This is an invaluable reference that I will definitely refer to for years to come. I started gardening in 2020 and this year I decided that I would like to learn more about growing herbs to use for medicinal purposes and teas. So when I received this book for review purposes from Zeitgeist press/Netgalley, as complimentary review copy, I was so excited! The author definitely has a lot of knowledge which she shares, the first portion of the book is an introduction to herbal medicine as a whole and the various herbs and plants that are most common/useful. The second portion of the book is recipes. I like how it’s broken down into sections, so you can easily find what you’re looking for - pain relief, insomnia, food intolerance, etc. Just about anything you might be looking to treat is in this book. I also very much appreciate that she includes who should NOT use a particular herb. At the end of each recipe, she includes notes like “Chicory should be avoided by anyone with IBS.” Chicory is a FODMAP so I really appreciate the depth of her knowledge!

The only thing that is a barrier for beginners like myself is that many of the recipes contain multiple ingredients that you will have to grow or purchase. I’m sure that this is of no fault of the author, as these are traditional recipes. For example, I had SIBO this year and I want to make the “Gut Biome Balancing powder” for GI support. It contains 6 ingredients, none of which are things that are commonly found in someone’s pantry. For those with access to a local health & wellness store with dried ingredients, it might not be such a barrier but sadly, my local store closed so I will have to order all the ingredients. I still think this is a 5 star book, but this may make the recipes difficult for people who do not have easy access to ingredients. I am going to pick a few common ingredients and grow them in my garden next spring! I’m very much looking forward to trying some of the recipes with herbs from my own garden.

Thank you for the free/gifted book, @penguinrandomhouse. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Herbal Medicine for Modern Life--Traditional Folk Remedies for Everyday Health and Well-Being" by Ruth A. Blanding.
I have grown an herbal garden for years and enjoy using fresh herbs in cooking and tea. I knew the benefits of a few herbs, such as peppermint as an aid to quell nausea, but Ruth lists many other uses for this herb, as well as the uses of many other common herbs found worldwide. Her Native American and African heritage "grandmother wisdom" is a treasure passed on to all readers of this book and should be preserved for all time!
I did not know all the other benefits of herbal use for areas I learned about in chapters regarding herbal preparations for protection against environmental and lifestyle stressors, physical pain and discomfort, respiratory illnesses and allergies, chronic fatigue, and other areas of health and illness that are included in this wonderful book! I also appreciated her list of resources and herbal organizations at the end of the book. If you are interested in acquiring more knowledge about herbal medicine this is an interesting and educational book to read!

@penguinrandomhouse#partner #sponsored @penguinrandomhouse #netgallery

I found this interesting and an overarching look at concepts I didn't have knowledge on before reading. I was hoping it would go a bit deeper on certain terms and topics, but I did learn something!

Thoughts: If you’ve ever thought of trying herbal remedies to cure what ails you, this is a good place to start. The introduction alone is comprehensive with insights and cautions about the world of herbal medicine. She goes into the history of using plant-based remedies as well as cautions like “if you’re allergic to this, don’t use that” and working with your physician/herbalist if you are on medications.

There are two basic sections: The herbs and then the problems/remedies. In the herbal section, she describes each of the 35 plants in detail, what part of the plant is used, cautions, allergens, and color pictures. In the remedy section, she gives some common problems, like migraines or headaches, what to use, and how to prepare and use them. I will note that there are a lot of steps to some of these remedies. And they use a lot more than just one or two herbs. She also goes into different ways to use them: tea, capsules, tinctures, syrups, etc. And stresses that this is not a cure for a serious ailment, that you need to work with your medical team if you want to use them because there can be serious contraindications with some.

Overall, I thought this a good basic book with a lot of great information.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from Zeitgeist (Penguin Random House) with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

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Ruth Blanding's "Herbal Medicine for Modern Life" offers an intriguing bridge between ancestral wisdom and contemporary wellness needs. As someone firmly grounded in evidence-based medicine, I approached this guide with a healthy skepticism but found myself drawn in by its pragmatic, well-organized approach to herbal remedies.

Blanding strikes an admirable balance between honoring traditional knowledge and acknowledging the importance of modern medical care. The book's emphasis on communicating with healthcare providers about herbal supplements demonstrates a responsible approach that doesn't position natural remedies as replacements for conventional treatment but rather as potential complementary supports for overall wellness.

The systematic organization proves particularly valuable, with clear sections addressing specific modern ailments and detailed herb profiles that include essential information about qualities, preparations, and important contraindications. Blanding's emphasis on ethical sourcing and sustainability, encouraging readers to support underrepresented suppliers and start with small batches, adds another thoughtful dimension to the practice of home herbalism.

While the beautiful cover makes this a worthy addition to any coffee table collection, the interior would benefit from more photographs to aid in herb identification and preparation techniques. Nevertheless, the step-by-step recipes for everything from basic infusions to vodka-based tinctures make this an approachable introduction to herbal remedies.

This guide offers a thoughtful starting point for those curious about exploring natural remedies while maintaining a grounded perspective on modern medicine. I'm eager to try the Golden Milk Latte recipe first!

Disclaimer: This review does not endorse any herbs or remedies for individual use. Readers should always consult with their healthcare provider before trying any herbal remedies or supplements described in this book.

This is the perfect book to find herbal remedies for various medical conditions. It breaks it down by ingredients and by medical conditions. Very easy to read! I highly recommend.

I thought this was well written and very accessible. I enjoyed the different perspectives and the natural medicine elements of this book. I thought it was mindful of how to balance that with traditional medicine. In addition, it was really nice to see the author pay respect to the land and take a stance on sustainable growth. I think this book had a lot of very helpful recommendations and offers new perspectives. I enjoyed learning more about herbal medicine and how it can be helpful in our daily lives. The author approached the subject with care that I appreciated.

*Thanks to Zeitgeist Publishing for the free/gifted book.*

As someone new to the idea of Kitchen Witchery and herbal medicine, I found this informative and encouraging. I like that the author recommends starting small and discusses common issues around sourcing herbs. The layout of the book is good, enhancing its usefulness as a reference guide. My main complaint is the repetitiveness. I’m not sure how much is an abundance of caution, poor editing, or legal CYA, but by the mid-point of the book I was internally screaming “yes, yes, consult a medical or herbal professional. I GET IT!”

I've been growing herbs for a while and looking for alternatives to using herbs in medicine. This book has information on recipes and uses for their recipes. I wish they would have created more single-use recipes and dove more into growing, but I get that you can't have everything in a book. If you're new to herbal medicine this book is a great resource.

As we age and society finds more and more drugs that do more harm than good, it's easier to learn how herbals can help with so many fewer complications. I've lived in rural areas for many years and continue to learn which plants are benficial to my family, including my assortment of pets. Ruth Blanding has written a comprehensive guide that not only provides information, she includes the dos and don'ts of this age old practice. The book is written in an easy to understand and cross reference information that will start the beginner or add to the knowledge of those like me looking to fill gaps in my knowledge. This book should be shared and kept handy as a reference to everyday questions of safety and effiency.

Book Review: Herbal Medicine for Modern Life by Ruth Blanding

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hey everyone! I just finished reading Herbal Medicine for Modern Life: Traditional Folk Remedies for Everyday Health and Well-Being by Ruth Blanding, and I couldn't wait to share my thoughts. If you're someone who's ever felt overwhelmed by modern health solutions (like I have), this book is definitely worth checking out.

From the get-go, Blanding emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with nature and the wisdom that comes from traditional plant medicine. In our fast-paced lives, it’s easy to overlook the power of herbs that have been used for centuries to address common ailments. This book serves as a guide for using those ancient remedies to tackle modern health issues such as anxiety, allergies, and hormonal imbalances.

One of the standout features of the book is the comprehensive introduction. It offers great insights into how to effectively use herbs as medicine, alongside necessary advice and warnings from Blanding herself. This makes it perfectly suitable for newcomers to herbalism. I appreciated how she broke down the complex processes of making herbal remedies into simple, approachable steps. The recipes for infusions, tinctures, syrups, and balms are not only easy to follow but also require ingredients that are often found right in our kitchens or local markets.

The book goes into detail about more than 35 medicinal plants, complete with stunning photographs and descriptions of their healing properties. This is where Blanding shines, as she combines her expertise with a touch of warmth, making the reader feel empowered to explore herbalism without the intimidation often associated with it.

I found myself particularly captivated by how relevant these remedies are to our everyday health concerns. Allergies? Check. Stress? You bet. The real treat is that most of these herbs are easily accessible and can be incorporated into your daily routine with little fuss.

So if you’re curious about how to bring herbal medicine into your life, I highly recommend Herbal Medicine for Modern Life. It’s a clear, engaging, and informative read that stands out in the wellness genre. Whether you're a seasoned herbalist or just starting out, this book is a fantastic addition to any bookshelf. Just trust me—grab a copy and start nurturing your health with nature’s gifts!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

**Herbal Medicine for Modern Life** by Ruth Blanding is a comprehensive guide to herbs and their medicinal uses for everyday people.

To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations for this book and thought it would be like others I’ve read. However, I was blown away once I saw the table of contents. The author has done an outstanding job of not only teaching the historical uses of herbal medicine but also demonstrating how to apply them in modern contexts.

This book covers topics such as:
- Understanding herbal remedies
- Folk medicine
- Herbal medicine
- Application methods
- A list of common herbs
- A guide to herbal preparations and their use for ailments like unhealthy air, excessive sitting, digital fatigue, toxic overload, general fatigue, fever, and headaches.

I definitely recommend this book!

This book is a fanstic reference! I will definitely be getting this in physical form. I love that it included many common ailments as well as specialized ones like Fibromyalgia, which is what I have. Will definitely be trying out things from this book.

While a very pretty, well written book, its not one I would recommend to fellow herbalists. The information in it is trying too hard to give to beginners (you don't need that many herbs in one recipes, you don't need that many herbs starting out at all, and you would do better with a grasp on a handful of local to you herbs than a pantry full of exotic import herbs you barely grasp how to use) and the intermediate herbalist doesn't really need the regurgitation of every other herbal book out there. I was hoping for something different but this didn't quite stand up to that hope.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book!

I liked this book and would happily add it to my collection of books on herbs. I like that it has herbs that I’m already familiar with and have easy access to and gives more information on how to make them work for my health.

I have quite a few of the chronic illnesses that are covered in this book so this will be a great resource to have in my collection! I love learning about natural remedies to help heal the body, whether it’s teas, tinctures, balms, or other forms, and there are many recipes in this book that I will definitely be trying out

This is a nice herbal book that has the main drawbacks of most of the thousands of modern herbal books. It does have some basic information and some photos and recipes, but it has very vague information about each herb and then a recipe section that calls for lots of ingredients for each remedy. There is no information about growing and foraging the herbs, what zones they grow in, where you can find them in the wild. There’s no information on how to use them effectively as a single preparation, which is one of the wonderful things about herbs. They should be easy to use and information should be about each one on its own. Herbs have been part of my daily life for decades and they are the primary source of healing for our family. You don’t need 8 ingredients in a complicated recipe if you have an ailment. Some of the mainstays of our herbal shelves are elderberry tincture (dried elderberries steeped long term in vodka) or elderberry syrup for the kids (dried elderberries, honey, water), nettle tea (nettles, water), elderflower tea, hawthorn tincture, rose hip powder, motherwort tincture, or even just a plantain leaf poultice in the field if one of us gets stung by a wasp (chew a leaf briefly and put it on the sting, relief comes in a couple of minutes). There are so many, and they are simple and abundant. We forage 80% of what we use, and I really believe that there are local helpful remedies growing wherever we are. Here in Minnesota there is a plant with similar properties to one used in Asia, for instance. This book will be a hit with novices and it is just as good as any other modern herbal book, but honestly I would stick with one of the books by the grandmother of herbs, Rosemary Gladstar, and learn the benefits of the plants that grow near you. All that said, it is a perfectly good modern herbal book as the name promises.

I read a temporary digital loan of this book for review.

I absolutely loved "Herbal Medicine for Modern Life, by Ruth Blanding. She introduces us to different herbs and plants and how to use them in a easy and straight forward way. The book is perfect for those new to natural medicine, and experienced users alike. You will be able to start using it with confidence immediately to begin improving your health. I am looking forward to purchasing a copy for myself as soon as it hits the market.

As someone who has a multitude of health problems and keeps being given western medications (currently on 10 tablets a day!), I’ve been looking into how the natural world can help my body. So when finding this book, I was instantly intrigued. I really felt like the author is knowledgable (I have learnt a few things), knew how to make everything interesting and I didn’t feel bogged down with the recipes. Everything felt natural and easy for a beginner to use and you only needed a few utensils along the way. Safe to say I will be purchasing this book to help heal my body.

This book contains incredibly useful and practical information on various herbs, spices, weeds, and other plants that can be applied in many different ways. The author explains each plant in detail and describes what each is used for medicinally or ethnobotanically, as well as herbal folk remedies. There are numerous recipes for ailments, including breathing issues, reproductive issues, hormonal issues, and gastrointestinal issues. The author also discusses the different methods of preparation for the plants. I would recommend this book be added to our library collection, and look forward to purchasing a copy of this book myself.