Mary Thibodeau

Reviewed by Carla Trueheart for Readers' Favorite

Herbal First Aid Hacks by Mary Thibodeau is a short but information-packed book that includes herbal remedies for ailments, conditions, pain, food poisoning, and more. Included in the book are herbal remedies for chest congestion, coughs and sore throats, acid reflux, tooth pain, digestive issues, and even anxiety and exhaustion. Many of these herbal remedies are ingredients that you can find easily, such as peppermint, cinnamon, or certain flowers and berries, which is useful. Also discussed are the benefits of ginger, which aids in digestion and is helpful with issues such as acid reflux.

My favorite part of Herbal First Aid Hacks was the section on flowers and flower essence. Author Mary Thibodeau explains different kinds of flowers—Impatiens, Star of Bethlehem, Rock Rose and others—and what each flower relieves in the body. Put all the flowers together for a formula that alleviates stress! I also enjoyed reading how to make a bronchial tea for calming a cough. Another helpful tip includes garlic, which is of course readily available in most kitchens. I knew garlic was beneficial and served multiple health purposes, but the book goes into more and explains about using dried garlic as a supplement. There is also a great tip about how to mask the taste of garlic if you do not enjoy it.

As mentioned in the author’s Introduction, the reader should check with a doctor before using these herbal medications. Outside of that, I would recommend the book to anyone looking for herbal remedies and anyone who likes to study the healing properties of certain foods, herbs, and flowers.… (meer)