Botanic Materia Medica: Now Available!

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This mid-19th century work is an excellent materia medica, more rigorously categorical than many competing editions from the time period, containing an entire list of abbreviations for the usage of species, which are then applied in the work. It contains several hundred different entries- the usages are sometimes archaic, although some terms (such as astringent and stimulant) are still used.

It is a fine example of herbal medicine from the early period in which organic chemistry was leading to the rudimentary standardization of dosage- the work details the difference between tinctures, extracts, and so forth, as well.

Illustrated by Raven Feather Illustrations.

99 pages.

Fifteen Lectures on Medical Botany: Now Available!

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The 1830s represent an interesting period in medical history in which the old mercury and leeches of the system of Galen were replaced by botanical and "simples"-based medical practice until the era of fully "rational" chemical and biological science began a half century later. The essential premise here is that former medical practice was dangerous (objectively true) and botanical treatment superior and more "godly" (debatable.) What I do not debate is that administering lobelia or capsicum is "probably" safer than dosing people up on mercury, antimony, or dangerously powerful emetics.

186 pages.

Myths and Legends of Flowers, Trees, Fruits, and Plants: Now Available!

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This excellent book is full length and contains a laundry list of fascinating legend and folklore about botanical species- it specifically dwells a lot on Greco-Roman, Arthurian, and then modern (largely European, sometimes American) lore. It is of great interest noting how humans have lopsidedly created stories about some species so much more than others; the rose, the oak, and maize especially.

It's hard to single out a story that was my own favorite because there are so many; Saint Patrick of course comes to mind; the explanatory story of how he converted Ireland involves explaining the trinity using a shamrock as opposed to conversion by force (I like the fictional, botanical account better.)

266 pages.

American Medicinal Leaves and Herbs: Now Available!

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This interesting little work is another of the botanically important circulations produced at the dawn of the 20th century by the US Department of Agriculture- it is fully illustrated by Rita Metzner, whose Instagram you can see here. It lists over 30 species of note that grow within the region of the continental United States- mostly native plant life, with a few European garden escapees. The number of uses is quite large; from expectorants and purgatives to general balms. That is all secondary however as the work was mainly meant for farmers and rural dwellers to be able to identify and exploit species in order to prevent continued US reliance on imports of plant material which were used within a clinical setting as medicine in an era before modern standards and preparations.

67 pages.

American Medicinal Flowers: Now Available!

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This short bulletin is a handy little guide to North American species wild-gathered for medicinal purposes in its era. It has been illustrated by Rita Metzner because my own renditions would not be appropriate for a work meant to be roughly a short field guide. I've released a couple of these agricultural pieces before by the same author and have another lined up being edited as we speak.

The species are common; datura, elder, raspberries, and so forth; for each a basic description of usage is given- it should be noted that the apothecarian recipes derived from such herbal material are still in use in folk medicine, homeopathy, and in the third world.

29 pages.

Flower Lore: Now Available!

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This is one of the most comprehensive works I've edited- a near 200 page compilation of lore all related to the botanical, paired frequently with poetry and Shakespearean verse, with more than a few references to civics (at the time the idea of a national flower was apparently hotly debated- it does mention my own state, Vermont, choosing the red clover as state flower- which it still is!)

The number of references within mythology are impressive- especially Greek mythology and some of the Christian iconography of yesteryear- including of course perhaps the most famous with Saint Patrick and the four leafed clover. As an interesting aside there's one little patch of white clover here on my property that spawns four leafed clutches at about a hundred times the normal rate (must be a mutant) and once I found one with seven in there. Altogether, this is a fine work, and right down my alley as a botanical enthusiast and lover of spiritual folklore.

190 pages.