Ashkenazi herbalism

Rediscovering the Herbal Traditions of Eastern European Jews

The definitive guide to medicinal plant knowledge of Ashkenazi herbal healers, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.

Until now, the herbal traditions of the Ashkenazi people have remained unexplored and shrouded in mystery. Ashkenazi Herbalism rediscovers the forgotten legacy of the Jewish medicinal plant healers who thrived in eastern Europe’s Pale of Settlement, from their beginnings in the Middle Ages through the modern era.

Including the first materia medica of 25 plants and herbs essential to Ashkenazi folk medicine, this essential guide sheds light on the preparations, medicinal profiles, and applications of a rich but previously unknown herbal tradition–one hidden by language barriers, obscured by cultural misunderstandings, and nearly lost to history. Written for new and established practitioners, it offers illustrations, provides information on comparative medicinal practices, and illuminates the important historical and cultural contexts that gave rise to eastern European Jewish herbalism.

Part I introduces a brief history of the Ashkenazim and provides an overview of traditional eastern European medicine. Part II offers descriptions of predominantly Jewish towns in the Pale, their many native plants, and the remedies applied by indigenous healers to treat a range of illnesses. This materia medica names each plant in Yiddish, English, Latin, and other relevant languages.Ashkenazi Herbalism also details a brief history of medicine; the roles of the Ba’alei shem, Feldshers, Opshprekherins, midwives, and brewers; and the seferot.

UNDERPUBLISHED AREA. Since 1971, only three books have been published on Russian or Polish folk and herbal medicine, and these have been academic tomes. All mention of Jewish folk medicine has been wrapped up in these volumes. The time is ripe for a new book specifically dedicated to Eastern European herbal folk medicine, one that does not shy away from mentioning the influence of Ashkenazi Jews.

EXPERTLY RESEARCHED. Written by two research librarians, one of whom is a trained herbalist, this book is thorough, accurate, and easy to parse. It collects data from historical records, first-person interviews, and herbalists currently residing in the Eastern European regions discussed in the book.

INCLUSIVE CONTENT. This book will appeal to healers and herbalists whose personal and familial histories have not been previously discussed in popular herbal literature. It will help create a space in herbal communities for those who have not previously felt comfortable practicing herbalism because they did not share a personal connection.