'We now live in a world where pharmaceutical companies control the way in which we perceive medicinal remedies. It used to be that we relied on herbs for health but that has now been taken away from us by EU regulations. These two books by James Wong begin to help re-balance our choices by describing how to let herbs back into our lives instead of being forced into chemicals. Both are extremely helpful books full of advice on what to grow, how to prepare the herbs and what ailments can be treated. Well worth taking!'
Best wishes to everyone, Di and Chris

Review
Did you know that chillies can ease aching muscles, that lemon balm can soothe cold sores, or that rosemary can boost your memory? In a treasure trove of fascinating health-boosting information and recipes, accompanied by beautiful photography, ethnobotanist James Wong shows how to make simple creams, lotions, lozenges, salves, soups, teas and more, from the stuff growing in your window box, the local garden centre or in the hedgerows. Using the flowers, fruit, roots, trees, vegetables and herbs that are all around us, James provides preparations to help relieve a wide range of common conditions, including acne, anxiety, cold sores and general aches and pains - plus great ideas for beauty treats such as bath bombs and shampoos. He reveals how many plants contain the same active ingredients as over-the-counter medicines, and chooses his top 100 plants to grow or buy, complete with lots more ideas for their use. So unleash the power of plants and soothe the symptoms of everyday ailments the natural way.
224pp, 192mm x 238mm, illus. in colour, hardback, 2009

Extract
Lavender Bath Bomb
Ingredients
5-6 fresh lavender sprigs
1 tbsp citric acid powder
3 tbsp bicarbonate of soda
10 drops lavender essential oil
1 tsp plant-based oil (vegetable or almond oil)

1. Heat the oven to 180?C. Once it has reached that temperature, turn it off and place the lavender, hanging upside down, in the oven to dry for about 2 hours. When dry, remove the flowers from the stalks and set aside.

2. For the next stage you need to make sure that the bowl you are using, and your hands, are completely dry - otherwise the bomb will start fizzing. In a glass bowl, mix the citric acid and bicarbonate of soda together. Add a few drops of lavender oil and 1 tsp dried lavender flowers, along with the vegetable of almond oil. Mix everything together with a metal spoon.

3. Place the biscuit cutter on top of a sheet of baking paper. Put the mixture into the biscuit cutter and press down with the back of the spoon. The oil now needs to evaporate so the bomb can set as a dry, hard block - leave for a minimum of 30 minutes and preferably overnight.

Storage: Store in tin foil to keep out moisture.

Variation
If you are making this with kids you can add 1/2 tsp of edible glitter into the mix to create an even more dramatic effect.

From Grow Your Own Drugs, ?2009 by James Wong, published by HarperCollins.

Extract
Restorative: Nettle Soup
This is a good spring soup: the nettles (Urtica dioica) are packed with nourishing vitamins, minerals and chlorophyll, and help to build up natural immunity and protect from infections after a long winter.

Ingredients
25g butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
400g potatoes, peeled and chopped
450g freshly picked nettle tops (wear gloves to collect)
1 litre vegetable stock
150ml double cream
freshly grated nutmeg
salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. In a large pan, melt the butter and gently cook the onion and garlic for 10 minutes. Add the potatoes and nettles and fry for 2 minutes. Add the stock and cover, then bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Leave to cool.

2. Puree the indredients with a handheld blender, then stir in the cream and season with a little nutmeg, salt and pepper. Reheat and seve at once.

Variation: Nettle Pesto
This is another simple, tasty way to get the benefits of Urtica dioica. The young spring tips are the most tender and tastiest. Just cook a big handful of the young nettle tips (about 150g) in boiling water for about 2 minutes. Drain, then drop into a blender along with some freshly grated Parmesan, 2 chopped garlic cloves, a handful of pine nuts and about 80ml olive oil. Whiz until smooth, then spoon over freshly cooked pasta and mix in well.

From Grow Your Own Drugs, ?2009 by James Wong, published by Harpercollins.