Hygieia: A Woman's Herbal

When HYGIEIA-A WOMAN'S HERBAL by Jeannine Parvati was first published in July 1978, it filled a void. Much of what she had to say needed to be said. If you're interested in historical artifacts (how dumb we were), this book is a good read. I believe much of Parvati's text will interest most contemporary women-at least women who have difficult questions and want to know more about the female body. Two decades ago, many of us fit that description as most medical research was conducted with male subjects. Most of what affected the female body was not discussed in public or even in books. In spite of their notoriety, Master's and Johnson didn't cover this stuff and I doubt Dr. Ruth did either. Imagine your deepest secrets about your body, those things you might not be able to discuss with your best girl friend without difficulty. Well, Parvati is the girlfriend you never had. Much of Parvati's material is geared to younger woman-probably because she was younger when she wrote the book and authors tend to write about their experience, but she does have some good stuff on menopause. Given the outpouring of books on the topic of herbal healing in recent years, you might wonder what this book covers not found in other herbal volumes, and the answer is plenty. Parvati's book is about herb uses and the reproductive organs of the female body. Parvati organizes the herbs by topics, covering subjects such as aphrodisiacs to whet the sexual appetite, as well as herbs to improve fertility, assist with birth control, boost lactation, ease menstruation, et cetera. She has lots of graphic illustrations and pictures (naked bodies) and discusses herbal applications you probably won't find discussed anywhere else.Parvati is Native American with a few other good qualities thrown in such as six children conceived and delivered a la natural. This is a book for liberated women (and men) or those who want to be.

I was lucky to find this book when I was a college student, just beginning to understand and appreciate the power of herbs. It is a book that has stuck with me as I've grown older and now one that I'm re-reading more thoroughly now that I'm expecting my first child. For any woman interested in getting touch with her own health, and for tapping into the aged wisdom of generations of women before us, read this book and adopt some herbal traditions. It's a shame this wisdom isn't an integral part of our lives.

The author says, "This book grew out of our need to be healthy and re-own the powers of naturally healing ourselves". Contains three indices, a glossary of mythological, feminist and gynecological terms, and blank pages in the back for notetaking. There are also herbal lists for emenogogues, infertility, temporary and permanant sterility, anaphrodesiacs, aphrodesiacs, reproductive organs and your cycle, pregnancy, childbirth and lactation. here's a short synopsis.... chapter #1 - "on the rag" and other menstrual rituals (contains pattern for making your own menstral pads) #2 - fertility #3 - herbal birth control #4 - anaphrodesiacs #5 - aphrodesiacs #6 - herbs for the mind #7 - self health - what's the matter, coming off the pill #8 - balancers and toners (herbs for the cycle and reproductive organs) #9 - pregnancy, childbirth, lactation (plus placenta recipes, celestial influences) #10 - menopause: the change This is a very comprehensive, useful, and entertaining book. I like to just open it up at random and read a chapter. Or, when I want specific advise, I can just look in the index and turn to whatever pages fit. I find I get so engrossed, though, that I just can't stop! I especially like the letters from women and the dream interpretations"

I am thrilled to be able to write a review of Hygieia: A Woman's Herbal, so I can tell everyone how much this book means to me. I had seen this book mentioned in the resources section of a number of other herbal books and I decided to order it. When it arrived I read it from cover to cover in 2 days, because I could not put it down. I am now rereading Hygieia at a much more leisurely pace so I can contemplate and interpret the wisdom to be found in each page. I feel that this book should be required reading for women everywhere. From menstruation to menopause and all the cycles in between, the information that is contained within Hygieia is invaluable. I love it!

When I got pregnant a couple of years ago, from the moment of conception until miscarriage, I was beset with horrendous morning sickness. I couldn't get out of bed those first few days except on my hands and knees. I was often too dizzy to even stand up. I didn't know if I would make it to the bathroom before vomiting. As a result, I began keeping a plastic bucket in my bedroom. I also decided it was time to figure out how to squash my queasiness so I could get on with the important task of getting to work on time everyday. I was living with my sister then, and she had a copy of Jeannine Parvati's Hygieia on her shelves. On day three, I made a beeline for it. Inside this beautiful off-size book were hand lettered pages, original artwork, and personal testimonies of herbal efficacy in promoting women's health at every stage of the life cycle. What a relief it was to find this information so close as hand, especially after my early dissatisfaction with my M.D.'s suggestions. Parvati has particular interests in menstruation, contraception, fertility, sterility, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause; she is the mother of five children at my last count. Parvati urges women to be in touch with their own inner cycles and to trust our relationship with the moon for guidance. Parvati includes myths, stories, and recipes. Reading this book was like remembering knowledge I used to have but couldn't quite dredge into consciousness. Of course, ginger for nausea. Of course, mint. As a result I began to keep a thermos full of herbal tea next to the bed so I cold drink it first thing in the morning. Parvati takes the reader well beyond these common herbs into the realm of herbal abortions. But, as Parvati wisely advises, "Herbal abortions are not necessarily any easier than a technological one-in fact sometimes they are more difficult. . . . But let us not use these herbs like pills; use herbs always as tools to understanding ourselves. Meditating on the mythology of the herbal emmenagogue while you use the plant will bring you closer to the spirit of healing (p.19)." It is precisely this spirit of healing that makes Parvati's book so indispensable to me. While this book might be a bit difficult for beginners to grasp, the effort is well worth it. Hygieia is one of the most important guides to women's health that I own.