Book Description
The most comprehensive guide to the botany, history, distribution, and cultivation of all known psychoactive plants
• Examines 414 psychoactive plants and related substances
• Explores how using psychoactive plants in a culturally sanctioned context can produce important insights into the nature of reality
• Contains 797 color photographs and 645 black-and-white illustrations
In the traditions of every culture, plants have been highly valued for their nourishing, healing, and transformative properties. The most powerful plants--those known to transport the human mind into other dimensions of consciousness--have traditionally been regarded as sacred. In The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants Christian Rätsch details the botany, history, distribution, cultivation, and preparation and dosage of more than 400 psychoactive plants. He discusses their ritual and medicinal usage, cultural artifacts made from these plants, and works of art that either represent or have been inspired by them. The author begins with 168 of the most well-known psychoactives--such as cannabis, datura, and papaver--then presents 133 lesser known substances as well as additional plants known as “legal highs,” plants known only from mythological contexts and literature, and plant products that include substances such as ayahuasca, incense, and soma. The text is lavishly illustrated with 797 color photographs--many of which are from the author’s extensive fieldwork around the world--showing the people, ceremonies, and art related to the ritual use of the world’s sacred psychoactives.
Customer Reviews:
A Truly Comprehensive Guide to the Topic.......2007-08-01
This encyclopedia contains much of what one would be looking for in researching the topic of psychoactive plants and their cultural relevance. The reader is provided with a wealth of biochemical, botanical, and ethnological information. The presentation, featuring large, beautiful color photos, and well-constructed diagrams, makes this book an especially attractive resource to own.
Most indepth book on this topic ever!!!.......2007-05-26
Since having this book i have been totally oveerwhelmed with infomation, i have started growing my own plants using the cultivation techniques discussed in this book. Amazing pictures and explains effects, dosage and preparation for practically every psychoactive substance on this planet as well as most synthetic substances.... "WORTH EVERY CENT" u'll be forever using this resource
excellent book that covers almost everything.......2007-04-02
this is an amazing reference book, it covers just about any psychoactive plant you could think of and gives an excellent coverage of knowlege about each plant. i would highly recommend it, as long as your not paying the recomended 125$ price tag
Fantastic resource.......2007-03-13
Fantastic, this magnificent encyclopedia is the biggest and most detailed to date. An unbelivably necessary edition to the library of anyone interested in psychoactive plants
The Best Book Ever Made on Psychoactive Plants.......2007-01-22
This review will be short and to the point. There is no greater single book on psychoactive plants than this book. Ratsch has done an amazing job. His book is mind-bogglingly thorough and exhaustive. It beats "Pharmacotheon" (Ott), "Plants of the Gods" (Ratch, Hofmann and Schultes) or any other book I have ever seen that attempts to be a complete source of information of psychoactive plants. I have been waiting for a book like this for years. I don't think this book could possibly be out-done for decades. At best, we can only hope to see books that would be something like supplimentary information in comparison to this book.
If you want all of the information on psychoactive plants that you can possibly get in one book, this is the one and it is definately worth the admittedly huge price tag. I would not be surprised if this book will be sold for many hundreds of dollars if and when it is sold out. Let's hope it is reprinted for a long, long time.
Average customer rating:
- One of the Finest Books Written
- Guide to Spyragics
- alchemy or spagyric?
- Worthy of your time
- Great book, top flight, thumbs up
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The Practical Handbook of Plant Alchemy: An Herbalist's Guide to Preparing Medicinal Essences, Tinctures, and Elixirs
Manfred M. Junius
Manufacturer: Healing Arts Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Alchemists Handbook: (Manual for Practical Laboratory Alchemy
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Real Alchemy, A Primer of Practical Alchemy
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Sorcerer's Stone: A Beginner's Guide to Alchemy
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Path of Alchemy: Energetic Healing & the World of Natural Magic (Pathways to Enlightenment)
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Spagyrics: The Alchemical Preparation of Medicinal Essences, Tinctures, and Elixirs
Accessories:
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RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
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Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)
ASIN: 0892814853
Release Date: 1985-12-01 |
Book Description
An herbalist shows how to release the complete healing properties of plants by using ancient spagyric (alchemical) methods.
Customer Reviews:
One of the Finest Books Written.......2006-11-05
Junius' Practical Handbook of Plant Alchemy is one of the finest and most complete books on working with plants from an alchemical perspective (or spagyrics) available today. It is filled with information and experiments that will take years if not lifetimes to exhaust. Extensive instructions take you through the process of making tinctures, plant stones, elixirs, the plant magistry of Paracelsus, and the Lesser or Minor Circulation for the preperation of elixirs. All of the work can be done with a few pieces of easily obtained laboratory equipment that can be used with inexpensive electric or gas heating sources. It is a book you will want two copies of - one for your bookshelf and the second for your laboratory. Required reading - and doing - for anyone serious about undertaking an alchemical journey.
Guide to Spyragics.......2006-08-01
Originally published in Italian in 1985, this classic work deals with the spyragic process, by which, through separation, purification and recombination, a spyragist (parachemist, or alchemist, take your pick) enhances and amplifies the essential and intrinsic effects of an herb. While incorporating quite a bit of ayurvedic philosophy, it's still a text firmly rooted in Western alchemical techniques and practice, and walks the aspiring student through the spyragic process, step by step, along with herbal planetary correspondence tables which go quite a bit beyond the over-simplified Cabbalistic correspondences of the current New Age stream of thought.
The equipment specified for practice is, indeed, bona fide scientific apparati, which causes some concern on the part of other readers as to the expense. However, Dr. Junius was indeed a scientist, and head of research at various labs and technical institutes, and therefore chose to rely on precise, quality apparati. While there may be some applications of the spyragic processes detailed within that could be performed "on the cheap", by and large the higher the quality, precision and applicability of the instrument, the better the resultant spyragic. I would highly recommend that any aspiring spyragist (or alchemist) do a brief web search for discount laboratory equipment suppliers. There is an abundance out there, and for a few hundred dollars the enhanced results are definitely worth it.
alchemy or spagyric?.......2006-02-16
I havent read this book, but I am very doubful, if this really about alchemy. I heard, that laboratory equipment, that author proposes, is very expensive and thats not a case of alchemy. Alchemy in its essence need very simple and nonexpensive instruments. There exist fundamental difference between spagyrics and alchemy and that fact many people dont realize.
Worthy of your time.......2005-04-25
I recently began taking some natural medicines along with my husband, so I thought I would try making my own. Though I am still in the early stages, I feel confident that The Practical Handbook of Plant Alchemy has given me a solid base from which to start.
Great book. Worthy of anyone's time that is interested in learning more about the different types of herbs out there, what they do and how to create your own daily supplements.
Great book, top flight, thumbs up.......2005-01-25
This book systematically presents both the theory and philosophy of spagyrics and the corporeal application of said philosophy in an accesible proletarian manner, perfectly fit for the lay-seeker who isn't attuned to the sometimes involute terminology that attends dated alchemical manscripts. There are countless exserts from spagyric texts from such illustrious illumined exponents as Johannes Isaac Hallandus, Paracelsus, Basilius Valentinus (and more) which are generally followed by a delicatessen recapitulation by Manfred M. Junius, who breaks it down into manageable simple terms. Don't despair, for those tyros going into this book not knowing a lick of the ideas and axioms of the alchemical work will most unequivocally come out transmuted into knowledgable cognoscente of the natural science of Khem. Rove hand-in-hand with Paracelsus collecting morning dew from the manorial sward of your higher genius.
Average customer rating:
- A work of art
- Beautiful and Profound
- for those hungering to travel deeper
- The missing secrets of the plants
- Overall ok, not consistent, not visionary
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The Secret Teachings of Plants: The Intelligence of the Heart in the Direct Perception of Nature
Stephen Harrod Buhner
Manufacturer: Bear & Company
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Binding: Paperback
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The Lost Language of Plants: The Ecological Importance of Plant Medicines for Life on Earth
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Sacred Plant Medicine: The Wisdom in Native American Herbalism
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Plant Spirit Medicine: The Healing Power of Plants
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The Fasting Path: For Spiritual, Emotional, and Physical Healing and Renewal
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Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers: The Secrets of Ancient Fermentation
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ASIN: 1591430356
Release Date: 2004-10-27 |
Book Description
Reveals the use of direct perception in understanding Nature, medicinal plants, and the healing of human disease
• Explores the techniques used by indigenous and Western peoples to learn directly from the plants themselves, including those of Henry David Thoreau, Goethe, and Masanobu Fukuoka, author of The One Straw Revolution
• Contains leading-edge information on the heart as an organ of perception
All ancient and indigenous peoples insisted their knowledge of plant medicines came from the plants themselves and not through trial-and-error experimentation. Less well known is that many Western peoples made this same assertion. There are, in fact, two modes of cognition available to all human beings--the brain-based linear and the heart-based holistic. The heart-centered mode of perception can be exceptionally accurate and detailed in its information gathering capacities if, as indigenous and ancient peoples asserted, the heart’s ability as an organ of perception is developed.
Author Stephen Harrod Buhner explores this second mode of perception in great detail through the work of numerous remarkable people, from Luther Burbank, who cultivated the majority of food plants we now take for granted, to the great German poet and scientist Goethe and his studies of the metamorphosis of plants. Buhner explores the commonalities among these individuals in their approach to learning from the plant world and outlines the specific steps involved. Readers will gain the tools necessary to gather information directly from the heart of Nature, to directly learn the medicinal uses of plants, to engage in diagnosis of disease, and to understand the soul-making process that such deep connection with the world engenders.
Customer Reviews:
A work of art.......2007-05-14
This book is truly a beautifully written work of art. For those who are ready, it can open doors to a new way of being in the world. It will change much more than how you see nature........it will change your relationship with yourself and the world.
Beautiful and Profound.......2007-03-05
This is an intriguing book about our essential connection with the plant kingdom. Herbalists around the world are lamenting the loss of plants that have medicinal properties, some of which have not yet been discovered.
There is a great, and little explored puzzle: virtually every known group of humans has developed sophisticated plant-based medicines and agents for altering states of consciousness. Many are only used in complex mixtures. Too much of one ingredient and not enough of another, and the concoction is either inert or toxic. Yet to have found all these plants and all of their combinations by trial and error would have taken armies or researchers and hundreds of thousands of years. Throughout the world, traditional healers report that they learned about these properties from the plants themselves. They speak of using intuition and the "intelligence of the heart" for the direct perception of nature. Stephen Buhner suggests that this perception comes from the neural network within the physical heart that beats in our chests.
Throughout the book he presents countless examples of people from Thoreau to Luther Burbank and Goethe, who saw deeply into Nature, not through the intellect, but through the heart. He shows us how these people obtained their direct knowledge. It is very clear that Stephen Buhner is not reciting something that he read, but he is telling us about his own direct and deep perception of Nature. He explains how we can all share in this communion with Nature. He goes on to teach us how we, like the shamans of old, can learn the medicinal uses of plants directly from the plants themselves. He also shows us how this opening up to the world of plants can have profound effects upon us.
The fundamental premise is extremely interesting and the second part of the book is excellent. So why "only" four stars? There are two reasons. First, I am not convinced that the connection between living beings can be reduced to electromagnetic fields. The author had some excellent material, but seems almost to lose his nerve, and to try too hard to find a "scientific" explanation for his observations, while not giving enough credence to the evidence suggesting that the web of life is a more subtle underlying property of the Universe.
The second is the style of his writing. He describes the first half of the book as linear and the second half as not. He calls the two halves systole and diastole, to reflect the major cycles of the heart. And he invites the reader to read the book in any order. He tries quite deliberately to move away from a linear, verbal and analytical presentation. Many of the pages are broken up by italicized words or phrases on separate lines and quotations, poems and comments that don't always seem to be in the right place. It may be that he is trying to stir us up and make us think. Or rather to not think: to apply our intuition to his words. But it can make reading a little difficult.
Despite my two quibbles, I hope that this book is widely read for its stories, anecdotes and Buhner's encyclopedic knowledge about plants. It is an interesting but not always an easy read.
for those hungering to travel deeper.......2007-01-16
SECRET TEACHINGS is equisitely written, inspiring and offers new hope for the human species and ultimately for the planet. Buhner's poetic writing is often trance inducing. He superbly describes the territory of the sacred and makes navigation of interspecies communication easily accessible. He lays out the map so all we have to do, is the work. Reading this book, I kept hearing a voice inside saying, "I want this." I knew to what the voice was referring, a life of vastly rich and varied experiences that went far beyond the surface of ordinary daily life. The teachings in this book have become my life guide.
This work is an integration of well documented research on the heart as an organ of perception, writings by those, such as Kabir, Geothe,Thoreau, James Hillman, and others, past and present, who have travelled this way as well as the authors own poetry and life experiences.
SECRET TEACHINGS is a must read for anyone who is intersted in deepening their life experience, who is inclined to go beyond reductionist methods of being in the world and for those who hunger to feel the touch of spirit on their body.
The book is easy to read and easy to skip around in from section to section, following your heart and interests. Buhner lays out in fine detail the process of depth perception; of seeing beyond the surface of things with "the unworn sides of your eyes."
At the end of the book there are several exercises to enhance your awareness of the world while reclaiming the parts of you that have been sequestered away so that with practice, we can once again walk in the world as an integrated 360 degree personality, with joy and sponteneity.
The missing secrets of the plants.......2007-01-09
If I could, I would give the following title to this book: the missing secrets of the plants. The book is beautiful, full of poetry and quotation. But, but and but. You can buy it to reading at the airport, with long lines... If you are, like me, looking for the secret teachings of the plants, feeling the soul of it when you read it, you can not find here.
Overall ok, not consistent, not visionary.......2006-08-17
This is generally a good book to serve as an introduction to the consciousness of working with plants in a sacred manner. However the quality of writing, though well researched, does not inspire. You don't find yourself absorbed in the writing, just reading facts and stories.
There are a few practices buried within the book but they are buried. There should have been seperate areas to emphasize these practices. As an example of the writing style the chapter on healing and death talks about death and how shamans approach it for along time. Then the story about how animals created diseases and how plants offered to help people is relayed. Then the content switches back to the death topic again. The writing shows a general lack of polish and very much lacks telling you how to enter the sacred relationship yourself.
A good book, but did not live up to its potential.
If you are looking for something in this genre with much better writing ability check out Connie Grauds' Jungle Medicine (www.junglemedicine.net). From Connie you will get information that is first hand rooted in the world of shamanism.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent, authoritative review lifted from Erowid
- The plants are gods themselves
- Buy this book. Its great.
- ****4.5 stars. A good introduction to entheogens
- Informative
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Plants of the Gods: Their Sacred, Healing, and Hallucinogenic Powers
Richard Evans Schultes ,
Albert Hofmann , and
Christian Rätsch
Manufacturer: Healing Arts Press
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ASIN: 0892819790
Release Date: 2001-11-01 |
Book Description
World-renowned anthropologist and ethnopharmacologist Christian Ratsch provides the latest scientific updates to this classic work on psychoactive flora by two eminent researchers.
• Numerous new and rare color photographs complement the completely revised and updated text.
• Explores the uses of hallucinogenic plants in shamanic rituals throughout the world.
• Cross-referenced by plant, illness, preparation, season of collection, and chemical constituents.
• First edition sold 33,000 copies.
Three scientific titans join forces to completely revise the classic text on the ritual uses of psychoactive plants. They provide a fascinating testimony of these "plants of the gods," tracing their uses throughout the world and their significance in shaping culture and history. In the traditions of every culture, plants have been highly valued for their nourishing, healing, and transformative properties. The most powerful of those plants, which are known to transport the human mind into other dimensions of consciousness, have always been regarded as sacred. The authors detail the uses of hallucinogens in sacred shamanic rites while providing lucid explanations of the biochemistry of these plants and the cultural prayers, songs, and dances associated with them. The text is lavishly illustrated with 400 rare photographs of plants, people, ceremonies, and art related to the ritual use of the world's sacred psychoactive flora.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent, authoritative review lifted from Erowid.......2007-06-28
Plants of the Gods: Their Sacred, Healing, and Hallucinogenic Powers
by Richard Evans Schultes, Albert Hofmann, and Christian Rätsch
Publisher:Healing Arts Press/Inner Traditions
Year:2001 (revised and expanded edition)
ISBN:089281979-0
Categories:Book Reviews, Recommended Books
Reviewed by Jon Hanna, 6/26/2007
It may be a rare thing for a second edition of a book to warrant its own review, but such is definitely the case with the new edition of the Schultes' and Hofmann's 1979 classic Plants of the Gods. The updated version was produced as a German translation in 1998 by Christian Rätsch, and Healing Arts Press released the English translation of this in late 2001. It is a thing of beauty.
The primary and most dramatic improvement is the inclusion of numerous new photographs and art images. Although this second edition retains many of the same photos, it introduces a lot of new ones as well. In some cases, the item depicted-such as the statue of Shiva with Datura flowers in his hair (p. 11)-has been revisited with a higher-quality photo. Frequently, black and white images have been replaced with a similar image in stunning full-color. While this works superbly in most cases, there are a few situations-such as the replacement color photo of an aerial view of the Kuluene river (p. 24)-where the original black and white photo was much better. New psychedelic art is featured throughout from the likes of Pablo Amaringo, Walangari Karntawarra Jakamarra, Nana Nauwald, and Donna Torres. There are even some incredible watercolor paintings done by Christian Rätsch himself (think Codex Seraphinianus on acid)-where can we see more of his art!? A beautiful mural of an ayahuasca ceremony that graces a wall at the Cuzco Airport in Peru reminds us that some countries have a more enlightened attitude towards the use of psychoptic plants.
"Fourteen Major Hallucinogenic Plants" of the first edition has been altered to become "The Most Important Hallucinogenic Plants," and expanded to include new sections on Anadenanthera colubrina, ayahuasca analogs, Salvia divinorum, and Duboisia hopwoodii. There have been numerous expansions on the old chapters as well, including many additional species of the genera discussed. Six new plants have been added to the "Plant Lexicon," and this section has been vastly improved through the addition of color photographs. Previously, the majority of the plants described were depicted via illustrations, with only a few photo images; this situation is now reversed, with only a few illustrations. (It is a shame that there are any drawings remaining, although I suspect in some cases it might be hard to obtain photographs of the plants in question. Still, in other cases it should not have been difficult-photos of Banisteriopsis caapi, Lagochilus inebrians, Mandragora officinarum, Mimosa tenuiflora [= M. hostilis], Peucedanum japonicum, Scirpus atrovirens, Tabernanthe iboga, and Virola theiodora are all available via the web). The map of "Native Use of Major Hallucinogens" has been expanded to include Hyoscyamus sp., Duboisia sp., and A. colubrina, and the depicted range of Cannabis use has been increased.
Some problems that the original book had are, alas, retained or, in a few cases, exaggerated. The gutter of the book is too tight, causing one to crack the spine to get a full view; this was the case in the earlier edition as well. New layout glitches include shaded backgrounds for text boxes being placed too close to the edge of the text (in some cases touching it), and headlines that sit too close to the images. The problem of citing alkaloid contents as fixed numbers is still present (although in a few cases ranges are presented). Those with little knowledge on the subject might actually believe that all dried Trichocereus pachanoi plants have a 2% mescaline content, while this is actually the peak of the range that can be determined through a survey of the scant few published isolation analyses (which dips down to 0.33%, and even lower in published HPLC analysis), and may not be typical. In new cases when ranges are presented, such as the case with Mimosa tenuiflora root-bark said to contain 0.57 to 1.0% DMT, the information may not be correct. (M. tenuiflora has been reported to contain 0.31 to 0.57% DMT with specific analyses available in the literature of Gonçalves de Lima 1946 and Patcher et al. 1959, and there have been unsubstantiated counter-culture claims of 1% to 11%, see ER Vol. X, No. 3, 2001 and Ott 2001). Both the new and the old editions of this book are riddled with statements about alkaloid contents that are presented as if they were fixed amounts, when in reality alkaloid content can be highly variable.
Some new errors are introduced with this edition. Spelling mistakes are peppered throughout (they've misspelled author Hofmann's name on the back cover!), and awkward phrasings are not uncommon in those sections that were translated from German. In some cases, plants are presented as containing specific alkaloids that they do not have. For example, it is remarked that "The Turkey Red variety of the grass Phalaris arundinacea contains liberal amounts of DMT." This is in error, as this variety contains liberal amounts of 5-MeO-DMT, not DMT. Also, photographs of four cacti-Ariocarpus retusus, A. fissuratus, Astrophyton asterias, and Aztekium riterii-known in México as "peyote" are depicted, with the statement "They primarily contain the substance mescaline and other psychoactive alkaloids." This too is in error, as only A. riterii has been found to contain trace amounts of mescaline, and no mescaline has been found at all in the others. (It was interesting to see that Rätsch considers a heftier amount of mescaline, "0.5-0.8 gram" to be a dose, compared to the Shulgins' more conservative 200-400 mg dose listed in PIHKAL; I tend to agree with Rätsch.)
Any and all criticism of this book should be viewed as minor, as it is truly a marvelous work. Rätsch has taken a great book and made it better. Especially if you own the first edition, you owe it to yourself to pick up this revamp. It is visual delight, a joy to read cover-to-cover, and it will no doubt be revisited repeatedly for years to come.
The plants are gods themselves.......2007-02-05
I have read many books about hallucinogenic plants and put many of them in that container for recycle... The Revised and Expanded Edition of Plants of the Gods is the best I have seen covering this subject. I would not say that it is beautifully written, but it is ok. I do not agree with many aspects of this book and the author way of thinking but I would recommend it, hopping that many other books about it come up soom.
Buy this book. Its great........2007-01-13
Get this book! Its a must have for your library. It is fantastic for anybody who is interested in finding the divine. It is a real life piece of the puzzle in learning why your government doesn't want you to know about the true power of plants. Plants are one of our most valuable allies in changing the world, and healing "uncurable" disorders such as alcoholism and drug addiction. The authors credentials are impeccable, I might add. They are the leaders in this super important area and this guide is a must have.
****4.5 stars. A good introduction to entheogens.......2007-01-03
"Plants of the Gods" does what it sets out to do- it gives anthropological evidence of the historical and cultural usuage of healing and halluciogenic plants and fungi.
The book provides condensed, pithy information of the more potent and relevant plants-San Pedro, Salvia Devinorum and Ayahuasca-i.e. the ones one is most likely to encounter and most likely to induce visionary states. "
Plants of the Gods" is a good sarting point for the budding psychonaut.
Informative.......2006-12-24
If you have a genuine curiosity of the different type of hallucinogenic plants and their effects this is the place to start. Great pictures, illustrations and summaries. An excellent guide.
Book Description
Ancient shamanic practice compelled the magician-healer first to make contact with the spirit of the plant to ask for its help before administering the herbal cure. This practice is alive today in Mexico among the traditional Indian shaman healers-principally the elder Huichol Indian shaman and plant spirit healer Don Guadalupe Gonzales Rios. Elliot Cowan reveals these ancient practices and guides the reader in the effective use of the wild herb plants in the area in which he or she lives. the result is a wonderful psychic and spiritual approach to holistic healing --This text refers to the paperback edition of this title
Customer Reviews:
Simple, straightforward, and deep. .......2007-07-12
I have been reading and practicing these medicines for some time. I am also studying ethnobotany and plant medicine in relation to psychopathology. I picked up this book as a supplement to my work, and I did not expect that it would be so good. I would recommend this book to ANY person interested in this subject- whether they are totally new to it, or have been doing it for decades.
Cowan clearly and eloquently provides his take on this subject, and does a very good job explaining the basics. But he writes with a gentle tone, and makes plant spirit medicine something that everyone can do. This book isn't trying to sell anything or promote a workshop or healing modality. This really does provide some genuine insights on how to communicate with plants and use them for healing.
Eliot Cowan is right on with this book. You won't be disappointed.
Plant Spirit Medicine.......2007-03-24
Well written, full of passion and honesty. Cowan takes a leap of faith with courage in hopes that others will learn the connectedness of all, and the simplicity it takes to honor our most prescious resources, "OUR FAMILY". Well worth the read, and please; share it with others!
Connection, compassion and depth.......2006-04-22
Plant Spirit Medicine speaks of the elements of nature, the plants, shamanism, and healing. Cowan's integrity, wisdom and humor is apparent throughout. I first read this book 7 years ago. It changed my life, opening me up to a world where healing, love and compassion are always flowing from the plants and other aspects of nature. This book speaks of one man's journey and opens the doors to allow you to make your own journey and find your own path.
Awaken your own shamanic capabilities.......2005-08-27
This book is an accessible, sincere and inspired guide for anyone who is curious about how to recover the human's innate ability to be in communication with the non-human world - which apparently just awaits our intention to do so. Eliot Cowan shares his own fascinating journey of discovery in a way that also offers to the reader ideas for how to do the same. His message is not, "look at me, I have special abilities," but "look into yourself and see what is there just waiting to be revived." The disastrous psychological, ecological and spiritual situation humans find themselves in as a result of having stopped engaging in "the great conversation" with nature, as author Thomas Berry puts it, can begin to heal if we try hard, now, to apply ourselves to the wisdom available in such books as Plant Spirit Medicine. We have a responsibility to read and utilize such information as Eliot Cowan makes available here. --Tayria Ward, Ph.D.
Profound Medicine.......2005-08-25
I've read this book 3 times and plan to read it again. It is clear that Cowan has a love for and a thorough grasp of his subject matter. A must read for anyone intersted in shamanism, herbalism or healing.
Customer Reviews:
Health is wealth, knowledge is power!.......2007-08-23
God said choose life or death!
God gave us herbs. Use them.
Man gave us pills, avoid them.
Pills kill and herbs cure.
Make your choice.
Pills made my life hard and I almost
submitted to a useless operation.
Desperately, I looked for another choice.
Herbs gave me the answer.
No operation needed, life is good again!!!
The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs: A Guide to Understanding and Using Herbal Medicinals.......2007-03-20
Excellent just what I expected.
Remarkable Book!.......2007-03-20
This book is a must have for every American medicine cabinet. Easy to understand instructions and every thing is broken down in laymens terms. Also, there is informatio on how you can help the rainforest and it's native people. Fascinating!!!!!
Fabulous health source.......2007-03-08
Although I'm not a "greenie," I have been concerned for some time about the wanton destruction of the jungle in South America since so much of our medicinal herbage does grow there. My major concern here is that the soil is not even fertile enough to continue growing grass for cattle after the first year or two, so this destruction is not even truly beneficial for mankind in any way. Ms. Taylor lays down a terrific case for persuading Brazil to stop doing this. Then she gives amazingly organized guidelines for using the herbs which she has found helpful in the Amazon area. Every herbalist needs this book!!
Excellent Book on the Subject........2006-02-25
I am an herbalist who was looking for a good book on Rain Forest Herbs without all the hype that had a least some science it in to complement information about traditional uses. Too many herbal books have either no science behind them or have such reductionist science based on faulty studies and assumptions that the information is usless. I often suspect that hype about the use of such herbs as Maca root is overblown and I needed factual information from a reliable source. I bought this book sight unseen based on some of the reviews and I was not disapointed. It combines traditional use with scientific studies and lots of information about each herb. Naturopathic Physician author Leslie Taylor needs to be congratulated for her contribution to the growing knowledge about Rain Forest Herbs: not only their uses but their preservation instead of exploitation.
Book Description
This distinguished organic chemist shares his in depth knowledge of the particular current value of essential oils, for health on all levels. In an era when Western allopathic medicine has less and less appeal, this self-care method is a potent alternative, with roots going back to ancient times. Dr. Schaubelt has a gift for presenting facts and information in a way that is intriguing and easy to assimilate. In the flood of "coffee table" aromatherapy books currently available, this is a much needed and welcome source for those truly interested in taking responsiblity for their own health.
Average customer rating:
- The Healing Power of Herbs
- "THE" DEFINITIVE & COHERENT GUIDE FOR UNDERSTANDING MEDICINAL HERBS & THEIR APPLICATIONS
- Herb book that is ahead of its time
- this is the best!
- Best In Its Class
|
The Healing Power of Herbs: The Enlightened Person's Guide to the Wonders of Medicinal Plants
Michael T. Murray
Manufacturer: Gramercy
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 051722321X
Release Date: 2004-06-01 |
Book Description
If you don't believe the 80% of the world's population who depend on herbal remedies to treat common ailments, there is now a wealth of scientific research to substantiate the claims. If used properly, herbal medicine is powerful, effective and simple. THE HEALING POWER OF HERBS draws on scientific research to corroborate what many have known for years: herbs are the key to a longer, more healthful life. Inside you will find a directory to 37 common medicinal plants along with recommendations for treating 34 common health problems.
Discover:
• How licorice can be used to heal canker sores
• How ginkgo biloba can be used to delay the effects of Alzheimer's disease
• How garlic can be used to improve cholesterol levels
• How green tea can be used to help prevent cancer
• How bromelain can be used to heal athletic injuries
Customer Reviews:
The Healing Power of Herbs.......2007-09-15
The Healing Power of Herbs: The Enlightened Person's Guide to the Wonders of Medicinal Plants
There were quite a lot of common herbs that were not represented in this book. Also, the information given per each herb was not very complete. I was rather dissapointed in this book.
"THE" DEFINITIVE & COHERENT GUIDE FOR UNDERSTANDING MEDICINAL HERBS & THEIR APPLICATIONS.......2006-01-25
I FEEL I MUST FIRST SAY: TO DO "NO HARM" MUST COME FIRST & DOES IN THIS GUIDEBOOK!
I read a large number of alternative health and medical texts and some are better than others. I borrow as many as possible from the library, but Michael Murray's books, along with James Duke's, are among the few that I purchase and keep handy at all times. The approach of these two men are always safety first, and they follow the first cardinal rule of medicine which is to do "NO HARM". For that reason I feel a level of security that allows me to make the leaps of faith needed in order to try new things that will affect the health of myself and my loved ones.
IN A NUTSHELL: A terrific read, but very useful and efficient too!
The Healing Power of Herbs, contains detailed and coherent discussions about the effects and practical applications of 37 medicinal herbs and 34 common ailments treated by them. A short history of "herbal medicine" precedes these discussions.
WHAT IT IS:
SECTION 1: Pages 1-28
INTRODUCTION: BASIC HISTORY OF HERBAL MEDICINE & PREPARATIONS
SECTION 2: Pages 29-344
MATERIA MEDICA: In alphabetical order from Aloe Vera to Valerian, 37 of the most useful and commonly used herbs are examined. For each Herb examined, the same organization of the discussion is utilized as follows:
GENERAL DESCRIPTION, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, HISTORY & FOLK USE, PHARMACOLOGY - [effects are itemized and examined in detail], CLINICAL APPLICATIONS - [what ailments the herb may be used for -each ailment is examined as it pertains to the particular herb], DOSAGE - [different forms of the herb and uses are detailed in regard to dose], TOXICITY - [usually described as the toxic effects on lab animals or the lethal dose in 50% of the cases {LD50}].
REFERENCES - [There is a long list of references at the end of each herbs discussion, which both validates the information and gives one other places to research the particular herb.]
SECTION 3: Pages 345-390
RECOMMENDED HERBS FOR SOME SPECIFIC HEALTH CONDITIONS - Again there is a repeated structure:
AILMENT - alphabetically listed, is described to aid in its identification and to illustrate its seriousness. After the description there is an "Herbal Recommendation" paragraph for each ailment. The use of multiple herbs in combination makes
section 3 important and indispensible when dealing with a specific ailment, as section 2 deals with the herbs and their actions individually rather than their uses in combination with other agents.
At the end of the ailments' discussion, there are references for each specific ailment which can lead one to further study quite easily.
GLOSSARY: Page 393-402
INDEX: Page 403-410
BOTTOM LINE: Works well with the "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine", Revised 2nd Ed. by M. Murray and J. Pizzorno
Currently value-priced at $12.95 through Amazon or other discounters, this is an extreme value and a great read filled with useful Herbal information. Bear in mind that this book, originally written in 1992 and later revised and expanded in 1995, is starting to need a major update. There are herbs like Ephedra that are included in this book, but have been taken off the market due to safety concerns. Though I have the revised second edition I would buy a third edition of this book in a heartbeat.
Herb book that is ahead of its time.......2002-07-05
This is the one herb book I would take with me to a deserted island :)
I've had it for years and it amazes me how ahead of its time it is. I've even found articles on coleus and guggul. It's hard to find info on these.
He includes both folklore and research information.
this is the best!.......2001-03-18
I have owned this book for 5 years. I still use it on a regular basis. Its one of the best books on basic herbs you can buy. I can't even begin to count how many times it has saved us from a trip to the doctor. Get this book if you want to keep yourself healthy naturally.
Best In Its Class.......2000-07-27
The Healing Power of Herbs is the most credible and useful herb book on the market, helpful for the consumer and the health professional alike. I especially appreciate the discussions of clinical trials, the medical journal references, and the easy-to-reference summaries of uses and dosages of herbs. This is *the* book I turn to when I have a question about herbal medicine. If you're only going to have one book on herbal medicine on your shelf, this is the one!
Book Description
Creating a garden that is a spiritual sanctuary — a calm refuge from the stresses of everyday life, a soothing balm for heart and soul — is within every gardener's reach. This book looks at the garden as a place to engage the senses and connect the spirit to nature. Gardens, whether small urban plots or larger country spaces, can become places to foster personal growth and spiritual awareness. Spiritual Gardening in resplendent with illustrations and color photos throughout, illuminating how to create your own special outdoor retreat.
Customer Reviews:
Spiritual Gardening: Creating Sacred Space Outdoors.......2007-07-19
I have a little garden sanctuary where I like to puddle about, meditate, read, or contemplate. This little spot evolved over the years as I changed and grew. There have been some major renovations as well as some small detail tweaking. Still, I felt that there was something not quite right about my little garden. Something was missing so when I saw the book Spiritual Gardening, I had to pick it up.
Spiritual Gardening is a multi-faceted book that every gardener will find useful. There are ready made layouts for a variety of different feels ranging from traditional gardens to more flexible designs. Not only are these designs explained in a physical form but the author also looks to the symbolic and sacred meaning behind the various elements and how they combine into one coherent picture. This connects the reader naturally to other sections of the book that look specifically at symbolism of color, space, and texture.
Throughout the book there are also colorful pictures of various garden designs, elements, and plants. Looking at these photographs really starts to spark the imagination and bring that personal sacred space to life. I can't wait for spring. I can clearly see my little sanctuary now and am eager to make a few modifications.
Just what I was looking for..........2007-01-04
Having just moved to home with very neglected gardens, I wanted a different approach. This lovely book was perfect.
Did anyone even look at the galley proofs?!?.......2004-05-24
It must be said that this is a beautiful book! Photographs, paper, color, layout -- and the text could/would have been, too. But starting on pages 46/47, the text is totally dismembered -- big chunks missing [go from one page to the next mid-sentence and find an entirely different sentence being continued], and big chunks repeated. It made no sense to stumble through the next handful of pages, or try to read beyond: love the photos, but can't keep the book.
None of the other reviewers here mention finding this mess. Are there different printings out there?
Enhanced with lush and beautiful photography.......2004-05-03
Enhanced with the lush and beautiful photography of John Glover, Spiritual Gardening: Creating Sacred Space Outdoors by Peg Streep is a compendium of horticultural inspirations and contemplative wisdoms with respect to creating a garden that would function as a personal spiritual sanctuary from the cares, concerns, stresses and problems of our daily lives. Not merely a nice thing to look at, an effective spiritual garden would engage all of the senses and connect our minds and hearts to an inner balance of tranquility, aroma, and healing. Drawing upon ancient traditions (including those of Zen Buddhism and Native Americans), Spiritual Gardening will enable anyone to design a very special sanctuary combining earth, wind, light, water, and living plants.
At Your Own Risk.......2001-06-07
Read SPIRITUAL GARDENING by Peg Streep at your own risk. After seeing an excerpt in Oprah's magazine, I purchased and read this exceptional book. It truly changed my life. I will never be the same. It took me outside, introduced me to the place of gardens in history, the value of gardens, the many kinds of gardens, and the love and care of gardens. It inspired me to read magazines on gardening, buy hundreds of dollars worth of gardening books--which I cherish, "delve" into the philosophy of feng shui, evaluate my backyard, enhance my backyard into a garden creation--perennials, benches, statues, chimes, birdfeeders, a gazing ball, and enjoyable dreams of more beauty to come therein. It's a passionate and fun obsesssion! SPIRITUAL GARDENING is my favorite gift to give to those I care about. The book is beautiful. It is full of color photographs of varied gardens. The writing is inspirational and full of memorable garden quotations. It's one of my most valued possessions!
Book Description
Today, echinacea and goldenseal are among the top-selling consumer-level medicinal herbs in the U.S. These herbs are the most famous of the class of ?immune system herbs,? which have been respected as panaceas or cure-alls in different civilizations since early recorded history. In his new book,
The Healing Power of Echinacea, Goldenseal, and Other Immune System Herbs author Paul Bergner explains in detail everything readers will want to know about these and twenty other immune system herbs.Bergner explains how to substitute traditional Western herbs, Chinese herbs, Japanese medicinal mushrooms, and other plant substances for often-abused antibiotic drugs. He tells how to use herbs to treat such conditions as:
colds and fluchronic infectionsperiodontal diseaseurinary tract infectionsand much, much more!Bergner offers a detailed list of herbal remedies for specific ailments, information on proper dosages, as well as a glossary of immune system terminology. This is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in health and well-being.
Customer Reviews:
You won't put it down.......1999-08-10
This book is packed full of information in a very readable form.Don't take it to bed. You won't get any sleep. Great information on the immune system and how Echinacea works WITH the body for healing. No! I won't lend this book out to anyone. It's too valuable.
Excellent guide to the immune system & its supporting herbs........1998-07-16
My favorite new herbal is Paul Bergner's excellent book, _The Healing Power of Echinacea and Goldenseal and Other Immune System Herbs_ (Prima Publishing, 1997). I hadn't ordered it previously thinking it was a short review of the two herbs. Big mistake! It covers the immune system and the whole category of immune modulating herbs.
This book is good for anyone who would like more background in the workings of the immune system (including health care professionals who know the physiology but are not used to thinking of immune function as a system) At least a quarter of the book is dedicated to the functioning of the immune system, covering technical material in prose ranging from humorous to stunningly beautiful. He has a gift for chosing just the right metaphor to explain difficult concepts.
In the section titled "Protective Powers: the Healing Power of Snot" he describes the IgA-saturated mucous secretions as a "sophisticated, genetically engineered antibiotic paste that is tailored to whatever infection is current." The antibodies carried in the mucus are produced in immediate response to current infections in the body and will attack them while protecting your tissues. In other words, don't try to stop your running nose!
One reason for tasting herbs- indeed holding them in your mouth for a while before swallowing- is that lymph nodes are located just behind the tongue. Echinacea for instance works best to stimulate lymphatic activity, but first it must get to the lymphatic system. Lymph, unlike blood, does not have a pump to circulate herbal factors. So if it lands in your stomach in a capsule, the herb may not get to the lymphatic system where it is needed- or at least may arrive ineffectively. (This is aside from taste preparing your liver to utilize herbs.)
The book also covers the titular herbs in detail, with emphasis on proper use, situations where they are inappropriately applied (90% of the tim! ! e for goldenseal) and when alternatives to the endangered g! oldenseal can be used. For example, he shows that goldenseal should NOT be taken when you are coming down with a flu or cold, although echinacea might be quite effective. Oregon grape OTOH is quite useful at that time, as a berberine-containing substitute for... echinacea. Goldenseal probably has no effective substitute when a long term cold or respiratory infection starts to turn bacterial, with yellow or green mucus because the hydrastine works directly upon the mucosal secretions. And goldenseal works NO better in large doses than small doses- as single capsule or half-dropper of tincture is all you will need for a dose.
The book covers a number of alternatives to echinacea and goldenseal, shows unusual uses for them and gives recipes. It is well worth adding to your herbal bookshelf.
An excellent buy.......1997-12-20
Yes, we've been waiting for this book. It's a good in-depth study of Echinacea and Goldenseal, giving us the true usefulness of these plants, and the folly of a lot of their popular use. This is a book for everybody interested in herbs, from casual herb users to practitioners.
Books:
- The Essential Garden Book
- The Gentle Subversive: Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, and the Rise of the Environmental Movement (New Narratives in American History)
- The Home Depot Outdoor Projects 1-2-3 (Home Depot ... 1-2-3)
- The Lost Art of Towel Origami
- The Machine in the Garden: Technology and the Pastoral Ideal in America (Galaxy Books)
- The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World
- The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World
- The Rodale Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides)
- The Samurai's Garden: A Novel
- The Samurai's Garden: A Novel
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