Description

Publisher: Watkins Publishing (April 16, 2019)The charismatic Seed Sistas distill over 20 years of clinical and teaching experience into an easy-to-use comprehensive system of herbal medicine. This book empowers readers to take charge of their own wellbeing by reconnecting them with their local plants, and with the land, the elements and the seasons.”A unique mix of knowledge and wisdom, respect and irreverence” – Bruce ParryThis book has been written for anyone who has heard the whispers of the wild and has been stirred to know more, for those with a political conscience and for lovers of the outdoors. Whether you are new to the ways of herbs or already a practising herbalist, it explains how you can take your physical and mental health into your own hands using the plants that grow around you.Sensory Herbalism is a unique system of health devised by the Seed Sistas over 20 years of practice. It combines traditional herbal knowledge with an understanding of how the elements (water, fire, air, earth and spirit) and the ever-changing seasons interact with the human body. Their approach blends science, medicine, creativity, ritual, magic and fun into practical, easy-to-use tools that guide readers in developing their own relationship with plants. Illustrated with 140 artworks, photographs and diagrams, the book offers a revolutionary understanding of how to get to know and use your local medicinal plants. Understand plants better than ever before using the five tools of Sensory Herbalism: observation through the senses, intuition, interpretation, characterization and the poetic creation of plant dreams. Embark on a guided journey through the year, deepening your knowledge of each season’s featured plants and enhancing your wellbeing with herbal medicines, nutritious recipes and healing rituals.Review”A fabulous new herb book! Not only fun, sassy, and colorful, The Sensory Herbal Handbook contains a wealth of information and offers a deeply profound and personal approach to herbalism. One can’t help loving the ‘herb sisters’, Fiona and Karen, their wild spirits and wonderfully unique approach to herbalism, as they guide us deeply, lovingly, into a close and personal relationship with plants. Poetry, art, science, medicine, wisdom, spirit: one gets a healthy dose of it all as we wind our way through the seasons and a deeply sensible and sensory approach to the magical world of plants. A herbal classic.”- Rosemary Gladstar, herbalist and author“This wild and expressive book encourages us to discover and adventure into the world of plant medicine, not only through our minds, but also through our intuitive responses and our heart connections. It is as big and expansive as the wonderful Seed Sistas are themselves. I love this book, and I love these wild and beautiful women, who stir us to care for our selves, each other, and our precious Earth.”- Glennie Kindred, author of Earth Wisdom, A Hedgerow Cookbook, The Sacred Treeand many other books. “The Seed Sistas have created an inspiring and important project in the form of an authentic movement of community herbalism at its best, and this beautiful book reflects this perfectly. Anyone who wants to begin or deepen a journey of exploration of seasonal and indigenous plants will love this book.”- Pip Waller, herbalist, plant medicine healer and author of Holistic Anatomy, The Health & Beauty Botanical Handbook and Deeply Holistic “This book represents a fascinating way to look at herbs and herbal medicine. Do dive in!”- Henriette Kress, herbalist and author of Practical Herbs 1 and 2 ‘When I met the Seed SistAs I was just developing an interest in herbal medicine and had been seeking out courses throughout the country to develop my knowledge. After spending just a few hours with Karen and Fiona in their herbal medicine workshop I was captivated by their passion, knowledge and hands-on delivery. I was intrigued (and just a little scared) by their eccentricity and confidence, and I am now 2 years into the Sensory practitioner course.I know it is a total cliché, but I whole-heartedly mean it when I say the course and my experiences with the Seed SistAs has changed my life in so many amazing ways. I barely recognise the person I was two years ago. The way Karen and Fiona approach their teaching is perfect to deliver the material and take the students on a personal journey of healing and discovery. They provide a supportive and nurturing environment for growth, learning, boundary-pushing, creativity, convention-challenging and personal exploration. I am not only developing a deep knowledge of herbal medicine, body anatomy and physiology, but also about political activism, the importance of community, spirituality, astrology, cycles of the moon and how critical it is that we regain our connection to the natural world. I was blinkered by a society that advocates conventional thinking and mainstream learning-techniques, and pushes medications to cover the symptoms of a disease states. I have changed the way I think about my health and learnt that healing does not come in a pill from the doctor but comes from looking within to the root of the dis-ease and treating that with natures medicine, herbs, plants, love, affirmation, body work, meditation and patience. The Seed SistAs are the antithesis to modern medicine.’- Anneliese Lambeth-Mansell, studentAbout the AuthorThe Seed Sistas, Fiona Heckels and Karen Lawton, are medically trained herbalists, activists and modern plant folklorists. With artist Belle Benfield, they are on a mission to connect people with their local plants and to promote empowerment, autonomy, freedom and diversity in health care.