Book Review: Vintage Remedies by Jessie Hawkins, MH

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The Handbook of Vintage Remedies by Jessie Hawkins, MH, was a superb buy with a bit of my birthday money. Vintage Remedies is a nonfiction book that is broken into a few different sections. Section One: The Herbal Primer is a fascinating read, talking about topics such as Immunity to The Family Herbal Medicine Chest. The second section is about common illnesses, which are broken down alphabetically and each has it's own set of "What Is It?/Prevention/Treatment" to explain simply and efficiently how to take back our own health by use of herbs as infusions, tinctures, or through diet. Section Three: Botanical Apothecary describes all the common plants (herbs, weeds, etc.) alphabetically and what they are generally used for, and where they're from. Section Four : The Natural Family Toolkit has lots of information from a glossary to a set of recipes (see down below).

The history of herbs used as medical remedies is long and complex, but many families know nothing about this topic now. We take our children to the doctor for common colds, and completely overmedicate our families with antibiotics, often causing more harm than a cure.

Mrs. Hawkins has not only created her own school that graduates certified herbalists, she has also given us a number of resources by means of her books, Vintage Remedies, Guide to Real Food, and numerous others.

Ever since reading The China Study last year (already over a year?!) I have been interested more and more in health, nutrition, and natural living. When I heard about this book, and the rave review that went with it, I knew I wanted to buy it. Now I have this book in my library at home, and I have already had the opportunity to pass on the knowledge I've gained from this book.

Some of the most common foods & weeds like oregano, dandelions, and garlic, and very helpful when ingested orally by diet or (for those who don't like them) through oil/tea form. Even common things like inflammation, stress, and cuts & bruises are talked about throughout this book. There is even a 17 page section including many recipes for natural cleaners and skin care! You can also view a few of them here on her website.

From the website, Guide to Real Food:" The work concludes with a guide to over 100 foods, including nutritional and medicinal benefits and recipes to explore. Other features include resources for fitting real foods into any grocery budget, tips for helping children enjoy real foods and a glossary of common food additives. "

This book is completely worth every penny and I know have much knowledge regarding my families health that I can easily cure at home through more natural ways. I can't wait to read her Guide to Real Food, too!