Éditions Rustica
The Book of Simples - The virtues of medicinal plants
In the Middle Ages, medicinal plants, called "simples," were used to relieve a wide variety of ailments. These precious health allies have lost none of their effectiveness and continue today to be part of many natural remedies.
This book invites you to discover or rediscover nearly 50 plants with multiple benefits. You will learn how to grow, harvest, and easily use them to prepare herbal teas, infusions, drinks, and wines with remarkable properties.
Dive into the fascinating history of these simples that have endured through the centuries and reconnect with ancestral knowledge. Illustrated with beautiful botanical plates and elegant illuminations, this book is a true ode to tradition and nature.
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Information & features
- Author: Erika Laïs
- Publication date: April 2016
- Size: 31cm x 23cm
- Weight: 1339g
- ISBN: 978‑2‑81530‑876‑2
- Version:
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In the Middle Ages, medicinal plants, commonly called "simples," held a central place in healing practices. Used by herbalists, apothecaries, and even monks in their enclosed gardens, these plants were recognized for their exceptional virtues. They helped relieve a wide variety of ailments, whether physical pain, digestive disorders, or wounds. Although centuries have passed, these precious allies have lost none of their effectiveness. Even today, they remain an essential resource for making remedies that are entirely natural and respectful of the body's balance.
This book, both practical and inspiring, invites you to dive into the fascinating world of nearly 50 plants with multiple benefits. You will discover how to grow them in your garden or on a balcony, harvest them at the right time, and prepare them to fully harness their virtues. With clear and accessible explanations, learn to make herbal teas, infusions, elixirs, drinks, and even wines with remarkable properties, while reconnecting with gestures full of wisdom and tradition.
But this book is not limited to practice. It transports you into the captivating history of "simples," which have crossed ages and cultures, from monastic cloisters to modern homes. Enriched with beautiful botanical plates and elegant illuminations, it celebrates both the aesthetics and the richness of ancient knowledge. More than just a guide, this work is a true immersion into an ancestral art, an invitation to reconnect with nature and preserve a precious heritage, blending science, tradition, and poetry.
Erika Laïs is an author and translator passionate about plants and gardening. Born in the Black Forest, Germany, she was introduced to the virtues of medicinal herbs by her mother at a very young age, which sparked her early interest in botany.
At the age of six, she created her first herbarium, demonstrating her curiosity and commitment to the plant world. After studying phytotherapy and herbalism in Paris, Erika Laïs managed an herbal shop in the French capital until 1995. Afterwards, she dedicated herself to organic farming on a plot in Picardy and shared her knowledge through various books.
As an anthropologist, she also undertook the creation of the ethnographic museum of market gardening, reflecting her interest in the interactions between humans and plants.
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— The Carnets d'Aeternum , practices and history of Magic.
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