Discover the healing properties of wild plants, with this accessible, photographic guide for the beginning forager.
Author Brandon Ruiz shares his expertise in the world of plant medicine, offering clear, concise descriptions of edible wild plants, as well as critical information about proper harvesting and processing. Ruiz has curated the plant selection to include the most common, most helpful healing plants, ranging from Japanese knotweed and horsetail to chickweed, bee balm, mimosa, wild rose, kudzu, and more.
With Ruiz's expert advice and easy-to-follow guidelines, readers will be confident in identifying which plants they can safely collect and which ones they should definitely avoid. Each plant profile includes:
- Clear ID photos, with close-ups of leaves, flowers, and fruit
- Guidance on where to find each plant, from its range to the types of environments it typically grows in
- Information on the plant's medicinal usages
- Directions on how to harvest it and the best medicinal preparations
Also includes simple, adaptable recipes for plant-based medicines, from soothing teas to powerful tinctures. This is the essential beginners' guide to foraging and using medicinal plants--and staying alive while doing it.
"Brandon makes his vast knowledge of the plant world easy to follow and inspirational to all." -- Lucretia VanDyke, author of African American Herbalism
"A must-have for anyone curious about exploring herbalism, wildcrafting, and healing with plants - without getting lost or hurt in the process." -- Molly Meehan Brown, creator of Wild Ginger Community Herbal and author of Herbal Activities for Kids
Table of Contents:
Introduction: Why Forage?
The Power of Plant Medicine
About This Book
Chapter 1: Responsible Foraging
Ethics in Foraging
Chapter 2: How to Identify a Plant
Combining Traditional and Technical Knowledge
The Importance of Proper Identification (i.e., Not Dying)
Plant Anatomy
Chapter 3: What to Bring, Where to Go, and When to Forage
Tools for Foraging
Where to Forage
When to Forage
Cleaning and Preserving
Chapter 4: Wonderful Weed Medicine
Dandelion
Cleavers
Chickweed
Plantain
Sweet Annie
Garlic Mustard
Mugwort
Japanese Knotweed
Kudzu
Chapter 5: Wild Herbs from the Field
Mullein
Violet
Burdock
Red Clover
Wild Lettuce
Spanish Needle
Yarrow
Motherwort
Horsetail
Wild Rose
Elderberry
Mallow
Chapter 6: Forest Medicine
Black Walnut
Stinging Nettle
Oregon Grape
Bee Balm
Honeysuckle
Raspberry
Sumac
Mimosa
Pine
Reishi
Linden
Chapter 7: Making Medicine
Understanding Plant Medicine
Making Medicine Safely
What You'll Need to Make Herbal Medicine
Chapter 8: Base Recipes for Making Medicine
Infusions
Decoctions
Tinctures
Glycerin Extracts
Herbal Vinegars
Herbal Steams
Topical Medicines
Chapter 9: Food as Medicine
Medicinal Foods
Symptom Guide
Resources
Index
Brandon Ruiz (he/him) is a community herbalist and urban farmer and runs Yucayeke Farms, a farming project focusing on providing equal and affordable access to herbal medicine and culturally-relevant foods to his community. He specializes in medicines of his native Puerto Rico, throughout the Caribbean and Appalachia. He has taught throughout the world at conferences, school programs, universities, individually organized centers, and in one-on-one programs. Ruiz is based in Charlotte, NC.