Anke says that she considers herbology an amateur interest whereas herbalism is a professional pursuit. I was glad to hear someone else make the same differention as I do! I always consider myself an herbologist, one who studies herbs and no way would I be ready to consider myself an herbalist, if ever! But as Anke says, just because we consider herbology for amateurs does not mean it is any less effective or important! What Anke does say it represents is a continuation of an ancient tradition whereby herb lore is practiced by everyday people in everyday situations! Now that was truly speaking to me folks! Anke's aim is to help guide everyone in taking back our heritage of herbal medicine and passing it on to future generations!

The book is very well written and easy to read with clear instruction for making internal and external remedies. There are sections on infused oils, creams, first aid, children, tinctures, food as medicine and many others. Each is very helpful ready reference when you are making your own remedies at home. What I consider very useful is the fact I finally have a book in my home library that is so easy, and fast to use. Let's just say you have gathered some St. John's Wort and you can't remember right away how to infuse it in oil or fresh tincture it, just grab this book and you can immediately find the sections of the book to help! A ready reference with sound advice right at my fingertips! I am in love!

Great book to read, especially as it gets close to cold and flu season. Anyone looking for natural ways to cure many common illnesses should definitely pick up this book and read it. By using the remedies provided in this book, you don't have to fool with going to the doctor for medicine and can avoid the possible negative side effects that come from many of the common prescription drugs out there. As mentioned in the description, many of the herbs needed for these remedies can be easily found in the supermarket, so it isn't hard to pick up the necessary ingredients and try out these remedies when you are sick. I would highly recommend this book.

really enjoyed this short, but informative book. the recipe's sound great! recommend to fellow garlic lovers!only regret is that itsvery short.

I have been interested in traditional Chinese medicine for several years now following a particularly successful course of acupuncture for a frozen shoulder.

I enjoy reading material on the subject when I get the opportunity. I liked this book for several reasons which I will take you through.

1. It is written beautifully. The author(s) not only write well, but have an engaging style which I find is so often lacking in these types of books.

2. The book is interesting. The history and development of Chinese medicine is detailed and fascinating, never laborious to read (in this book). The author(s) know their onions.

3. It is written in a way that the lay person can learn about and understand the underlying beliefs and principals behind this amazing form of healing and treatment. It is not just a lengthy list of ailments and herbs.

4. The resources section will be very useful to those looking for further information or a TCM practitioner.

5. And finally the icing on the cake for me was that the index section at the back is all linked back to the exact pages that contain the relevant information. Rare bonus.

5 stars and thumbs up.

I tend to use the same herbs and spices over and over in my cooking. And I'm also looking for ways to cook in a more healthy manner. So I wanted to get a book that would help me learn more about herbs and spices, their health benefits and how to use them to improve my cooking.

I bought Healing Herbs & Spices and got so much more than I bargained for. This is a great book! For every herb or spice the author gives you the history, where it's grown, the parts of the plant that you use, other names for the herb or spice, health benefits, how it's used in cooking and then some great recipes! The health benefits are really interesting.

Cinnamon is good for arthritis, celery seed is good for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, fenugreek can help women deal with menopause and can increase male potency. Fenugreek can also help Type II diabetics lower their blood sugar. Did you know onions are an herb? I certainly didn't. I thought it was a regular veggie.

Recipes are listed for each herb and spice. The benefit is that if you find a herb or spice that you like or want to try, the recipes are right there for you. Vanilla Bean cookies, Roasted Garlic Soup, Basil Chicken. Cinnamon Maple Squash, Pizzelle Cookies (which I haven't had since I was little), Sour Cream and Chive Garlic Mashed Potatoes are just a few of the recipes I plan to try.

Finally Lee Anne Dobbins sounds like she has a passion for gardening and cooking. She writes in a very conversational manner which I like. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone interested in the health benefits of herbs & spices and how to best cook with the herbs and spices you like.