African American Herbalism: A Practical Guide to Healing Plants and Folk Traditions

Front Cover
Simon and Schuster, Oct 4, 2022 - Health & Fitness - 200 pages
Discover the roots of modern-day plant medicine, herbal remedies, holistic rituals, natural recipes, and more that were created by African American herbal healers throughout history.

This first-of-its-kind apothecary book takes you through the origins of herbal practices rooted in African American tradition, from Ancient Egypt and the African tropics to the Caribbean and the United States. Inside you’ll find the stories of herbal healers like Emma Dupree and Henrietta Jeffries, who made modern American herbalism what it is today.

After rediscovering the forgotten legacies of these healers, African American Herbalism dives into the important contributions they made to the world of herbalism, including:

  • Rituals for sacred bathing and skin care
  • Herbal tinctures, potions, and medicine
  • Recipes for healing meals and soul food
  • And more!

You’ll also find a comprehensive herbal guide to the most commonly used herbs, such as aloe, lavender, sage, sassafras, and more, alongside gorgeous botanical illustrations. African American Herbalism is the perfect holistic guide to wellness book for anyone wanting to explore the medicinal and healing properties of herbs.
 

Contents

INTRODUCTION
1
The Impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade on Herbalism
14
Mary Stepp Burnette Hayden
27
Black Walnut
44
Sassafras
59
WORKING THE ROOTS
86
Choosing the Right Oil for Your Infusion
92
Tea Time Folk Remedies and How to Create Tea Blends
100
Grits
125
CEREMONIES
138
Crafting Personal Ceremonies to Heal
144
Candle Magic
146
LIVING LEGACIES
156
Wilnise Francois
162
Olatokunboh Ola Obasi
168
Ayodele Ngozi
177

Creating the Sacred Space
107
Soul Food with a Little Vegan Twist
115
Ancestor Questionnaire
184
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About the author (2022)

With a journey that began when she was just a little girl mixing herbs, clays, and muds on her grandparents’ farm, Lucretia VanDyke has had a lifelong connection to plants. She's been in the wellness industry for over 20 years, working as a holistic esthetician and educator. Lucretia has worked and trained with many internationally known spa and skin care companies.

Her quest for knowledge and interest in the traditional approach to wellness has led her to training extensively in Southeast Asia, Thailand, and Bali. Lucretia focuses on integrating indigenous healing rituals, plant spirit medicine, holistic approaches to food/herbal medicine, ancestor reverence, and meditation into your modern daily practice.

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