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Della Medicina: The Tradition of Italian-American Folk Healing

Description:

A guide to folk herbal healing and reconnecting with ancestral traditions

• Details the healing techniques and folk wisdom the author learned from her Italian grandparents and from healers in Southern Italy, including plant preparation methods, medicines, rituals, recipes, kitchen magic, and protective magic

• Provides a materia medica of plants important in this tradition, sharing each plant’s history, mythology, and both practical and magical uses

• Reveals how working with traditional plant medicines can help us connect to and revitalize our own ancestral traditions for deep inner healing

Building upon the in-depth folk wisdom she learned from her immigrant grandparents as well as from local healers in Southern Italy, second-generation Italian-American and experienced herbalist Lisa Fazio shares herbal traditions and practices from the Italian diaspora and reveals how working with traditional plant medicines can help us connect to ancestral traditions for deep inner healing.

She explains how the herbal healing practices of her Italian ancestors were simply a part of everyday life, what they called Benedicaria, which literally means “the Blessing Way” but is more often translated as “the things we do.” Examining how plants are not only food and medicine but a vital yet invisible part of traditional communities, she details the techniques of Benedicaria, folk Catholicism, and the animistic traditions of her ancestors, including plant dialects, preparation methods, rituals, and recipes, as well as provides a materia medica. Discussing the relationship between Italian folk medicine and Italian witchcraft, she explores kitchen magic and protective magic, including practices for warding off the adverse effects of the evil eye.

Sharing valuable and nearly forgotten teachings from the Southern Italian herbal tradition, the author also shows how her journey to reconnect with her family’s healing practices offers guidance for anyone seeking to reconnect with their ancestors.
Read more

Editorial Reviews

Review

“My immense enthusiasm for the release of Lisa Fazio’s Della Medicina is twofold. It is the perfect choice as a required text for my university course on Italian folk medicine and magic as it will simultaneously educate and enchant my students. Secondly, as the great-granddaughter of an Italian healer, I have long lived with many of the traditions Fazio explores. Lisa Fazio’s expertise as an herbalist and her meticulous research have greatly expanded my own understanding of the remedies passed down through the generations in my family. This book is a must-read for Italian Americans as well as readers from any cultural diaspora seeking to deepen their knowledge of folk healing practices.” ― Gina M. Miele, Ph.D., professor specializing in Italian folktales, folklore, and traditions at Montc

“I have been longing for this magical book my whole life. Lisa Fazio is one of our generation’s greatest teachers of Southern Italian folk medicine. Della Medicina is for everyone drawn to plants and their healing powers and anyone in search of ancestral connection. For those of us from Italy’s many diasporas, this is a pathway home, an invitation to remember.” ― Jennifer Guglielmo, author of Living the Revolution: Italian Women’s Resistance and Radicalism

“This book warms my Southern Italian soul! I love it! What a fascinating apothecary of history, mystical folk knowledge, tools, and inspiration for anyone wanting to draw on one of the most amazing herbalism traditions on the planet to nourish their lives and heal our world. Brava, Lisa Fazio, for honoring the ancestors in a way that shows the universality of their expansive wisdom.” ― Marguerite Mary Rigoglioso, Ph.D., author of The Secret Life of Mother Mary and The Mystery Traditio

“This book dives deeply into how we of the Italian diaspora can reclaim our roots and restore our connection to the earth, which is our true nature. Lisa Fazio weaves the daily with the divine by offering rituals, ceremonies, and healing practices with reverence and wisdom.” ― Lisa Masé, nutritionist and author of The Culinary Pharmacy

“Della Medicina takes us into the deep ancestral energy of magical medicines that have long pervaded the Mediterranean regions, where folk medicine, divination, holy wells, sacred sites, and ancient rituals combined with potent healing plants to bring sweet relief and healing to the peoples of that region. These teachings are also connected to the early burgeoning practices of modern medicine and how our connection to the energetics of plants can still be used to bring about true health and healing.” ― Brigitte Mars, author of Natural Remedies for Mental and Emotional Health and Addiction-Free Natural

“Lisa Fazio’s Della Medicina is a deep exploration of ancestral wisdom through the lens of Italian folk medicine. Drawing from her rich heritage and herbal knowledge, she beautifully illustrates how plants can serve as sacred portals to our ancestral roots. Her holistic approach reminds us that folk medicine is for everyone, transcending cultural, political, and economic boundaries while fostering deep connections with both human and nonhuman communities. This book is a treasure for anyone who loves plants and seeks harmony with the world around them. Lisa’s insights and the accessible plants featured make this a practical and profound guide to inner healing through traditional plant medicine.” ― Jenn Campus, anthropologist, animist, and author of A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule

“Lisa Fazio’s book represents the best kind of ancestor work—connection with our beloved ancient kin, the plants; connection through cultural frameworks that are instructions from the lands of our ancestors; and connection that does not try to simplify what is deeply complex.” ― Susan Raffo, author of Liberated to the Bone

“Lisa Fazio’s Della Medicina not only gives readers access to specific spells, prayers, and cures, but painstakingly reconstructs the traditional ecological knowledge and worldview behind Italian vernacular healing practices. Written accessibly for a popular audience, it nonetheless reflects careful scholarship and a thorough understanding of larger forces behind this complex system of knowledge.” ― Sabina Magliocco, Ph.D., professor of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver

About the Author

Lisa Fazio a clinical herbalist, practitioner of plant spirit medicine and flower essence therapy, and the founder of The Root Circle, a plant medicine educational center. Trained in traditional Western herbalism, Western astrology, and the folk ways of her Italian immigrant family, she has apprenticed with herbalists Kate Gilday, Matthew Wood, and Pam Montgomery. She has an academic background in psychology and ethnobotany and has also done master’s level studies in chemistry, botany, and environmental history. She lives in Newport, New York.

Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!

B.K. · December 19, 2024

I’ve been waiting for this book since I took classes with Lisa Fazio in 2020-2021! I soaked up as much as I could from class but hoped Lisa would write a book I could use as a reference forever. Lisa is awesome at both/and. She can be light hearted and serious. Her book covers information about physical properties of plants and folk magic. She shares information from generations of ancestors both of family and affinity (herb teachers). This book is wonderful for beginners and experienced herbalists.There are a lot of herbal books out there, but this author is authentic and knowledgeable.

5.0 out of 5 stars Such an important, well researched, devoted text

L.M.B. · December 1, 2024

This book is a gift to people of Italian American /Sicilian-American heritage, to people who are interested in folk magic and nature and history. It is a tool and doorway for reclamation and learning. Lisa is a wonderful writer, teacher, and magic maker -- clear from her many offerings and now this text. From the origins to the actual practices and treatments, along with a breakdown of modern interpretations (which can be confusing for people), she offers clarity and inspiration.

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful insight into Italian Culture

A.C. · November 22, 2024

What a great find! Love reading about the ancient Italian culture of family, spirituality, food, and healing. Some of the chapters have resurrected beautiful memories of our departed loved ones of Italian ancestry. In depth and fun!

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy the book!

S. · January 8, 2025

This is an incredible book! The author clearly is well researched and learned on the subject. Her insights are deep and profound and the knowledge she shares is deep traditional wisdom. If you are looking for a New Age type of material, this is not for you. If you are looking for traditional plant wisdom, this is for you! The author seamlessly blends together her knowledge of Renaissance Humoral medicine with herbal energetics. You will realize quickly the connection between Italian culture and classic herbs like basil and rue. She elucidates deep wisdom and correspondences within the body and spirit based on traditional wisdom culturally and historically. Giving the reader a deeper understanding of how to traditionally work with these plant allies. She also provides ritual frameworks for “incubation” or dream divination which I found to be excellent! This is an herbal tome that every Italian-American should own and anyone interested in traditional plant wisdom should own. It is knowledge of a cultural legacy that has never died!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!

H.L. · October 10, 2024

Highly recommend for anyone interested in traditional healing, whether Italian American or not.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read!

S. · October 9, 2024

Well written, informative and culturally sensitive. I had a hard time putting it down!

Adorei o livro!

V. · February 7, 2025

Há muito queria esse livro e foi melhor do que imaginava. Escrito de forma direta e simples e com muita informação sobre a tradição oral italiana. Vendedor excelente. O livro veio bem embalado e antes da data prevista.

Visit the Healing Arts Press Store

Della Medicina: The Tradition of Italian-American Folk Healing

Product ID: U1644117533
Condition: New

4.9

AED15124

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Type: Paperback
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by

Free delivery on orders over AED 200

Return and refund policies

Imported From: United States

At bolo.ae, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.

We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.ae is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.

Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

bolo.ae operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

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Visit the Healing Arts Press Store

Della Medicina: The Tradition of Italian-American Folk Healing

Product ID: U1644117533
Condition: New

4.9

Type: Paperback

AED15124

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by

Free delivery on orders over AED 200

Return and refund policies

Imported From: United States

At bolo.ae, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.

We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.ae is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.

Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

bolo.ae operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Description:

A guide to folk herbal healing and reconnecting with ancestral traditions

• Details the healing techniques and folk wisdom the author learned from her Italian grandparents and from healers in Southern Italy, including plant preparation methods, medicines, rituals, recipes, kitchen magic, and protective magic

• Provides a materia medica of plants important in this tradition, sharing each plant’s history, mythology, and both practical and magical uses

• Reveals how working with traditional plant medicines can help us connect to and revitalize our own ancestral traditions for deep inner healing

Building upon the in-depth folk wisdom she learned from her immigrant grandparents as well as from local healers in Southern Italy, second-generation Italian-American and experienced herbalist Lisa Fazio shares herbal traditions and practices from the Italian diaspora and reveals how working with traditional plant medicines can help us connect to ancestral traditions for deep inner healing.

She explains how the herbal healing practices of her Italian ancestors were simply a part of everyday life, what they called Benedicaria, which literally means “the Blessing Way” but is more often translated as “the things we do.” Examining how plants are not only food and medicine but a vital yet invisible part of traditional communities, she details the techniques of Benedicaria, folk Catholicism, and the animistic traditions of her ancestors, including plant dialects, preparation methods, rituals, and recipes, as well as provides a materia medica. Discussing the relationship between Italian folk medicine and Italian witchcraft, she explores kitchen magic and protective magic, including practices for warding off the adverse effects of the evil eye.

Sharing valuable and nearly forgotten teachings from the Southern Italian herbal tradition, the author also shows how her journey to reconnect with her family’s healing practices offers guidance for anyone seeking to reconnect with their ancestors.
Read more

Editorial Reviews

Review

“My immense enthusiasm for the release of Lisa Fazio’s Della Medicina is twofold. It is the perfect choice as a required text for my university course on Italian folk medicine and magic as it will simultaneously educate and enchant my students. Secondly, as the great-granddaughter of an Italian healer, I have long lived with many of the traditions Fazio explores. Lisa Fazio’s expertise as an herbalist and her meticulous research have greatly expanded my own understanding of the remedies passed down through the generations in my family. This book is a must-read for Italian Americans as well as readers from any cultural diaspora seeking to deepen their knowledge of folk healing practices.” ― Gina M. Miele, Ph.D., professor specializing in Italian folktales, folklore, and traditions at Montc

“I have been longing for this magical book my whole life. Lisa Fazio is one of our generation’s greatest teachers of Southern Italian folk medicine. Della Medicina is for everyone drawn to plants and their healing powers and anyone in search of ancestral connection. For those of us from Italy’s many diasporas, this is a pathway home, an invitation to remember.” ― Jennifer Guglielmo, author of Living the Revolution: Italian Women’s Resistance and Radicalism

“This book warms my Southern Italian soul! I love it! What a fascinating apothecary of history, mystical folk knowledge, tools, and inspiration for anyone wanting to draw on one of the most amazing herbalism traditions on the planet to nourish their lives and heal our world. Brava, Lisa Fazio, for honoring the ancestors in a way that shows the universality of their expansive wisdom.” ― Marguerite Mary Rigoglioso, Ph.D., author of The Secret Life of Mother Mary and The Mystery Traditio

“This book dives deeply into how we of the Italian diaspora can reclaim our roots and restore our connection to the earth, which is our true nature. Lisa Fazio weaves the daily with the divine by offering rituals, ceremonies, and healing practices with reverence and wisdom.” ― Lisa Masé, nutritionist and author of The Culinary Pharmacy

“Della Medicina takes us into the deep ancestral energy of magical medicines that have long pervaded the Mediterranean regions, where folk medicine, divination, holy wells, sacred sites, and ancient rituals combined with potent healing plants to bring sweet relief and healing to the peoples of that region. These teachings are also connected to the early burgeoning practices of modern medicine and how our connection to the energetics of plants can still be used to bring about true health and healing.” ― Brigitte Mars, author of Natural Remedies for Mental and Emotional Health and Addiction-Free Natural

“Lisa Fazio’s Della Medicina is a deep exploration of ancestral wisdom through the lens of Italian folk medicine. Drawing from her rich heritage and herbal knowledge, she beautifully illustrates how plants can serve as sacred portals to our ancestral roots. Her holistic approach reminds us that folk medicine is for everyone, transcending cultural, political, and economic boundaries while fostering deep connections with both human and nonhuman communities. This book is a treasure for anyone who loves plants and seeks harmony with the world around them. Lisa’s insights and the accessible plants featured make this a practical and profound guide to inner healing through traditional plant medicine.” ― Jenn Campus, anthropologist, animist, and author of A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule

“Lisa Fazio’s book represents the best kind of ancestor work—connection with our beloved ancient kin, the plants; connection through cultural frameworks that are instructions from the lands of our ancestors; and connection that does not try to simplify what is deeply complex.” ― Susan Raffo, author of Liberated to the Bone

“Lisa Fazio’s Della Medicina not only gives readers access to specific spells, prayers, and cures, but painstakingly reconstructs the traditional ecological knowledge and worldview behind Italian vernacular healing practices. Written accessibly for a popular audience, it nonetheless reflects careful scholarship and a thorough understanding of larger forces behind this complex system of knowledge.” ― Sabina Magliocco, Ph.D., professor of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver

About the Author

Lisa Fazio a clinical herbalist, practitioner of plant spirit medicine and flower essence therapy, and the founder of The Root Circle, a plant medicine educational center. Trained in traditional Western herbalism, Western astrology, and the folk ways of her Italian immigrant family, she has apprenticed with herbalists Kate Gilday, Matthew Wood, and Pam Montgomery. She has an academic background in psychology and ethnobotany and has also done master’s level studies in chemistry, botany, and environmental history. She lives in Newport, New York.

Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!

B.K. · December 19, 2024

I’ve been waiting for this book since I took classes with Lisa Fazio in 2020-2021! I soaked up as much as I could from class but hoped Lisa would write a book I could use as a reference forever. Lisa is awesome at both/and. She can be light hearted and serious. Her book covers information about physical properties of plants and folk magic. She shares information from generations of ancestors both of family and affinity (herb teachers). This book is wonderful for beginners and experienced herbalists.There are a lot of herbal books out there, but this author is authentic and knowledgeable.

5.0 out of 5 stars Such an important, well researched, devoted text

L.M.B. · December 1, 2024

This book is a gift to people of Italian American /Sicilian-American heritage, to people who are interested in folk magic and nature and history. It is a tool and doorway for reclamation and learning. Lisa is a wonderful writer, teacher, and magic maker -- clear from her many offerings and now this text. From the origins to the actual practices and treatments, along with a breakdown of modern interpretations (which can be confusing for people), she offers clarity and inspiration.

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful insight into Italian Culture

A.C. · November 22, 2024

What a great find! Love reading about the ancient Italian culture of family, spirituality, food, and healing. Some of the chapters have resurrected beautiful memories of our departed loved ones of Italian ancestry. In depth and fun!

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy the book!

S. · January 8, 2025

This is an incredible book! The author clearly is well researched and learned on the subject. Her insights are deep and profound and the knowledge she shares is deep traditional wisdom. If you are looking for a New Age type of material, this is not for you. If you are looking for traditional plant wisdom, this is for you! The author seamlessly blends together her knowledge of Renaissance Humoral medicine with herbal energetics. You will realize quickly the connection between Italian culture and classic herbs like basil and rue. She elucidates deep wisdom and correspondences within the body and spirit based on traditional wisdom culturally and historically. Giving the reader a deeper understanding of how to traditionally work with these plant allies. She also provides ritual frameworks for “incubation” or dream divination which I found to be excellent! This is an herbal tome that every Italian-American should own and anyone interested in traditional plant wisdom should own. It is knowledge of a cultural legacy that has never died!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!

H.L. · October 10, 2024

Highly recommend for anyone interested in traditional healing, whether Italian American or not.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read!

S. · October 9, 2024

Well written, informative and culturally sensitive. I had a hard time putting it down!

Adorei o livro!

V. · February 7, 2025

Há muito queria esse livro e foi melhor do que imaginava. Escrito de forma direta e simples e com muita informação sobre a tradição oral italiana. Vendedor excelente. O livro veio bem embalado e antes da data prevista.

Similar suggestions by Bolo

More from this brand

Similar items from “Wicca”

Share with

Or share with link

https://www.bolo.ae/products/U1644117533