This classic modern-day herbal reference compiles more than 350 years of herbal wisdom. Based on Nicholas Culpeper's The English Physician and Complete Herbal, this book is a modern reworking of Culpeper's 1653 text. Arranged alphabetically, it describes over 250 herbs and spices, and it also provides features on scented herb/medicinal gardens as well as New World herbs not included in Culpeper's original text. Each entry provides a description of the herb and a brief history of its usage. As informative as it is entertaining, this incredibly diverse compendium contains just about everything you'll ever need to know about the properties and provenance of herbs and spices.