"Using easily found plants and remedies that everyone will find useful, herbalist Ruth A. Blanding gives those new to herbal medicine the confidence to explore, while sharing thought provoking insights with more seasoned herbalists. She shares how folk medicine and indigenous herbalism can be addressed and respected by everyone. I love (and share) her enthusiasm for encouraging others to form a relationship with the plant world. Her gentle but knowledgeable guidance will lead you to remedies for issues from fatigue to sleeplessness, and everything in between." --Tina Sams, herbalist, author of The Big Book of Herbal Medicine, and founder of The Essential Herbal magazine "In this beautifully crafted book, Ruth offers a rich and accessible guide to herbal healing that every reader can embrace. Her carefully selected herbs and approachable recipes, like the Gut Biome-Balancing Powder and Candida Be Gone, make it easy to dive in without feeling overwhelmed. The guidance to start small, mastering one recipe at a time, ensures a practical and empowering journey into wellness.
This book is sure to inspire anyone looking to incorporate herbal remedies into their daily life." --Princess Estocia McKinney-Kirk, CEO/founder of Bellibind and author of Belly Binding " Herbal Medicine for Modern Life is a necessary tool for all people. Broken down into simple, bite-size pieces of information, not only can this information soothe your body, but it really inspires you to do the work to heal." --Panquetzani, Mexican Traditional Medicine healer, herbalist, and founder of Indigemama: Ancestral Healing "In Herbal Medicine for Modern Life , Ruth Blanding offers a brilliant reference that is simultaneously accessible and thorough, playful and rigorous, Afro-Indigenous and universal. In the spirit of sankofa --looking back to find the path forward--she invites us into a deeper relationship with plants as a bridge to past and future generations. The recipes inspire confidence in their clarity and are powerfully effective; my personal favorites are the Herbal Decongestant Steam, Sound Sleep Tea, and topical balms to make 'jars of love.' Impeccably relevant, Blanding includes guidance for the ailments of our day, including long COVID, wildfire smoke irritation, and digital eye strain. She honors her commitment to equity and cultural dignity by encouraging readers to support underrepresented and local suppliers, and by shouting out leading Black and Indigenous herbalists in her resource lists.
If you have just one herbalism book on your shelf, let it be Herbal Medicine for Modern Life . Ruth, I know your ancestors are proud!" --Leah Penniman, cofounder of Soul Fire Farm and author of Farming While Black and Black Earth Wisdom.