The Natural Gardens of Sebastian Kneipp

Just once in a while one comes across a really bad book and this is one of them. I bought this book based on the fact it is purported to be based on the writings by Abbe Kneipp however what the good Abbe wrote and what the interpolations of the author is not clear at all. There is no index. The photographs are at best average, in some cases out of focus and awful. The photographs are botanically incorrect in some instances eg Meadowsweet, which is a photo of a Spiraea. I am a professional plantsperson and this haitus is extremely disturbing in that people might try to use these poor photographs to identify plants to treat themselves. With this in mind I suggest the book should be removed from publication as being factually incorrect and potentially dangerous. In most cases the commentary to the photographs does not describe the medicinal virtues for which the plant was used or indeed to justify it's inclusion in the book. In the instances where medicinal virtues are included the description is brief and inconsequential with no advice as to how to best obtain those virtues with regard to collecting or processing for example drying, tinctures or other preparations which I was hoping to read about as I'm sure the Abbe would have documented. The only reason it has one star is for the slightly interesting section at the back, all 10 pages of it. Having said that there is nothing in this book that isn't available elsewhere. Even the Dorling Kindersley book is better.So in all this is one of the worst books I have ever bought, it is greatly oversold and certainly almost useless for the purpose of disseminating knowledge of herbal cures and utterly useless for practical purposes. It is books of this amateurish sort that have condemned herbalism to the realms of quackery. What a total waste of almost ten pounds and not even worth sending back. If you are interested in European herbal cures please trust me, don't bother with this book, instead buy Maria Treben's books particularly God's pharmacy. And if you really do want this book even after reading this, I have one for sale!

What can we say from the author and from the editor of this concoction? Sebastian Kneipp deservers better respect for his legacy, than stuff like this printed in his name!

Great text.

WUNDERBAR WUNDERFUL. I LUV IT !