The Medicine Woman

A beautiful and healing synthesis of memoir and practical herbal knowledge.

This book is a poignant collection of true tales and anecdotes from the career of fourth-generation herbalist Linda Bates, who dedicated her life to a path of plants and healing. Linda had a profound love and an unrivalled knowledge of the power of plant medicine. The Medicine Woman shares her herbal wisdom, remedies, and stories from over forty years of clinical practice in a uniquely warm and witty prose, and will be an essential companion for anyone treading the green path.

Starting with inspiring stories of her life in herbalism and healing, Linda outlines some of the almost miraculous cures she achieved with plant medicine, ranging from working with intensive care patients to brain disease.

The Medicine Woman also explores Linda's spiritual journey and how discovering one’s true vocation is a key to becoming a healer. From Findhorn in Scotland, to Adelaide, Australia her story is fascinating and inspiring, offering poignant and practical insight to both herbalists and lay-people alike.

In the final section, Linda explains the system of herbal medicine she was taught, centred around the use of drop doses of several plant tinctures and flower essences, and also includes several detailed case studies.

The Medicine Woman is an inspiring work which stresses the importance of community centred healing practices in the herbal world, and is an invitation to consider more deeply our relationships with both humans and plants in daily life.