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James Wong
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Grow Your Own Drugs: Fantastically Easy Recipes for Natural Remedies and Beauty Treats Hardcover – 5 Mar. 2009

by James Wong (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 639 ratings
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Whether you're struggling with insomnia, the kids have eczema, or your partner is feeling under the weather, this book could have the answer.

With easy recipes ethnobotanist James Wong shows how to make simple creams, salves, teas and much, much more from the stuff growing in your window box, the local garden centre or in the hedgerows. Using the flowers, fruit, roots, trees, vegetables and herbs that are all around us James provides preparations to help relieve a whole range of common conditions, including acne, anxiety, cold sores and general aches and pains - plus great ideas for beauty treats such as bath bombs and shampoos.

Inspired by his grandmother in Malaysia who taught him about the health-giving properties of plants, James uses his top class academic knowledge to show how easy - and cheap - it is to make creams, lotions, lozenges and more which can help relieve the symptoms of a variety of common complaints. He reveals how many plants contain the same active ingredients as over-the-counter drugs and chooses his Top 100 plants to grow or buy, complete with ideas for a whole range of uses. So unleash the power of plants and soothe the symptoms of everyday ailments the natural way.

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  1. ISBN-10
    0007307136
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0007307135
  3. Edition
    First Edition
  4. Publisher
    Collins
  5. Publication date
    5 Mar. 2009
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    19.5 x 2.2 x 23.7 cm
  8. Print length
    224 pages
  9. See all details
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Product description

About the Author

James Wong grew up in Malaysia and Singapore. He trained at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew and gained an MSc in Ethnobotany from the University of Kent, graduating with distinction. His research has taken him to highland Ecuador, as well as to China and Java. He now lectures at the University of Kent and has also co-designed and built two RHS medal-winning gardens (in 2004 and 2008), which were designed to show that there is more to plants than ‘looking pretty’.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Collins; First Edition (5 Mar. 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0007307136
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0007307135
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 19.5 x 2.2 x 23.7 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 639 ratings

About the author

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James Wong

James Wong

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
639 global ratings

Top reviews from United Kingdom

rubberducky
5.0 out of 5 stars Great concept
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 April 2009
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This is a really interesting book that I am sure will encourage people to try natural remedies for themselves. It had that effect on me. Previously I have bought herbal teas from shops but this has given me the confidence to try making them myself. I am looking forward to getting all the ingredients I need to whip up the creams, lotions, tinctures, etc. It has inspired me to try some of these native wildflowers in my garden and I went straight to the online seed catalogues.
The book is very well presented in an easy to read format. The pictures are beautiful, although I can see that some people might get irritated by the James Wong eye candy snaps; didn't bother me though! The recipes are well set out and very easy to follow.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in natural remedies or gardening.
7 people found this helpful
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S. Baldwin
5.0 out of 5 stars Grow Your Own Drugs
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 February 2010
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A very useful book for me.
I have already made three things from it, and have a whole list of more to try!
Unlike most cooking books, where if you are lucky you can find only a couple of things that interest you, this book literally has a whole range of things, from foot remedies, to headache cures, and everything else in between! There is even a coldsore lip salve!
There is also a useful section on growing your own ingredients, and it is quite comprehensive for the less popular types of plants, like ginger, which you normally have to buy.
I will be dipping in to this book many, many times in the future.
2 people found this helpful
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Mr. G. Collins Mrs Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars Herbal lore to help you over regulation threats!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 July 2009
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With the threatened restrictions on herbal remedies, and the proposed regulation of herbal medicine looming over us all, it is good to find a book to help you heal yourself with herbs! This author is a proper plant scientist who covers plant healing in a clear, easy to follow way. He encourages you to grow and use herbs to cook with, use as cosmetics and deal with your health issues.

It is so refreshing to find a good introductory book on the subject of herbalism! I gave this to my mother (85 years old) who has always used natural medicine and she was pleased to find something which she can use to help her grow and make her own herbal helpers. Like many of us, she has been very worried that once the drug companies have finally won and the regulators have taken away access to remedies, she won't be able to help herself!

Do buy the book, do make use of the information it contains. Then, please write to your MP and fight against the proposals to shut the door on free and open access to herbs as medicines!!
3 people found this helpful
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Harvey
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 September 2023
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Good read
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MoonDaisy
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 April 2009
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I am really pleased with this book - it follows all the stuff from the brilliant TV series. Loads of bold pictures that actually help show you what you are doing. Brilliant ideas for me to have a go at and loads of amazing recepies! Only tiny slight niggle - might have been useful to have a list of seasonal availability for getting the ingrediants fresh. Although it does say that dried can be used, my preference would be for fresh and it would be a little easier to know exactly when they are available.
Totally would recommend this book and hope there will be another very soon - even my kids love it and look forward to trying out all the goodies inside!
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 September 2023
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It arrived before the due date.
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Sáss Alæssí
3.0 out of 5 stars My neighbour loves it
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 April 2013
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I bought this looking for remedies to help me with pain, sadly I just got the usual hints at help so found it no use to me, however, my neighbour who loves growing his garden each year has taken it to heart and he absolutely loves it. I'm so glad i's not gone to waste and is being massively enjoyed by my neighbour and his friends who've actually ordered their own copies of it.
One thing, I didn't expect it to be hardback, nor as thick as it is. It's a huge amount of information with remedies and suggestions for most ailments.
If unlike me you're a green fingered alien who loves the garden vibe, you need yo buy this.
5 people found this helpful
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The Includer
5.0 out of 5 stars Grow Your Own Drugs
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 April 2009
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This book is excellent for anyone who wants to make their own herbal remedies. The recipes are easy to follow and there are clear explanations of the science behind it in the background sections.
It's in an attractive format with plenty of photographs. I tried the Kiwi ands Papaya face mask and it left my skin really smooth!

Wong is balanced in approach; he doesn't make claims where clinical trials haven't been carried out and always advises when medical opinion should be sought.

The weblinks in the resources section are really useful.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in herbal remedies, organic products or gardening. Quite a lot of the lotions are cheap to make as the ingredients are commonly found or grow in most gardens. They would make lovely presents for people if you want to give something really thoughtful.

Happy remedying!
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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M. Morden
5.0 out of 5 stars A+++
Reviewed in Canada on 9 October 2013
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The book arrived quickly & in excellent condition, would definitely recommend!!! So many fantastic & easy to follow ideas, very impressed with the product.
One person found this helpful
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Mery Rose
5.0 out of 5 stars Utile
Reviewed in Italy on 2 November 2014
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Ho scoperto questo giovane autore da una trasmissione televisiva vista per caso , tanti consigli utili per chi vuole provare a a fare da se tanti rimedi cosmetici e qualche tisana utili a risolvere piccoli problemi.
Soprattutto mi è piaciuto l'entusiasmo che trasmette .
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LM
4.0 out of 5 stars Grow your own drugs.
Reviewed in France on 30 January 2014
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Excellent book with lots of handy tips and a reference guide to natural plants foods & other products which can be used for all manner of health & beauty issues. This book will help cut down trips to the the Dr most ingredients are easily found either in your garden, countryside, park, Supermarket, health-food shop or florist.
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JOeyS
5.0 out of 5 stars Back to the roots - jahrhundertealtes Wissen nutzen
Reviewed in Germany on 6 April 2013
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Ich habe mir die Bücher von James Wong bestellt, da ich von seiner BBC Serie "Grow your own Drugs" begeistert bin. Neben der Verwendung bereits bekannter Kräuter und Heilpflanzen wie Salbei oder Ingwer bei Erkältung etc. gibt er einen breiten Einblick was und vor allem wie einfach Naturkosmetik oder Heilmittel schnell selbst hergestellt werden können. Das Tolle daran ist, man weiß was drin ist. Ich kann seine Bücher nur jedem empfehlen.
2 people found this helpful
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traina
5.0 out of 5 stars Bellissime ricette
Reviewed in Italy on 7 October 2019
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Bellissime ricette
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