Book excerpt: "For thousands of years wild herbs and flowers formed the basis of natural cosmetics, natural remedies and natural preventives. Gradually these properties have lost their credence beside the magic synthetics of 'modern' medicine. Now, at last, we are beginning to take a new interest in what our grandmothers can teach us, and Jean Palaiseul has written a book which is a mine of information about the folk lore, history and modern application of over 150 herbs and flowers.For example, he tells us the Honeysuckle is rich in salycylic acid - the essential ingredient of aspirin - and an infusion of the flowers is a reliable help in bronchial complaint. Garlic, too, can prove an indispensible shield against winter colds, and the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks believed that it gave extra strength - the Pharaohs insisting that the pyramid builders ate a clove every day." -- Back cover.