Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
(Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series)
by Scott Cunningham
published by Llewellyn
Scott Cunningham, in his time, turned out quite a few books
and references for the modern, 'practical' witch. Though many of the herbs
listed seem arcane- when I bought this book it was the first time I had heard of
herbs like eryngo and life-everlasting- this reference is well done.
The herbs are organized alphabetically, and black and white drawings of the
plant or flower are to the side of each entry, which typically includes the
scientific (Latin) name, health codes (such as G for safe, and a guide is
included in the book for all of the codes), any folk names, its attributed
gender, planet, element, and deities, followed by brief (or sometimes long)
descriptions of ritual and magical uses.
After the listings of herbs, there are lists of categories, under which are
listed what herbs fit that area- such as masculine plants, herbs that correspond
to certain ritual intentions, and elementary rulers. Also included are an index,
a glossary, and a mail order list for those who do not have an herb store nearby
(and it's hard to find something like mandrake in your local grocery store!).
Granted, this book is not the be-all and end-all of herbal studies. I recommend
finding yourself at least three good sources and using them together when using
herbs
