Grow Your Own Drugs: Easy Recipes for Natural Remedies and Beauty Fixes »

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 as the youngest medal winner and again in 2008), which were designed to show that there is more to plants than "looking pretty."

With easy recipes using ingredients grown in your window box or the local market, Ethnobotanist James Wong shows you how easy-and cheap-it is to make simple creams, salves, teas, lozenges, and much more. James uses his top-class academic knowledge to reveal how many plants contain the same active ingredients as over-the counter drugs, and offers recipes to relieve a whole range of common conditions, including:

• Digestive disorders: bad breath, heartburn and indigestion, digestion, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, flatulence, diarrhea
• Skin complaints: athlete's foot, eczema, insect bites and stings, acne, sunburn, age spots, fungal conditions, burn scars, poor foot circulation, chapped hands and sores, insect deterrent
• Kids' remedies: vitamin booster, head lice, eczema, ear wax build-up, colic
• Aches and pains: water retention, varicose veins, aching muscles, arthritis
• Female-specific problems: hot flashes and night sweats, morning and travel sickness, PMS, cystitis
• Under the weather: colds and flu, coughs and sore throats, cholesterol reducer, hangover, cold sores, immune system booster, mouth ulcers, restorative
• Mind: memory enhancer, insomnia, migraine prevention, anxiety, memory booster
• Face and body: hair strengthener, body scrub, bath and massage oil, deodorant, face mask, hand care, bath bomb, exfoliator, face toner/hair rinse, sore eyes, tired/red eyes, glycerine soap, plague remover and gum soother, chapped lips

With over 150 full-color photos, this book outlines all of the tools, oils, waxes, and powders necessary to get started, and also directs you to suppliers for easy shopping. You'll also find a 60 page reference of the top 100 plants you should consider growing in order to make herbal remedies out of your own garden. So unleash the power of plants and soothe the symptoms of everyday ailments the natural way.