The Western Herbal Tradition

The Western Herbal Tradition provides a comprehensive and critical exploration of the use of plant medicines through 2000 years of history from Dioscorides to the present day. It follows each of the 27 herbs through a wide range of key sources from European, Arabic and American traditions including Greek, Roman and Renaissance texts. A rich discussion of the historical texts is balanced with current application and research.

The herbs have been selected on the basis of common use by practising herbalists.

Each illustrated monograph contains:

Species, identification and botanical description

A study of the characterisation and medicinal use of the plants consistently drawn

from featured herbals which includes the authors’ own translations from the Latin

Assessment of past and current texts in the transmission of herbal knowledge

Consideration of traditional therapeutics, including humoral and physiomedical

approaches

Suggestions towards a modern experiential approach through Goethean methodology

Current evidence on pharmacological constituents

Review of evidence on safety

Recommendations for internal and external uses, prescribing and dosage

1 The historical sources

2 Some observations on the Western herbal tradition

3 Origins and proponents of the revival of herbal medicine in 19th century Britain

4 A note on Goethe

5 Notes on botanical descriptions, constituents and dosage

6 Agrimonia eupatoria, agrimony

7 Alchemilla vulgaris, lady’s mantle

8 Althaea officinalis, marshmallow; Malva sylvestris, common mallow; Alcea rosea,

hollyhock

9 Apium graveolens, wild celery

10 Arctium lappa, burdock

11 Artemisia absinthium, wormwood

12 Artemisia vulgaris, mugwort

13 Centaurium erythraea, centaury

14 Daucus carota, wild carrot

15 Drimia maritima, squill

16 Fumaria officinalis, fumitory

17 Galium aparine, goosegrass

18 Glechoma hederacea, ground ivy

19 Hyssopus officinalis, hyssop

20 Inula helenium, elecampane

21 Lamium album, white deadnettle

22 Ocimum basilicum, basil

23 Paeonia officinalis, paeony

24 Potentilla erecta, tormentil

25 Rosa damascene, damask rose

26 Rubus idaeus, raspberry

27 Ruta graveolens, rue

28 Scrophularia nodosa, figwort

29 Stachys officinalis, wood betony

30 Tussilago farfara, coltsfoot

31 Verbena officinalis, vervain

32 Viola odorata, sweet violet; Viola tricolour, heartsease