Generations of herbal lore meet cutting-edge research across 560 plants, from aloe to yarrow, detailing constituents, dosages, and fixes for 150+ ailments like colds, stress, or joint pain. Chevallier lays it out in vivid photos, A-Z directories, and step-by-step guides to brewing teas, tinctures, syrups, oils, and poultices right at home—no apothecary required. This reference pulses with earth's quiet potency: plants as accessible allies for reclaiming health from the ground up.​

What you can get from reading it

• Crystal-clear profiles on 100+ core herbs (plus 460 more) with active compounds, safety notes, history, and precise recipes—like elderberry syrup for flu or chamomile compresses for inflammation.​
• A self-help section mapping 150 common woes (digestion, skin issues, fatigue) to targeted plant blends, with dosages and prep methods tested across traditions and labs.​
• Visual ID keys and growing tips to spot, harvest, or source safe plants, turning backyard weeds into potent medicine without guesswork.​
• Balance of folk tales (witch hazel for bruises) and modern studies (turmeric's curcumin for arthritis), so remedies feel both timeless and trustworthy.​
• Home pharmacy toolkit: exact ratios for infusions, decoctions, salves, and vinegars, plus cautions on interactions to build confidence fast.​
• Shift from pill-popping to plant-powered prevention, fostering intuition for what your body needs season by season.​

About the author

Andrew Chevallier spent nearly four decades as a hands-on herbalist in Norfolk clinics, treating everything from rashes to chronic fatigue alongside patients, often in NHS free clinics for elders. A past president of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and university lecturer who helped launch Europe's first herbal degree, he later wove in spiritual healing—writing from a lifetime of blending clinic trials, plant walks, and quiet intuition.