as 10-15 minutes, it isn’t easy and ready to go unless you already have an entire system in place to exercise these choices - and that system also requires time, money and effort. (‘Infusion of herbs with carrier oils’ takes 12 -24 hours of course). I wish her choices and system were visually available via the book.

There are simpler solutions than the exotic concoctions she recommends in the book for digestive problems, cold and flu, high blood pressure, and mental tranquility. For example, olive leaves. Why not just grow an Olive tree instead of assembling goldenrod, cayenne, catnip, and agrimony? Why not use Neem (Azadirachta indica / Margosa) for cuts, burns and inflamed skin than yarrow and lavender?

In Pakistan, there are extremely famous herbal companies such as Hamdard Dawa Khana and Qarshi which offer ready-to-eat herbal remedies for circulatory suystem and blood purifier (Saafi’), gastro health (‘Jawarish-e-Kamooni’), brain health (‘Demaghi’), menstruation disorders (‘Masturin’), cough/flu (‘Infuza’) and a standard Rose Water Mist. Hamdard even has a University and has an entire line of products it calls ‘Medicaments’. Completely herbal stuff, no additives or unnatural preservatives. These reduce time in gathering ingredients and cooking, though I understand the appeal of D-I-Y: it’s supposed to be cheaper if you’re growing things in your garden or getting seeds and leaves in packets from stores and the quantity of product made at home is also bigger than the one mass produced by any herbal store. But it does make me curious as to why Robinson or other herbalists haven’t ventured towards creating these remedies for mass consumption? Robinson certainly could sell the various herbs she finds in her neck of woods, all 80 acres of it.

Her bio in the book says that she is a ‘certified herbalist’ from American Herbalist Guild and now runs a herbal training academy, ‘The Bitter Herb Academy’, which is a member of AHG. I went to her website and it has a list of online courses that she teaches at $60 fee (the herbalist certification course is for $160), it has purchase links for all of her published books and a generic contact page. The website has no pictures of certified students, their testimonials, or her tutorials either, which is strange since she’s had the online school since 2016, but it does clear up what her PhD. is in - nutrition. And it also declares that she studied herbal medicine under the tutelage of Demetria Clark from Heart of Herbs Herbal School (Clark’s Herbalist Certification course takes 7-10 months and currently costs $600. You get to join her facebook group full of herbalists). Clark’s herbalist syllabus is also impressive as compared to Robinson’s. But while Clark’s course gives students the option of phone calls, Robinson communicates with her students only via email. I’m beginning to see a lack of visuals in a medium that requires opening up of senses, sense of smell, sight, touch and taste, etc.

The book contains plants / herbs Robinson believes to have medicinal properties and also comes with a disclaimer to not take/ ingest any of these plants as a cure / remedy for a health problem without prior consultation with a doctor.

However, I will try a few of these, for example the witch hazel ‘facial spray’, (a popular toner for oily / combo, acne prone skin), rose serum in dropper bottle (essentially dried rosehips + petals kept in carrier oil like sweet almond oil for a day or two and then used), red raspberry tea for PMS and uterine comfort, because they are simple and non-fussy.

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The books contains the followng plants / herbs and recipes/ remedies:

50 Essential Medicinal Plants
Agrimony
Boneset
Burdock
Calendula
California Poppy
Catnip
Cayenne
Chamomile
Chickweed
Cleavers
Comfrey
Cottonwood
Dandelion
Echinacea (Purple Coneflower)
Elderberry
Fennel
Goldenrod
Hops
Japanese Honeysuckle
Juniper
Lavender
Lemon Balm
Marshmallow
Mimosa
Motherwort
Mullein
Oregano
Passionflower
Peppermint
Pine
Pineapple Weed
Plantain
Purple Deadnettle
Red Clover
Red Raspberry Leaf
Rosemary
Self-Heal
Skullcap
St. John’s Wort
Stinging Nettle
Sweet Gum
Sweet Wormwood
Valerian
Violet
White Willow
Wild Bergamot
Wild Rose
Witch Hazel
Yarrow
50 Essential Remedies
Bowel-Soothing Agrimony Tea
Boneset and Echinacea Antiviral Tea
Clear Skin Burdock Tea
Calendula Skin-Healing Oil
Comforting Catnip Compress
Pain and Circulation Cayenne Salve
Reduce-the-Redness Chamomile Skin Toner
Cooling Chickweed Salve
Lymph Support Cleavers Tincture
“Bone Knit” Comfrey Salve
Cottonwood Balm of Gilead
Dandelion Tonic Tea
Echinacea Sore Throat Gargle
Amber’s “Famous” Elderberry Glycerite
Bye-Bye Bloating Fennel Tea
Goldenrod Urinary Support Tea
Tranquility Hops Tea
Honeysuckle Antiviral Tincture
Winter Blues Juniper Bath Soak
Skin-Soothing Lavender and Aloe Spray
Lemon Balm Ice Pops
Coating Marshmallow Infusion
Mimosa Happiness in a Bottle
Quick Relief Motherwort Remedy
Respiratory Support Mullein Tincture
Antimicrobial Oregano Oil Infusion
Mental Exhaustion Passionflower Tincture
Digestive Support Peppermint Infusion
Pine Pitch Salve
Calming Pineapple Weed Tea
Quick Plantain Poultice
Allergy-Busting Purple Deadnettle Tincture
Red Clover Hormonal Balance Infusion
Uterine-Nourishing Red Raspberry Tea
Rosemary Hair Thickening and Growth Mask
Cold Sore–Busting Self-Heal Lip Balm
Unwind and Relax Skullcap Tincture
St. John’s Wort Bottle of Sunshine
Nourishing Nettle Broth
Sweet Gum Influenza Tincture
Sweet Wormwood Antiviral Tincture
Sandman Valerian Tea
Soothing Violet Infusion
Headache White Willow Tincture
Wild Bergamot Oxymel
Wild Rose Beauty Serum
Toning Witch Hazel Facial Spray
Yarrow Styptic Powder
Digestive Health Yellow Dock Infusion
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This book gave simple, clear instructions on how to use a wide variety of plants. I appreciated the author covering a wide array of plants and how they could help with my wellbeing. They cover the history of herbal medicine, gear you need to use plants, how to harvest each plant and store it, and how to use it. Herbal medicine was often women’s medicine and many of the practioners would be burned at the stake as witches during the dark ages. Learning how to use herbs helps reclaim control over our bodies. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to get more involved in taking control over their body with medicinal plants.

"The Beginner's Guide to Medicinal Plants" by Amber Robinson PhD is an informative and empowering resource that provides valuable insights into the world of natural healing and herbal medicine. This book is a comprehensive blend of knowledge, practical guidance, and the exploration of the healing properties of plants.

Robinson's writing style is clear and accessible, making complex information about medicinal plants understandable for readers who are new to the subject. The author's expertise shines through as she introduces readers to various plants, their uses, and the potential benefits they offer.

At the core of the book is a wealth of information about the history, properties, and uses of a variety of medicinal plants. From herbal remedies to natural health tips, the author skillfully guides readers through the basics of incorporating plants into their well-being routines.

"The Beginner's Guide to Medicinal Plants" successfully balances scientific information with practical advice, creating a resource that is both educational and actionable. The exploration of plant-based remedies and the potential for enhancing health and wellness adds depth to the content.

In conclusion, "The Beginner's Guide to Medicinal Plants" is an invaluable and enlightening book that empowers readers to explore the world of natural healing and herbal remedies. If you're looking for a comprehensive guide that introduces you to the benefits of medicinal plants and their potential impact on health, this book offers a well-researched and engaging resource that will leave you inspired to embark on a journey of natural wellness.

The beginners guide to medicinal plants is a great book for those who are interested in switching some of their own health care to a more natural approach. Amber Robinson did a wonderful job of explaining each of the 50 herbs listed in the book. She gave the reader exactly what they need to know, explaining what herbal medicine is, how to grow and forage medicinal plants, how to use the plants and listed a recipe for each of the 50 plants listed in the book.
I was very excited to read through this book and was very pleased with the information inside.

What an informative book. Love how the author has given you information on how to use the plant, a picture of what the plant looks like and how to make the herbal remedy.

This book was informative, and definitely a helpful guide for understanding how to use plants on a medicinal basis and I appreciated all of the information in this book. The photos were fantastic and a welcome inclusion and I enjoyed the first part of this book as a primer and the second part as the detailed reference. I do wish the author included latin names with ALL the plants and not just the common names. This would make it a lot easier to do additional research and make sure you aren’t ingesting the wrong plant, especially for the ones that the author doesn’t include latin names for.

My only true issue with this book was that in the first chapter, the author talked about the history of plant medicine but only mentioned Eastern medicinal traditions but didn’t mention any Native American or other cultural plant medicine histories (even European historical uses of plants as medicine would have been good to mention). This lack of discussion on any other historical uses of plants as medicine - even though the section itself was only a paragraph or two - left me with a bitter taste. 3.5 Stars

The author really does justice when speaking to common plants that may be overlooked when urban foraging. The book contains color images of each plant and discusses what parts of the plants are used for specific purposes. This book is highly recommended.

Divided into two parts: one covering the foundational basics of herbalism, herbal medicine, needed tools, and how to process, and the later part, a more detailed of 50 of the most essential (and commonly known) herbs to have, Robinson's "The Beginners Guide to Medicinal Plants" is a helpful resource for those like myself, who are wanting to grow a herb garden, interested in the natural, homeopathic method of medicinal treatment, and simply are fascinated with herbs beyond their visual appeal, and culinary use.
The inclusion of the workbook is helpful, especially for someone like myself who does not have a green thumb, much less know where or how to start growing an herb garden.
Although the copy I have is an ebook, after reading the book, I immediately had to get a hardcopy to keep both on the shelf, but also in my backpack for the days I am out camping, or simply walking the trails, especially since those moments, I try to go offline, and minimum to zero use of electronics. The book is thorough. The key takeaways helped with summing up the main points, and if you're using the ebook, the link to the related remedy is a brilliant resource.
I was surprised to consider cayenne as an "herb", and found myself intrigued, being spicing up a culinary dish, how the pepper could have medicinal remedies.
It would have been nicer to have a more thorough breakdown of the selected 50 herbs, but also understandably it makes the book a good "quick reference" guide in book form, and while on the trail. In many cases, it helps to go straight to the point, and the imagery provided helps individuals unuse to eye herbs, and quickly identify them when in the garden.
Overall, the book is an invaluable resource, and direct in a way that makes it a book to be kept on a gardeners or hikers bookshelf



Thank you to NetGalley, Callisto Media, and Rockridge Press for the opportunity to read the book in exchange for my personal opinion. The book will be a valuable resource, both in ebook, and as a hardcopy.

A short, simple, straightforward book that uses helpful information, backed by science, for each plant. The recipes are easy and by keeping it simple it's less intimidating for any newcomer. Definitely recommend to any medicinal/apothecary library.

I have many books that give me partial information on the use of plants to better my health. This one has replaced them all. Before over the counter medicines became so available, plants were used for everything from coughs to aches and pains to indigestion and much more. The science has been lost/ forgotten for so long that most people would NEVER try these methods. Amber Robinson provides the science and reasoning behind the plant, ensuring the safe use of each. My group has planned several forager's outings now and will most defrinitely use this book for our guide.

This is a simple, helpful book that delivers just what it promises. The 50 plants are mostly plants you can forage or easily grow or buy. Each one has a description, information about why it’s helpful, and a stock photo. The recipes are simple, generally just one ingredient (plus alcohol, a carrier oil or water) instead of herbal remedies where you need to buy 10 different ingredients and spend a small fortune on specific concoctions. Many of them are standards in our house but I found a few new ones I’m looking forward to trying. Recommended.

I read a digital copy of this book for review.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Callisto Media/Rockridge Press for the eARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is a super interesting book-and very informative. The problem is that am I not that familiar with the plants-so I would have liked more than one photo of the plant. In some cases all you see are the blooms-no stems or leaves. The receipes were great. Can't wait to try some of these. Thanks 4 stars

This is a great resource for anyone wanting to get into, or learn more about, herbal medicine.

The basics are well outlined and clearly explained. I was particularly impressed with the care and detail put into describing the best way to prepare each herb. And I was thrilled at the selection of recipes that address all manner of ailments.

Great book! It was very informative. This provides basic knowledge for beginners to thrive. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.