Episode 307 - Plants That Heal with Susan Ottaviano

Excited to welcome back Susan Ottaviano to chat about her newest book, Plants That Heal.

Plants That Heal by Susan Ottaviano and Chris Young is an illustrated guide that beautifully intertwines practical plant wisdom with soulful reflections, offering readers accessible methods to nurture their bodies, calm their minds, and reconnect with nature. This collaboration follows their prior success with The Green Witch’s Guide to Magical Plants and Flowers (Skyhorse, 2023). Plants That Heal presents simple, approachable recipes ranging from teas, tonics, and elixirs to body care, home remedies, and seasonal dishes.

Eight core themes—healing the mind, body, home, soul, heart, skin, hair, sleep, and life equips readers with tools to integrate wellness practices into their daily routines. It features easy-to-follow instructions for crafting herbal infusions, soothing bath blends, and delectable dishes like lavender-infused chocolates, watermelon and mint granita, and hibiscus-poached pears. Every recipe is vegan-friendly, designed to enhance well-being, relaxation, and joy.

What sets this book apart is its stunning illustrations and wellness insights, making it both art and guide. Plants That Heal is a keepsake meant for display by your bed, in your kitchen, or on your altar. You'll find:

- Intentional Entertaining: Host gatherings from summer garden parties to intimate rituals, incorporating healing foods and plant-based elements such as garden goddess dips, refreshing strawberry cocktails, and vegan cakes.

- World of Beauty: Create your own tincture and oils for rejuvenation, including Inner Peace Oil, Cleopatra’s Seducing Oil, and Josephine’s Violet Serenity Bath Salts, among others.

- Eat Healthy to Heal: Enjoy salads and seasonal recipes that nourish the body, featuring delights like Blood Orange Tonic, Cherry and Oatmeal Energy Balls, and Chilled Carrot and Ginger Soup.

- Real Life Plant-Based Living: Find simple, approachable ways to weave plant wisdom into daily routines for improved health and balance, with ideas like Lavender and Sage Cleansing Sticks, Pomander Balls, and Orange and Eucalyptus Cleaning Spray.

Find the book and Susan:

Book: https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/9781510785380/plants-that-heal/

Website: 2greenwitches.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2greenwitches

Susan has been a groundbreaking food stylist and recipe developer for over twenty years. Her work has been featured in magazines, cookbooks, and advertisements from Bon Appétit to Grey Goose to Uber Eats.

Best known as the lead singer for the pop band Book of Love, Susan and her bandmates recorded five albums for Warner Brothers Records/Sire Records. Book of Love was a fixture on the Billboard Dance Club charts throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with multiple hits in the top ten. The group reunited in 2016 for a sold-out world tour to mark their 30th Anniversary.

Her evocative artwork, which explores food, femininity, and sexuality, has been featured in numerous gallery shows, including a Spring 2023 group show titled “Eat It” at Collar Works Arts Organization.

She earned a BFA in Painting from The Philadelphia College of Art and has been awarded post-graduate certificates from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park and the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She lives in New York’s East Village.