This beautifully presented book shows how easy it is to grow and use a wide range of safe, effective medicinal herbs at home. Discover how to treat everyday ailments with home-made tinctures and syrups and how to use food as medicine with delicious, seasonal herb-based soups, juices and salads that will calm and heal. There is an A-Z directory of over 100 herbs with tips on how to source them - whether by growing your own, foraging in the wild or buying from a herbalist. Step-by-step techniques and clear photographic illustrations demonstrate how to grow, care for and use herbs, whether you want to make a smoothie to boost immunity or a herbal balm to soothe aching muscles. You'll find recipes for everything from creams, bath soaks, face masks, soaps and loads of remedies, to a range of delicious healing foods and herbal teas.

352pp, 178mm x 238mm, illus in colour, hardback, 2011

Rose petal syrup

(Relaxes. Relieves period pain)

Makes approximately 500ml (1 pint)

This fragrant syrup can be served as a sweetener for herbal infusions, poured over pancakes and ice cream, or as a cordial diluted with water. The dark-coloured, perfumed rose petals of the damask rose (Rosa x damascena) or French rose (Rosa gallica) are best for this recipe. Keeping the temperature low is the key to making a successful syrup.

Ingredients

• 225g (8oz) granulated sugar
• juice of 1 lemon, strained
• juice of 1 orange, strained
• 100g (3.5oz) dried rose petals or 10 fresh rose heads

Method

1. Dissolve the sugar in 300ml (10fl oz) of water in a small saucepan over a low heat, and do not allow it to boil, as this will make the mixture cloudy. Add the strained lemon and orange juices, turn the heat down and simmer over a low heat for 5 minutes.
2. Over the next 15 minutes, add the rose petals, a tablespoon at a time, and stir thoroughly before adding more. Remove from the heat, allow to cool, and strain. Pour into a sterilized glass bottle or jar, seal, and label. Keep refrigerated and use within 6 weeks.

Note: to sterilize a glass jar or bottle, wash it and its lid in hot water, drain upside down, and put into a cool over (140°C/275°F) for 15 minutes.

From Neal's Yard Remedies: Cook, Brew and Blend Your Own Herbs, ©2011 published by Dorling Kindersley.

New legislation has just been introduced which may make it more difficult to buy some herbal remedies in the shops, so it makes sense to reclaim our right to enjoy the benefits of Nature's Pharmacy in the most fundamental way - by learning to grow and harvest our own!

To find out more about the new legislation on herbal and other alternative remedies, and how you can make a difference, visit these websites:

http://www.consumersforhealthchoice.com/

http://www.anh-europe.org/

http://www.ocphm.org.uk/