Edible and medicinal plants/herbs

[LadyGriffin]

I have another question for the Rabble.

While reading the Outlander series of books, I have been fascinated by the wealth of knowledge the heroine, Claire, has in natural healing. This has been a secret interest of mine for many years.
My Beloved has taught Wilderness Survival and on our walks points out edible plants and healing plants everywhere we go. I would like to build on that and actually DO something.

My question is does anyone have any recommendations as to books or other reference materials for recognizing, harvesting and using these plants?
I guess I would like info on both edible and medicinal plants/herbs.

I have looked through Amazon.com and a few web sites but the overwhelming collection of books on both subjects is a bit daunting. I bow to the experience and knowledge of this group and hope you can guide me to the best sources.


Julie

[turpin]

Ewell Gibbons, Stalking the Wild Apsaragus. an oldie but goodie.

[Riverkilt]

No clue on books...can tell you that growing up in the forests of Northwestern Oregon as a boy I knew how to find licorice root. While it tasted like licorice and was fun to find I learned quickly that its medicinal purpose is as a laxative and it is very effective and rapid.

Mesquite beans down here in the desert have a similar rapid laxative effect.

Don't recall the name of it but think there's a book on Traditional Navajo medicines. You my find more luck on such titles if associated with Native American tribes.

Ron
Who used to grow his own aloe...lots and lots of it.

[Spc. Scott]

I never did get to read all three but my grandmother had a set of Foxfire books that were quite a wealth of knowledge about all things survival related. I'm guessing they might be out of print by now...but it could be worth a look around.

Apart from that you might try checking in the "new age" section of a book store. The last time I was wandering around in a bookstore I seem to remember seeing some there as well.
Best of luck!

[The Wizard of BC]

Ladygriffin,

If I can pass on a lesson learned from a very wise teacher I once had.

I have always wanted to know about plants and their edible and medicinal uses but I don't seem to have the "Green Stuff" gene. But I took classes and read the books.
Until my teacher said, "There are those who seem to always be looking at plants. They seem to instinctively know the names. Even from a very young age they have understand on some level something that the rest will never have a feel for. If you are one of those people who are like that you will do well in this class. If not, you may get a passing grade because you memorized the book but you will never really 'get it'. Don't feel upset, I will never understand what all that stuff under the hood of a car does. Some people having that feel for plants is like another having a feel for machinery. It just is."

[Jerry]

Check out this site for books. My wife and I purchase books from them many times a year. They are good people to deal with and often have out of print books that you won't find other places.

http://www.powells.com/s3?kw=edible+...section=&class
also here
http://www.powells.com/s?kw=edible+plants&x=0&y=0

[Casey_in_Carolina]

One thought, make sure whatever book or books you do end up purchasing has specific information to the area in which you live. I've received 'medicinal herb' books as gifts in the past, and while they're very detailed and interesting, will be practically useless to me unless I move out West to the Rockies


Casey

[duchessofnc]

Exactly. That's what I was going to suggest. You should choose a book that will do you good because I would be utterly useless if I went camping anywhere but the Great Smokey Mountains.

[Bugbear]

Be careful too. It is a lot of work sorting through the useless and wrong information out there. Your Beloved should be a very good sorce of information.
I suggest putting together a large reference collection and not going by a single source or book. Also be very aware that there are allergies and so on that make a harmless plant to most peoble into a dangerous plant to others. It also helps to save an html copy of every thing you read on the web in your research quest; photo copies if it is on paper.

It's true that one region's information on plants usually isn't very useful in another, but that shouldn't stop you from looking the information over... to get a feel for things and also to look for sorces of information. Ehh, keep it all organized and useable too.