Wood relies on herbal wisdom from Native Americans, Quakers, and the English as well as descriptions from botanical literature and his own clinical observations to explain the uses of a variety of herbs. One by one, Woods examines 36 herbs, showing how each reflects various principles, doctrines, experiences, and patterns of knowledge from the natural world. 38 line drawings.
Matthew Wood is recognized world wide as one of the United States' most reknown herbalists. His previous book, Seven Herbs: Plants as Healers, was a watershed in teaching herbal healing as a part of total wellness. In The Book of Herbal Wisdom, this is continued and enlarged in wonderful detail. This is a must-read for anyone working in the natural health field or interested in self healing with herbs. For those of us who consider not only our physical relationships to the herbs, but also the metaphysical ones, this book is invaluable. It affirms that when we work closely with nature, and the energies of the herbs and herbal medicine, we all are much better off. This is a work that empowers the reader and gives them a very deep knowledge of the herbs discussed.