Patricia has accomplished something truly remarkable with this book. She has crafted a beautiful text that speaks to all plant lovers. Clinicians, wildcrafters, botanists, and wildflower enthusiasts will repeatedly be drawn back to this gem. The book’s true value lies in the decades of stories, experiences, and deep connections with plants that Patricia has cultivated over her lifetime. With its visually stunning presentation, this book will become a timeless, cherished reference.
– Kat Maier, RH(AHG, author of Energetic Herbalism: A Guide to Sacred Plant Traditions Integrating Elements of Vitalism, Ayurveda, and Chinese Medicine
This is a priceless guide that makes Southern plant alchemy accessible to everyone. Howell’s book is healing and exhilarating because it contains vital knowledge we all need as we face significant earth changes and political unrest. Though the sheer beauty of this book will captivate you, it overflows with wisdom that may one day save your life.
– Janisse Ray, environmental activist and author of Ecology of a Cracker Childhood
Nearly 20 years ago, Patricia Kyritsi Howell published Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians, an essential resource for herbalists and foragers. Blending scientific and folk knowledge, it has been celebrated for its comprehensive coverage of native medicinal plants. Howell’s new edition includes vibrant color photographs and updated information, making it an invaluable reference for those interested in Southern Appalachian medicinal plants.
– T. J. Smith, editor of The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Cookery and Foxfire Story: Oral Tradition in Southern Appalachia
In a world where thousands of plants are used as medicine, this book’s value lies in its focused scope and deep regional expertise. Patricia has chosen to write deeply about what she knows best: the rich medicinal flora of the Southern Appalachians. This dedication to place and personal experience creates an increasingly rare authenticity in herbal literature.
The intimate understanding of each plant’s habitat, growth patterns, and medicinal applications reflects years of careful observation and practical experience—a documentation of a living relationship with the land and its healing plants. The second edition offers refined insights, updated information, and stunning photography while maintaining the accessible, experience-based approach that made the first edition valuable.
This book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the medicinal plants of the Southern Appalachians, whether as a beginner or an experienced herbalist. It’s the kind of work that grows with you, revealing new layers of insight with each reading and season of practical application.
– Thomas Easley, Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine
This pharmacopeia of relatively common medicinal plants in the Southern Appalachians answers everything you ever wondered about them. Combining the legacies of Cherokee healers with herbals from Europe and Asia, Kyritsi Howell details the historical and current importance of 44 species. Each account is beautifully photographed and rich in ethnobotanical content from many cultures. After reading Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians, I’m reminded why the stories of leaves, roots, and seeds reveal some of the most consequential results of natural biochemical selection.
– Paul Manos, PhD, Professor of Biology, Duke University
Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians is already a beloved classic, but this new edition brings the plants to life with vibrant, full-color photographs that leap off the pages. Patricia skillfully integrates her expertise as a clinical herbalist into the rich fabric of our cherished Appalachian traditions with her deep understanding of the region’s native flora. As I peruse these pages, I feel a deep connection to the winding medicinal plant trail, a part of our Appalachian heritage!
– Mimi Prunella Hernandez, author of National Geographic Herbal
Nothing replaces the knowledge gained from a lifetime among the plants of Southern Appalachia, except perhaps the joy of quickly accessing this treasure in Patricia’s book. This revised edition provides practical and inspiring information for students, academics, and anyone wanting to learn about the plants around them. It’s a book everyone who enjoys learning about herbal medicine should have!
– Bevin Clare, Professor and Program Director MS in Clinical Herbal Medicine, Maryland University of Integrative Health
Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Patricia Kyritsi Howell has crafted an indispensable resource for beginner and advanced herbalists, native plant enthusiasts, and historians. This book features a stunning layout and captivating photos in a clear, concise, and accessible style. It provides practical guidance on medicinal uses, preparation methods, harvesting techniques, identification tips, and easy-to-follow recipes for 44 native plants.
– Christa Sinadinos, author of The Essential Guide to Western Botanical Medicine and Director, Northwest School for Botanical Studies
The Southeastern United States is one of the world’s richest temperate regions of plant diversity. From this wide array of plants, shrubs, and trees arose the incredible plant-based materia medica of many indigenous nations, that Thomsonian, Eclectic, and Physiomedical physicians used. These plants have successfully healed people and animals for millennia. While a few of these herbs are well known, like American Ginseng, Black Cohosh, and Goldenseal, many more are underappreciated or have fallen into obscurity.
In the 2nd edition of Patricia Kyritsi Howell’s book, she brings many of these plants back into our view, sharing traditional uses, detailed information on preparations and dosage, and most importantly, ecologically sound harvesting practices. This aspect of the book not only ensures the sustainability of these plants but also resonates with growing awareness of the need to protect them, making this book an essential guide to the medicinal plants of the Southern forests and fields.
– David Winston, RH(AHG), primary author of Adaptogens, Herbs for Strength, Stamina and Stress Relief
I often refer to my copy of the first edition of this book, as its dog-eared corners and sticky yellow notes clearly show. Therefore, I was excited to learn that a second edition is on the way. If you live in the Southern Appalachians, use herbs from the region, or want to learn how to identify, find, harvest, and utilize native botanicals, this accessible guide is for you. Patricia is a highly experienced and respected herbalist who shares her extensive knowledge in this easy-to-read, full-color second edition, tailored to your needs and interests.
– Jeanine Davis, PhD., author of Growing and Marketing Ginseng, Goldenseal, and Other Woodland Medicinals