The Earthwise Herbal, Volume I: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants
✍️ Wood, MatthewA comprehensive guide to Old World medicinal plants, traditional energetic frameworks, and clinical Western herbalism.
This comprehensive volume serves as an alphabetically organized reference covering Old World medicinal plants used in Western herbal medicine. Matthew Wood, a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild holding a Master of Science in Herbal Medicine from the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, draws on nearly forty years of clinical practice alongside ancient herbal literature to inform his work. In Part I, he thoroughly examines traditional energetic frameworks, including individual chapters on Greek Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Alchemical Medicine, and Physiomedicalism. Additional chapters directly address modern herbal actions, practical application via Galen's method, as well as preparation and dosage guidelines. Part II provides an extensive materia medica detailing specific symptoms, conditions, real-world case histories, and pharmacological constituents for individual plants.
Published by North Atlantic Books, this text sits at the intersection of traditional European, Asian, and nineteenth-century American medical systems. It synthesizes historic Western herbal literature, alchemical traditions, and classical energetics for contemporary readers.
Praise for this book
“Matthew Wood propounds with great clarity, wisdom, and his own experience the gifts the earth in its wisdom has given us in the form of amazing medicines for almost all our ills, whether of body, mind, emotion, personality, or constitution. How refreshing it is to find a new herbal that explores the depths of each plant's contribution and does not attribute its powers solely or even mainly to its chemical constituents.”
“Another valuable resource by Wood, a practicing herbalist with 25 years experience under his belt. Part of a two volume set, this complete guide to old world medicinal plants describes the characteristic symptoms and conditions from a holistic perspective.”
“In The Earthwise Herbal, Matthew Wood has revived the richness, depth, and dignity of the herbal medicine of the old masters, while at the same time endowing it with a new cosmopolitan, cross-cultural flavor that lifts it to a genuinely planetary level.”
📝 Description: The Earthwise Herbal, Volume I: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants
📑 What's inside
- Introduction ix
- Herbalism and Holism xi
- Reductionism and Holism xiv
- Different Kinds of Holism xvii
- Energetics xix
- PART I
- The Practice of Traditional Herbal Medicine 1
- CHAPTER ONE - Energetics of Traditional Medicine 2
- Greek Medicine 2
- Ayurvedic Medicine 7
- Traditional Chinese Medicine 9
- Alchemical Medicine 13
- Physiomedicalism 17
- Integration: Pharmacology, Taste, and Energetics 20
- CHAPTER TWO - Herbal Actions 23
- Modern Actions 25
- CHAPTER THREE - Putting It All Together: The Art of Herbal Practice 29
- "A Key to Galen's Method of Physick" 30
- CHAPTER FOUR - Preparation and Dosage 35
- Preparation 35
- Dosage 38
- PART II
- Materia Medica 41
- Using the Materia Medica 42
- References 539
- Index of Herbs 561
- Index of Conditions 567
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
This book is an essential companion for curious novices, seasoned practitioners, and homeopaths alike who wish to deepen their understanding of plant energetics. By drawing on nearly four decades of clinical practice, Matthew Wood makes complex botanical knowledge accessible without diluting its depth. Readers gain not just a list of herbs, but a coherent framework for viewing therapeutic effects through characteristic symptoms and compelling case studies. It bridges the gap between historical application and modern usage, offering a masterful synthesis that empowers users to apply ancient wisdom with confidence in contemporary healing contexts.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Wood’s meticulous alphabetical approach provides clarity, yet this text demands patience from those seeking quick fixes or purely scientific biochemical data. It is not suited for readers who prefer detached, academic botany over clinical application, nor for those uninterested in the 'logic' of herbal energetics. The strength lies in its narrative integration of history and practice, which may feel dense to casual browsers. However, for those committed to the Western herbal tradition, it offers unparalleled insight into the subtle logic of plant medicine, making it a vital resource despite its deliberate, scholarly pace.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
Whether you're taking your first steps into the world of herbal medicine, a dedicated student deepening your craft, or an experienced practitioner seeking nuanced insights, this book offers invaluable wisdom. Even homeopaths will find its exploration of plant energetics highly resonant and enlightening.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Historical Herbal Wisdom
Matthew Wood meticulously traces the lineage of herbal knowledge, integrating centuries of traditional and ancient texts into his plant profiles. Readers gain a profound appreciation for the historical context of each herb's use, understanding how their applications have evolved and endured through different eras of Western herbalism, connecting past wisdom to present practice.
Clinical Application & Cases
The book excels in bridging theory with practical application, detailing the specific symptoms and conditions where each plant proves most effective. Wood enriches these descriptions with illustrative case histories drawn from his extensive clinical experience, offering tangible examples that illuminate the nuanced therapeutic power of each botanical, guiding confident application.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Old World Plants
- Plant Logic
- Western Herbalism
📔 Questions to reflect on
- How does understanding a plant's historical use deepen your appreciation for its modern applications?
- Consider an herb you know well. How might applying Wood's concept of "plant logic" alter your perception or use of it?
- Reflect on a personal experience with an herbal remedy. Can you trace its effects back to its "Old World" origins or traditional understanding?
📖 Read on the blog
✍️ More books by this author Wood, Matthew
All books by this author →
🏛 Books from this publisher North Atlantic Books
All books from this publisher →
You might also like
See more →
Have a question about this item?
Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.
