Hygieia : a woman's herbal / by Jeannine Parvati ; drawings by Tamara Slayton Glenn ; calligraphy by Quill Cleaver.

Now considered a classic, Hygieia: A Woman's Herbal combines the ancient practice of herbalism with women's holistic health. It's an encyclopedic work covering how specific herbs can help with birth control, menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, and much more. Personal stories, dreams, and poems enliven the text. The author is an outspoken activist on the need for women to be in charge of their own health, to use natural remedies, and to be less reliant on the western medical establishment. The book is beautifully and artistically designed with black and white drawings and photos, hand-lettered pages, and original artwork. And it's easy to use when it comes to finding a particular herbal remedy for a health issue. For example, it recommends 96 herbs to help with pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation. Some of the herbs include Bayberry (for ovaries and womb troubles) to Milkwort (to help increase the milk supply of nursing mothers) to Wild Cherry (to help relieve pain during childbirth). This book grew out of the need to be healthy and re-own the powers of naturally healing ourselves. In no way do we suggest that this book can replace a relationship that already exists between yourself and a healer/doctor. Oftentimes we do need help from someone else--and sometimes, we are startled into running to the doctor's office for a cure when the situation could best be handled at home. And nowadays, treatments given to women by medical men sometimes prove to be iatrogenic, i.e., causes of even more serious diseases. This work is inspired not from any personal, negative reaction with western medicine but rather from my positive relationship with Self as Healer and herbs as the main tool in this process.