The Complete Language of Herbs is a comprehensive and definitive dictionary/reference presenting the history, symbolic meaning, and visual depiction of 500 herbs and spices from around the world in one volume.
The Complete Language of Herbs is a comprehensive encyclopedia providing the meanings, powers, facts, and folklore for over 500 herbs and spices. Along with a beautiful visual depiction, each entry provides the herb or spice's scientific and common names, characteristics, and historic meanings and powers from mythology, medieval legends, folklore, and flower poetry.
Did you know that allspice can be added to herbal mixtures to attract money or luck? Or that sprinkling arrowroot at the doors of your home will keep guests' negative energy from entering? Reaching the height of popularity during the Victorian era, floriographies-dictionaries of symbolic flower meanings-were an amusing pastime and art to subtly communicate unspoken emotions.
To complement the success of The Complete Language of Flowers, author S. Theresa Dietz has scoured historic sources and compiled an equally beautiful compendium in The Complete Language of Herbs, revealing the secrets and powers of hundreds of common and forgotten herbs and spices from around the world. Together with stunning full-color illustrations and two indexes, one for searching by common herb and spice name and the other organized by meaning, this beautiful reference is a must-have for gardeners, chefs, party planners, and food enthusiasts.
Elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated, the Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia series offers comprehensive, display-worthy references on a range of intriguing topics, including birthday astrology, dream interpretation, astrological self-care practices, techniques for harnessing the power of dreams, and the stories behind signs and symbols.
A fascinating and beautifully illustrated guide
In The Complete Language of Herbs: A Definitive and Illustrated History, S. Theresa Dietz lists in dictionary format over 500 examples from a wide variety of herbal plants with medicinal, culinary and other cultural uses over history.
While the narrow definition of a herb limits the class to small seed-bearing perennials, Dietz employs a much wider and more inclusive range, extending from commonly-known flowering plants to trees, bulbs, grains, and several fruits and vegetables. I was particularly chuffed to see that the Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) merited a listing!
While there are references to propagation and practical applications, the emphasis is very much on the symbolic meanings and the cultural/spiritual history of each of the listed plants. While I'm not a big user of homemade herbal concoctions or wearer of talismans, I found this information absolutely fascinating. Each entry is also illustrated with an appealing painted image, also the work of author / artist S. Theresa Dietz. I'm presuming that the beautiful cover art, which I'll admit is what first drew me to this title, is also the author's work.
The Complete Language of Herbs: A Definitive and Illustrated History is helpfully rounded out by a list of all the culinary herbs referenced in the book, and two indexes - the first listing plants by their common names, the second by their meanings and powers. Indexing by botanical name would perhaps also be welcome, as common names vary so widely around the world.
The Complete Language of Herbs: A Definitive and Illustrated History is a comprehensive and engrossing guide for those interested in botany and the cultural history of plants. It's a worthy companion to S. Theresa Dietz's earlier work, The Complete Language of Flowers: A Definitive and Illustrated History.
Sarah, 28/07/2022
