Ashkenazi Herbalism: Rediscovering the Herbal Traditions of Eastern European Jews - Paperback
$31.95
Sale price
$31.95
Regular price
Skip to product information
Ashkenazi Herbalism: Rediscovering the Herbal Traditions of Eastern European Jews - Paperback
$31.95
Sale price
$31.95
Regular price
Shipping calculated at checkout.
by Deatra Cohen (Author), Adam Siegel (Author)
The definitive guide to the medicinal plant knowledge of Ashkenazi herbal healers--from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
Until now, the herbal traditions of the Ashkenazi people have remained unexplored and shrouded in mystery. Ashkenazi Herbalism rediscovers the forgotten legacy of the Jewish medicinal plant healers who thrived in Eastern Europe's Pale of Settlement, from their beginnings in the Middle Ages through the modern era. Including the first materia medica of 26 plants and herbs essential to Ashkenazi folk medicine, Ashkenazi Herbalism sheds light on the preparations, medicinal profiles, and applications of a rich but previously unknown herbal tradition--one hidden by language barriers, obscured by cultural misunderstandings, and nearly lost to history. Written for new and established practitioners, it offers illustrations, provides information on comparative medicinal practices, and illuminates the important historical and cultural contexts that gave rise to Eastern European Jewish herbalism. Part I introduces a brief history of the Ashkenazim and provides an overview of traditional medicine among Eastern European Jews. Part II offers a comparative overview of healing customs among Jews of the Pale of Settlement, their many native plants, and the remedies applied by local healers to treat a range of illnesses. This materia medica names each plant in Yiddish, English, Latin, and other relevant languages, and the book also details a brief history of medicine; the roles of the ba'alei shem, feldshers, opshprekherins, midwives, and brewers; and the remedy books used by Jewish healers.Author Biography
DEATRA COHEN is a former reference librarian, is a clinical herbalist who trained with the Berkeley (formerly Ohlone) Herbal Center, belongs to a Western Clinical Herbal collective, and is a Master Gardener at the University of California. In her research, Cohen became frustrated with the lack of practical information available to Jews of Ashkenazi descent, and related to Eastern European traditions in general. Ashkenazi Herbalism was written to reconcile this lack, and the first work in any language to document the herbal practices of Ashkenazi Jews.
ADAM SIEGEL is a research librarian at University of California, Davis, and a historian of Central and Eastern Europe, studying issues around cultural contact and plant knowledge in the region. Siegel is a literary translator who has translated works from Russian, Czech, German, Croatian, Serbian, French, Italian, Swedish, and Norwegian, and was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Literary Translation Fellowship in 2014. Siegel conducted the non-English research for this work, reviewing literature and scholarship in Yiddish, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish, and Hebrew.
Number of Pages: 352
Dimensions: 1 x 8.9 x 6 IN
Illustrated: Yes
Publication Date: April 06, 2021
Shipping & Returns
Books may ship separately from other items.
If you need help with your order after it's been placed please reach out to info@thelovewitch.nyc
All sales are final unless damaged in transit. If item is defective or damaged in shipping, please save all packaging including mailing boxes and send photos of the packaging and item(s) to info@thelovewitch.nyc.
Complete your practice
Pair This Book With Magical Tools & Guidance
A book can teach you the language of magic. The right tools and support can help you put that knowledge into practice.
Spiritual Oils
Anoint candles, petitions, charms, and ritual tools with intention-focused magical oils.
Shop OilsBeeswax Spell Candles
Choose candle colors and shapes that align with your intention, spellwork, and magical timing.
Shop CandlesSpiritual Bath Crystals
Prepare your energy before ritual work with cleansing, attraction, protection, and road-opening baths.
Shop BathsMagical Guidance
Book a one-on-one session to get help applying what you are learning to your own magical practice.
Book a SessionPersonalized magical support
Want Help Using What You’re Learning?
If this book is inspiring you but you are not sure how to apply it to your own situation, a one-on-one magical education session can help. Bring your questions about spellwork, tarot, correspondences, candle magic, love magic, spiritual protection, ritual timing, or building a practice that actually fits your life.
Design a personal spell
Choose the right correspondences
Build your magical practice
Book a One-on-One Session
Shop More Books
Shop Spell Kits
