Colonial Americans who needed to relieve a bellyache, concoct an insect repellent, brew a batch of hair dye, or mix a soothing nerve tonic knew just where to turn: Johann Christoph Sauer'sCompendius Herbal.The most popular concordance of herbal remedies of the time, it remains today one of the most magnificent collections of botanical wisdom available anywhere. Originally written in German by a Philadelphian apothecary and printer (who along with his father were rivals of Ben Franklin), the secrets of this long-lost classic have now been recovered through the loving translation of internationally known food historian William Woys Weaver. Adding descriptions of the 266 plants listed, 50 period woodcuts, and cultural information that place Sauer's advice in its historical context, Weaver has made this treasury of herbal lore accessible to today's readers while preserving the unique mixture of quaint advice, common sense, ancient wisdom, and practical gardening knowledge that made the original souseful and endearing. From a time where cooking and gardening were more closely entwined with medicine and spirituality,Sauer's Herbal Curesoffers a fascinating mix of history, recipes, home cures, botanical advice -- and even a bit of witchcraft -- that will delight gardeners, herbalists, cooks, and readers interested in holistic medicine.