Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients into Foods & Remedies that Heal
By Rosalee de la Forêt
Hay House Inc.
Have you ever owned a book that gave you a thrill on every page? This new beauty by Rosalee de la Forêt will do just that. A passionate teacher of herbal medicine (she is the Education Director at LearningHerbs.com), de la Forêt has earned a place as a leader in a new generation of botanical medicine practitioners and mentors. Using plants as medicine—a no-brainer to humankind for thousands of years in cultures all over the globe—is now making a popular comeback after being sidelined in the twentieth century by synthetic pharmaceuticals. The fact that Hay House published this book and internationally known herbalist Rosemary Gladstar wrote the foreword tells you that there is a big audience for this topic and that this book is worthy of your attention.
There are plenty of great books on herbalism and botanical medicine. I own several (warning: this topic can be addictive), but this one really shines. For the person just getting used to the idea of using plants for wellness, the tantalizing pictures and inviting but non-intimidating recipes are enough to get you hooked. Even if you feel comfortable in this realm and have made a salve or two, there are still plenty of interesting and useful facts to keep the experienced herbalist turning the pages.
From ashwagandha to garlic to rosemary to nutmeg, each chapter is an ode to the myriad special properties of each herb and spice. De la Forêt is a proponent of the concept of energetics, which is more of an art than a science (but if you want the science, the endnotes list dozens of studies). The book catalogs twenty-eight edible products into the five main tastes: pungent, sweet, salty, sour and bitter. Each is explored through a well-written background and an introduction to the ingredient’s medicinal properties and energetics, followed by several recipes for spice-filled foods and beverages as well as topical products such as salves and bath soaks.
De la Forêt does not simply rehash information you can find in a quick Internet search. She has hands-on knowledge and loves each item she showcases for particular reasons. Her suggested usages are helpful; for example, some herbs need to be taken in large quantities to be considered medicinal or are best taken in certain formats (teas versus tinctures).
A quiz helps the reader determine their fundamental constitutional energetics. This is useful when matching an herb or spice with an individual, as well-practiced traditional herbalists do. It can also be important to keep this concept in mind when self-treating an ailment such as a cold, which can vary in its energetics. One sickness may make you feel damp and cold, another dry and hot; in one instance, lavender could do the trick, while at other times, ginger or mustard may be needed. But really, it is best not to overthink this—using herbals is supposed to be fun, and they are supposed to taste good.
In our variegated world full of different colors, tastes, smells and “energies,” one could spend a lifetime getting to know each plant at an intimate level; that’s just what this book invites you to do. “Alchemy” is a term meaning a near magical process of creation or transformation— if you have experienced plants in this way, either as powerful (but still gentle) medicine, or just as a delight to your senses, you get why this is the perfect word. Healing foods are full of flavor, never boring, always nourishing and sometimes revelatory. This book can be your guide on the adventure of discovering those earthly delights for yourself. Two thumbs up. (Learn more at AlchemyofHerbs.com/Apothecary.)
This article appeared in Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, the quarterly journal of the Weston A. Price Foundation, Winter 2023
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