Overview

Stories are spells. Healers have long recognised the need to travel to psychic realms, from heaven to Hesperides, to effect cures. Ancient medicinal manuscripts pair myth and magical incantation with instruction on how to dig up roots, make salves and concoct tinctures. Herba Mythica draws on this tradition and is a handbook for story-lovers and herbalists alike. Acclaimed storytellers from around the world choose plants that reflect their heritage or specialism, and notes on plant origins, symbolism and healing properties complement each tale. Mythology suggests that every bush, every flower is a deity who mirrors the healing action of the plant: Hecate is the hypnotic Poppy, Osiris the oracular Laurel and Tara the regenerative Lotus. And in folk tales, there are Willow fathers, Hawthorn mothers and brides who marry trees. Throughout, Sherry Robinson's characterful drawings capture the light and shade of each plant, reminding us of their power to kill or cure. AUTHOR: Xanthe Gresham-Knight tours internationally and has been Storyteller in Residence for The Chelsea Physic Garden, Harvard University, Psychologies magazine, Hastings Storytelling Festival, Stoke and Staffordshire Libraries and have received numerous commissions from The British Museum and The Smithsonian. She has performed at major UK Literature Festivals including Hay and Cheltenham and has created 8 performance art shows for adults on different Goddesses for venues including The Barbican, National and Soho Theatres. 30 colour, 150 b/w illustrations

Full Product Details

Author:   Xanthe Gresham-Knight ,  Sherry Robinson
Publisher:   The History Press Ltd
Imprint:   The History Press Ltd
Edition:   New edition
ISBN:  

9781837052509

ISBN 10:   1837052506
Publication Date:   07 May 2026
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

Title Copyright Contents Introduction A Note on the Text Foreword by Michael Holland Foreword by Lisa Schneidau A Story Explaining Why the Names of Plants in this Book are Capitalised Acanthus mollis (Acanthus): Flower of Rebirth, Greece Achillea millefolium (Yarrow): Macha, Ireland Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony): Dian Cécht – The Well of Healing, Ireland Alnus glutinosa (Alder): Mis, Ireland Anemone coronaria (Anemone): Aphrodite and Adonis, Greece Artemisia vulgaris (Mugwort): The Dreaming Plant, Norse Ho Hsien Ku Becomes an Immortal, China Bellis perennis (Daisy): Pearl, Middle English Betula pendula (Silver Birch): Birch Mother, Britain/Northern Europe Camellia sinensis (Black Tea): Tea, Japan Cannabis sativa (Hemp): The Origin of Kīf, Middle East Castanea sativa (Sweet Chestnut): The Man Who Planted Chestnut Trees, Cantabria, Spain Colchicum autumnale (Crocus): Medea, Greece Commiphora myrrha (Myrrh): The Soul’s Scent, Greece Crataegus spp. (Hawthorn): Mother of the Maypole, UK Cytisus scoparius (Scotch Broom): The Broom Hill, England/Scotland Dictamnus albus (White Dittany): A Samodiva Doesn’t Keep House, Bulgaria Euphrasia officianalis (Eyebright): The Healing Eye of Horus, Egypt Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet): Blodeuwedd, Queen of the Meadows, Wales Fraxinus excelsior (Ash): A Walk with the Ash Tree, UK Helianthus annuus (Sunflower): The Sunflower Towelling Wrap, UK/France Clytie and the Sun, Greece Hylotelephium telephium (Stonecrop): Trust-Me and Trust-Me-Not, Italy Laurus nobilis (Laurel): The Wadjet Eye of Healing, Egypt Lilium regale (Lily): Mother of Angels Madhuca longifolia (Mahua): Mahua and the Wandering Penis, Santhal, India Malus domestica (Apple): Avalon, the Isle of Apples, UK Medusa and the Golden Apples, Greece Mandragora autumnalis (Mandrake): Snakes and Mandrakes, Egypt Morus alba (White Mulberry): Mulberry and the Sacred Tanbur, Kurdistan Myosotis spp. (Forget-Me-Not): Stream and the Blue Flower, Sufi Nelumbo nucifera (Sacred Lotus): Tara and the Lotus, Tibet Neurolaena lobata (Jackass Bitters): The Pumpkin Seed, Guyana Nymphaea caerulea (Blue Water Lily): The Blue Lily Makes a New World, Egypt Hathor’s Golden Lotus, Egypt Olea europaea (Olive Tree): The Olive Tree, a Blessed Tree, Morocco/France The Eyes of Serapis, Greece/Egypt Opuntia ficus-indica (Sabra Cactus): Fart Roman Thab and the Golden Pomegranate Seeds, Palestine Papaver rhoeas (Red Poppy): Hekate Poppy, Greece Phoenix dactylifera (Date Palm): My Grandfather was a Palm Tree, Iran Pinus pinea (Stone Pine): The Magna Mater and the Pine Tree, Italy Primula vulgaris (Primrose): Carys of Nant Carfan, Wales Prunella vulgaris (Self-Heal): It’s all in the Name, China Prunus armeniaca (Apricot): A Bee is Always Behind the Flower, Kurdistan Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn): The Man and the Blackthorn Stick, Ireland Quercus robur (Common Oak): The Magical Flower, Cantabria Diana and the Golden Seed, Greece Rosa spp. (Rose): The Rose, America/Romania Rose Kitchen Magic: A Ritual for Self-Love, Italy Rubus chamaemorus (Cloudberry): Cloudberry, Finland Ruta graveolens (Rue): The Herb for the Opening and Closing of Doors, Brazil Salix spp. (Willow): The Willow Flute, Romania Sambucus nigra (Elder): The Tree of Freja, Norse Silene dioica (Red Campion): The Red Flower of Silenus, Greece Silene latifolia (White Campion): Snake Flowers, Wales Tabernanthe iboga (Iboga): Tiger’s Whisker, Africa Taraxacum officinale (Common Dandelion): Brigit’s Favourite Flower, Ireland Thymus vulgaris (Common Thyme): The Massage Oil, India Tilia spp. (Linden): Sister Trees, Denmark Tracheophyta spp. (Fern): The Golden Seed of the Fern, Europe Ulex europaeus (Common Gorse): When the Gorse is Out of Bloom, Kissing’s out of Fashion, Ireland Urtica dioica (Nettle): The Nettle Pharisee: A Philosophy of Nettle, Europe Vitis vinifera (Vine): Dionysus and the Wild Vine, Greece Zea Mays (Maize): Corn Mother, First Nations, America Glossary of Healing Plants References Bibliography Thanks

Reviews

‘In this compilation of leafy tales and plant magic, Xanthe has drawn on storytellers’ experience and heritage from across the globe … she has brought green enchantment to every page.’ -- Lisa Schneidau

Author Information

XANTHE GRESHAM-KNIGHT tours internationally and has been Storyteller in Residence for The Chelsea Physic Garden, Harvard University, Psychologies magazine, Hastings Storytelling Festival, Stoke and Staffordshire Libraries and have received numerous commissions from The British Museum and The Smithsonian. She has performed at major UK Literature Festivals including Hay and Cheltenham and has created 8 performance art shows for adults on different Goddesses for venues including The Barbican, National and Soho Theatres.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions