Herbs That Heal: (Catholic) Home Remedies to Forage and Grow

In an age when prescription medications often produce side effects worse than the conditions they’re meant to treat, many people are searching for gentler, God-given alternatives. The good news? Some of the most effective remedies on earth are growing right outside your door.

Drawing from a rich Catholic health-care tradition, master herbalist Judson Carroll introduces you to the world of natural healing through the plants God embedded in creation for our well-being. Whether you live on a farm, in a neighborhood, or in an apartment with nothing but morning sun on a windowsill, Carroll shows you exactly how to begin a simple, effective remedy garden of your own.

Alongside Carroll’s expert instruction, Steve Cunningham adds lively real-world stories – including the now-famous claim that you can feed a family of four on ten dollars a day – and demonstrates how herbs can become an easy, affordable, everyday part of your life.

From the earliest centuries of Christianity, herbal medicine was essential to the Church’s mission of mercy. Monks and nuns tended apothecary gardens, built hospitals, cared for the poor, and brought whole nations to Christ through their healing work. This book continues that tradition.

Herbs That Heal features:

• A comprehensive list of essential herbs for common ailments – from colds and flu to cuts, inflammation, and respiratory distress
• A saint biography paired with each herb, highlighting a heavenly companion whose life inspires faith and whose intercession we invoke for healing
• Fascinating stories of remedies used throughout Christian history – including one that helped save a person experiencing a severe asthma attack
• Clear, detailed instructions on identifying, growing, harvesting, and preparing herbs safely and effectively

You will also learn:

• How to grow herbs in any environment, from backyard beds to patio pots to stealth “ninja gardening”
• The one herbal formula every household should have at the ready
• How to build a simple starter apothecary for your kitchen
• Which herbs deserve a permanent place in your cooking and in your medicine cabinet

Catholics need not fear that herbal medicine is “New Age” or spiritually suspect. For centuries, the Church embraced God’s creation with wisdom, discernment, and gratitude, rejecting superstition while preserving the practical knowledge that brought healing to countless souls.

Let this remarkable guide help you cultivate your own remedy garden, reconnect with the healing wisdom of our ancestors, and rediscover the joy of becoming – body and soul – a happier, healthier you.