Maud Grieve

Maud Grieve in 1928 (cropped)

Maud Grieve (1858–1941), also known as Mrs. C.F. Leyel, was a prominent British herbalist and author. She is best known for her comprehensive work, A Modern Herbal, which remains a significant reference in the field of herbal medicine.

Early Life

Maud Grieve was born in 1858 in England. Little is known about her early life and education, but she developed a keen interest in botany and herbalism from a young age.

Career

Grieve's career in herbalism began in earnest during World War I, when she started cultivating medicinal plants to support the war effort. She founded the Society of Herbalists in 1927, which aimed to promote the use of herbal medicine and provide education on the subject. The society also operated a dispensary that offered herbal remedies to the public.

A Modern Herbal

Grieve's most notable contribution to herbalism is her book, A Modern Herbal, first published in 1931. The book is a comprehensive guide to the medicinal, culinary, and cosmetic uses of plants. It includes detailed descriptions of hundreds of plants, their properties, and their uses. A Modern Herbal is still widely used by herbalists and botanists today.

Legacy

Maud Grieve's work has had a lasting impact on the field of herbal medicine. Her efforts to document and promote the use of medicinal plants have ensured that traditional herbal knowledge has been preserved and continues to be accessible to new generations of herbalists.

See Also

• Herbalism
• Botany
• Medicinal plants
• Society of Herbalists