Women Healers of the World

Through this book, herbalist and author Holly Bellebuono aims to educate readers about sixteen plant-based world healing traditions and thirty women who have practiced them.

The recent trend toward holistic living has heightened our fascination with herbal remedies and less conventional therapies such as acupuncture, yoga, aromatherapy, and ethnobotany. Now, this intimate and inspiring book opens up the world of herbal medicine to those interested in learning about the history of these techniques and approaches.

Women Healers of the World shares with readers an extraordinary variety of healing plants from around the world that have inspired today’s “alternative” medicine, as well as the stories, challenges, and triumphs of remarkable women healers from past and present—all of whom promote the use of medicinal herbs. Holly Bellebuono explores the geography, history, and medical heritage of twenty countries where these traditions originated.

With thorough knowledge of the uses and effects of these healing traditions, readers can then move on to featured recipes for herbal remedies they can make in their home kitchens. Following Bellebuono’s instructions, readers will produce remedies such as soothing lip balms, wound pastes, face masks, arthritis oils, relaxing bath salts, and revitalizing teas.

Holly Bellebuono, MPA, CH, CPC, has taught natural health, medicinal herbs, and the history of herbalism, folk medicine, and botany for eighteen years. She is president of Vineyard Herbs Teas & Apothecary LLC on Martha’s Vineyard and is the author of The Essential Herbal for Natural Health. She’s the director of the Heritage & Healing Herbal Studies Program, is a member of United Plant Savers and Northeast Herbal Association, and is associated with the North Carolina Herb Association. She resides in West Tisbury, Massachusetts.