The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies. / David Hoffmann. Dorset, England: Element Books, 1995, HarperCollins Publishers, 2001. ISBN 0007133014 Paperback. 256 p., illustrations in color.
Hoffmann’s Holistic Herbal is a teaching tool, achieved first by the simplicity of his message. He points out that herbalism has been practiced for thousands of years, that it can be safe and effective, and because of its value when practiced by a knowledgeable herbalist, it’s easily holistic, “treating the body as a whole and integrated system”, p.10.
The Holistic Herbal, for its slim 256 pages, has a lot to offer the reader curious about the book’s usefulness as a holistic herbal. A word of advice: read through the preliminary two chapters for a wealth of information on healing, before you get to the herbal itself, which manifests more than 200 herbs. First, Hoffmann talks about lifestyle choices, uses of tonics and cleansers, and the reasons for choosing specific herbal preparations in Part One: The Holistic Approach. Here also is a discussion entitled: “Herbs and The Body’s Defense System”, a view of health psychology that says a person’s approach provides the support needed prior to choosing a particular medicine for their health and well-being.
Part Two: Practical Herbalism not only gives instructions for making herbal preparations, such as infusions and decoctions, tinctures and syrups, but also offers “The Chemistry of Herbs” and “Actions of Herbs”. Glossaries of herbal actions, together with the section on chemistry, are the most vital aspects of botanical knowledge after recognition of a plant. I particularly appreciated that Hoffmann included a subchapter on remedies called “Herbs for Infections and Infestations”, as first-aid for the whole body system.
Part Three: The Herbal and Part Four: Systems of the Body are richest in description, images, instruction and general advice. You may look up an herb’s actions in The Herbal, view preparation and dosage, botanical and chemical information, and suggestions for combining it with other herbs for particular treatments. Systems of the Body details the prevention of problems with Circulation, Respiration and Digestion, and the lymphatic, sensory, nervous, skin, musculo-skeletal, glandular, reproductive and urinary systems. By example, for the respiratory system Hoffman discusses “Herbs for the respiratory system”, then “Patterns of respiratory disease”. He says, “Herbs in this category act as stimulants to the nerves and muscles of the respiratory system by triggering a neurological reflex via the sensory endings in the digestive system. This causes ‘expectoration’…. Plants that fit into this category include Bittersweet, Cowslip, Daisy, Senega, Soapwort, Squill and Thuja.” p. 178. In all, a combination of 32 herbs are listed as having properties such as stimulant, relaxant, amphoteric, and demulcent actions. “Galium aparine is the best lymphatic tonic.” Hoffman compares respiratory diseases of two categories: congestion or spasm.
Part of the success of The Holistic Herbal as a compendium of information is due to its elegant design. Tables and charts for topic-specific information appear within the text as well as in the Appendix. Each suggestion for treatment includes a formula and symbols indicating how to measure and prepare it. A chart shows the antiseptic action of herbs, with Thyme topping the list as possessing the strongest antiseptic properties, p.42. David Hoffmann is a British herbalist who lives currently on the U.S. West Coast and continues to write herbals.
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