Combs Dawn - Heal local: 20 essential herbs for do-it-yourself home healthcare

Praise for

HEAL LOCAL

[Dawn Combs] compelling case for re-informing ourselves with ancient healing arts re-connects us to the sheer abundance and provision of our ecological nest. This book will walk you through the process, from initial interest to a home apothecary. Rather than a sanctimonious attitude, Dawn exhibits an appreciative can-do spirit that uplifts individual initiative and respects the awesomeness of natural healing. I hope this book awakens in you a thirst and hunger for medicinal plants in a Heal Local context.

Joel Salatin, from the Foreword

This is the herb book that Ive wanted forever! Dawn Combs gives us the information we need in order to take control of our health challenges. Youll learn to make tinctures and poultices and more, and youll discover which herbs to use for what ailment; this is an essential book for every self-reliant homestead. No doubt the pages will become smudged and tattered from frequent use in the coming years.

Deborah Niemann, author of Homegrown and Handmade, Ecothrifty, and Raising Goats Naturally

Increasingly, herbalism is becoming an important local source of health maintenance: in the home, on the farm, and in the community. Herbalist Dawn Combs teaches the reader how to confidently move into this increasingly prevalent and important field. Heal Local teaches a wide range of skills, from the backyard herb garden to twenty basic, safe, widely used herbs, to specific conditions which can be treated at home. This is an excellent introductory book but it will continue to provide insights over the decades. The excellent footnoting makes it a useful book for further research about herbalism and a diversity of related homestead skills.

Matthew Wood MS (Herbal Medicine), Registered Herbalist (AHG)

An excellent reflection on integrating the western medicine model and local medicine communities, empowering the reader to take ownership of their health and collaborate with their physician, incorporating medicines that may be as local as their own backyard.

Cheri Dinsmore, R.N., B.S.N, President, Harmony Farm

Humans have always used the plants growing around them for healing. As Combs wisely points out, the simple act of gathering and using a common weed as a home remedy has profound and far-reaching effects, from enhancing our own self-reliance to making our world a better place for all. And I do mean all from all sorts of people to the plants and other species that also depend upon them. Truly, this book is a practical and accessible doorway to the amazing and delicious world of herbal medicine. Yes, lets add wellness and healing to the rising tide of re-localization!

Betzy Bancroft, RH(AHG), co-director, Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism and advisory board member, United Plant Savers

May this book live in the kitchens of both rural and urban families, and may it show up at farmers markets as a resource and reminder that now is the time for the local food movement and the local medicine community to be connected.

Deb Soule, herbalist and author, How to Move Like a Gardener: Planting and Preparing Medicines from Plants

Books for Wiser Living recommended by Mother Earth News

T ODAY, MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, our society is seeking ways to live more conscientiously. To help bring you the very best inspiration and information about greener, more sustainable lifestyles, Mother Earth News is recommending select books from New Society Publishers. For more than 30 years, Mother Earth News has been North Americas Original Guide to Living Wisely, creating books and magazines for people with a passion for self-reliance and a desire to live in harmony with nature. Across the countryside and in our cities, New Society Publishers and Mother Earth News are leading the way to a wiser, more sustainable world. For more information, please visit MotherEarthNews.com.

Copyright 2015 by Dawn Combs.

All rights reserved.

Cover design by Diane McIntosh.

Top right image (herbs in planter Ess): (image # 44680520) iStock andykazie

Mortar and pestle with Hypericum: (image# 17461887 Sig) iStock small_frog

All others supplied by author. Interior photographs Dawn Combs and Carson Combs unless otherwise indicated. Mortar and pestle chapter illustration MJ Jessen

First printing May 2015.

New Society Publishers acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund (CBF) for our publishing activities.

This book is intended to be educational and informative. It is not intended to serve as a guide. The author and publisher disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk that may be associated with the application of any of the contents of this book.

Paperback ISBN: 978-0-86571-796-1

eISBN: 978-1-55092-589-0

Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of Heal Local should be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below.

To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America)

1-800-567-6772, or order online at www.newsociety.com

Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to:

New Society Publishers

P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada

(250) 247-9737

New Society Publishers mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision. We are committed to doing this not just through education, but through action. The interior pages of our bound books are printed on Forest Stewardship Council-registered acid-free paper that is 100% post-consumer recycled (100% old growth forest-free), processed chlorine-free, and printed with vegetable-based, low-VOC inks, with covers produced using FSC-registered stock. New Society also works to reduce its carbon footprint, and purchases carbon offsets based on an annual audit to ensure a carbon neutral footprint. For further information, or to browse our full list of books and purchase securely, visit our website at: www.newsociety.com

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Combs, Dawn, author

Heal local : 20 essential herbs for do-it-yourself home healthcare / Dawn Combs.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Issued in print and electronic formats.

ISBN 978-0-86571-796-1 (pbk.).ISBN 978-1-55092-589-0 (ebook)

1. HerbsTherapeutic use. I. Title.

Contents

C OMMUNITY DOESNT HAPPEN WITHOUT GOOD FRIENDS. I am lucky to have a lot of them but Id like to especially thank Kent and Lynda Buel who graciously opened their home, gave me an ideal place to write this book and who have always supported me 100%.