Seven Plants to Save the World : The Rise of the Weeds and an End to the Diseases of Civilization

A path-defining exploration of herbs which, using only seven key plants, provides a revolutionary guide on how you can support the planet and all humankind.

Born from nearly a decade of working solely and closely with these seven plants, Karl Elliot-Gough’s groundbreaking book presents a new paradigm for understanding our relationship with plants, encouraging all who work with herbs and nature to embark on a journey of sustainability, prosperity and health.

With a blend of traditional and scientific research, Elliot-Gough uses these seven key plants – nettle, dandelion, yarrow, plantain, cannabis, hawthorn and blackberry – in a pioneering analysis of the ways in which the bounty of nature can transform not only the health of the individual, but also act as a guide in developing a more sustainable, respectful and abundant world. 

Seven Plants to Save the World is a bold testimony to the limitless opportunities that the plants can offer humanity, outlining the surprising possibility of systemic change through which the world can become harmonious and sustainable with everyone thriving, as opposed to hardly surviving.

The book begins with seven monographs of the individual plants which explore their folklore and traditional usage, the scientific evidence, a range of industrial applications, along with information on foraging, harvesting, recipes and more. The second half of the book presents an innovative compendium of solutions, in which plants are instrumental in sustaining and developing global systems for the benefit of the planet and humanity. These systems include healthcare, economics, industry, agriculture and culture. Elliot-Gough unpicks how plants can guide us in developing a more sustainable future within these systems, benefiting the planet as a whole.

Seven Plants to Save the World provides readers with a path to feel emboldened and optimistic in a world which often seeks to suppress systemic change, as well as offering real and practical guidance in implementing such change in our own lives and communities, for the good of the planet and every living thing.