The Herbal Kitchen: 50 Easy-to-Find Herbs and Over 250 Recipes to Bring Lasting Health to You and Your Family

Kami McBride
Conari Press (2010)
ISBN 9781573244213
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (12/10)

 

“Often people serve food combinations without realizing the medicinal value of what they are cooking with. Whether we appreciate it or not, the use of herbs to support optimum digestion is embedded in garnishes, sauces, dressing, and condiments.” (p 15)

I believe this is a very valid statement and because of personal study done on herbs, I concur with Kami McBride.  She further reminds us that often we serve “curry sauce with chicken, garlic with eggs, and mint jelly with lamb.”  These combinations assist our bodies to assimilate and digest much easier.

McBride covers the most common herbs in a concise and user-friendly way.  She gives the common and botanical names, the part that is used, gardening tips, properties, uses and projects.  For example, garlic, a very common herb, is anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antispasmodic, carminative and expectorant.   Garlic is used in most cultures and “in Ayurvedic medicine, garlic is called the slayer of monsters.”  McBride informs us that garlic is the “number one selling herb in Germany and the second most popular herbal supplement in the United States.”  I find this last statement very interesting because I had no idea that garlic was so popular.

Besides pertinent information, McBride gives recipes for medicinal and culinary concoctions.  I decided to try several of them.  One was “Braising Vinegar.” It was difficult for me to let it steep for two weeks but certainly worth the wait.  The thick, spreadable paste is delicious.  I spread it on thick pork chops and let them marinate for several hours.  Oh my, those were the best!

The second recipe I tried was “Alive and Revive Bath.”  The combination of juniper berries, rosemary, calendula and ginger was awesome.  I felt refreshed after a long day’s work.

“The Herbal Kitchen” by Kami McBride is a good book. I liked that she listed all the common herbs and information about each.  The only thing I felt was missing is an index of ailments that each herb is used for; it would have made it easier to pinpoint which herb to use. However, that said, I believe this book is a wonderful addition to the personal library, user-friendly for those just learning about healing with herbs, and certainly a great supplement to a healer’s knowledge base.

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