Shakers of the 19th century didn't concern themselves with the mere ornamental attributes of the herbs and flowers that surrounded their communities. They found evidence of God's grandeur in usefulness and purpose, so it is not surprising that they were at the forefront of 19th-century herbal medicine.

As the Shakers' expertise grew, and their herb garden expanded into vast farms, Shaker catalogs became the principal herb resource for physicians, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry.

This new edition of Amy Bess Miller's classic work Shaker Herbs is a first-hand account of the Shakers' natural evolution as entrepreneurs and healers, and documents their daily work with more than 300 medicinal herbs. Hardcover.