Book Review: Grow Your Own Physic Garden

Grow Your Own Physic Garden: Use the Power of Medicinal Plants Grounded in Science
by Elaine Perry, Valerie Laws and Nicolette Perry
Grow Your Own Physic Garden is designed to inspire readers to take an alternative approach to their health, one which is rooted in the scientific study of medicinal plants. By nurturing our own gardens the writers, who include a professor of neuroscience and a pharmacognosist (a person who studies medicines derived from plants) encourage us to grow the elements of our own remedies and put them to use.

The book covers a huge amount of ground. It takes plants individually and details their special features, the folklore surrounding them, the scientific evidence for their inclusion and their medicinal uses.

In addition the text discusses the history of physic gardens, how to choose plants for your climate, plus tips on design, layout and labelling. In terms of plant care there are also extensive notes on pests, pruning, sourcing seeds, foraging, harvesting and staying safe while doing all of the above. And, of course, there are detailed descriptions of how to utilise the power of the plants in your garden.

This book is incredibly comprehensive, covering everything you need to know to create and, more importantly, make medicinal use of, your own physic garden.

Published by DPG Publishing ISBN number 978 1 9163504 0 3

www.dilstonphysicgarden.com