Traditional herbalists or wise women were not only good botanists or pharmacologists; they were also shamanic practitioners and keepers of occult knowledge about the powerful properties of plants. Traveling back to the healing arts of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, "The Herbal Lore of Wise Women" "and Wortcunners "takes readers deep into this world, through the leechcraft of heathen society and witches' herb bundles to the cloister gardens of the Middle Ages. It also examines herbal medicine today in the traditional Chinese apothecary, the Indian ayurvedic system, homeopathy, and Native American medicine.
Balancing the mystical with the practical, author Wolf Storl explains how to become an herbalist, from collecting material to distilling and administering medicines. He includes authoritative advice on herb gardening, as well as a holistic inventory of plants used for purposes both benign and malign, from herbs for cooking, healing, beauty, and body care to psychedelic plants, witches' salves for opening alternative realities, and poisonous herbs that can induce madness or cause death. Storl also describes traditional "women's plants" and their uses: dyeing cloth, spinning and weaving, or whipping up love potions. "The Herbal Lore of Wise Women and Wortcunners "is written for professional and amateur herbalists as well as gardeners, urban homesteaders, and plantspeople interested in these rich ancient traditions.

In "Healing Lyme Disease Naturally, "anthropologist Wolf D. Storl shares his own success in overcoming a difficult, sometimes deadly disease that is reaching epidemic proportions. When he was diagnosed, Dr. Storl refused standard treatments because of antibiotic intolerance. Instead, he researched healing systems of various cultures including Traditional Chinese Medicine, American Indian healing practices, homeopathy, and traditional Western herbal lore and discovered the teasel root. Teasel, a flowering plant that grows throughout Europe and Asia, tonifies the liver and kidneys, promotes blood circulation, and strengthens the bones and tendons. The plant has been documented to help cure chronic conditions marked by arthritis, sore, stiff muscles, and eventual incapacitation--all symptoms associated with Lyme disease. Dr. Storl's approach consists of flushing out toxins and inhibiting bacteria by using teasel root as tincture, powder, or tea (available for purchase online and in natural foods stores); stimulating the immune system and detoxifying the body by exposing it to extreme heat (sweat lodges and Japanese baths); and dietary and naturopathic measures, including fresh natural food, exercise, and sufficient sleep. Written in an encouraging, personal tone but based in science and clinical studies, "Healing Lyme Disease" "Naturally "offers hope in combating a condition that has stubbornly resisted conventional medical treatment.

From building soil fertility to harvesting and storage, this book is a complete guide to biodynamic gardening, perfect for beginners and masters alike, but is much more than a basic manual. The author introduces us to the historical and cultural aspects of horticulture and its relevance today to restoring our relationship to nature.