Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West Review

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(More customer reviews)An excellent book for beginners, experienced herbalists, and other medical professionals alike. This book, like Michael Moore's others are seldom available used because people keep them and use them-alot . They are usually the most worn from use on any herbalist's shelf- including mine.
Medicinal Plants of The Mountain West has lovely and useful illustrations to aid identification. More photos would help though.
The text is lucid, funny and very helpfull. Beginners will find step by step instuctions on harvesting with care and attention to protecting habitat, medicine making, clear and detailed information on judicious medicinal use, and plenty of food for thought on history, health and healing and how your own body works, as well as gentle and experienced guidance through the sometimes confusing state of herbal medicine in the market economy Western world. Unlike many other herbals, this book clearly and simply explains how and when to use herbs (and when not to use them) as herbs- not as "little"drug replacements.
Herbalists and other health care practioners will find an amazing amount of helpful clinical detail and creative approaches to therapeutics. Although this book that is often placed in the Field Guide section of the book store it is a concise yet articulate materia medica based in the authors extensive experience as a therapist, harvester, and medicine maker.
Doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and allied health professionals will find this book to be an oasis of sane , seasoned advice on how to use herbs and how to understand what your clients are taking. Amidst the onslaught off nearly useless books on botanical medicine written by journalists and pharmacists who couldn't tell a chickweed from an oak tree, and whose personal and professional experience practicing herbal medicine is usually less than Peter Rabbit's cup of chamomile tea, Michael Moore's books offer clinical experience grounded in Western science and traditional cultural use. His writing encourages cultural competence, treating Native and Latino plant medicine with care, and respect.
Many of us have been waiting along time for this second edition. Buy it, use it, share it

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In the first update since the original printing in 1979, renowned herbalist Michael Moore adds another 20 years of research and expertise working with medicinal plants to his classic 'Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West'. In this greatly expanded (168 additional pages) revised and enlarged edition, the book covers the entire range of medicinal herbs found in New Mexico, Arizona, west Texas, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and California.

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Homegrown Pure and Simple: Great Healthy Food from Garden to Table Review

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(More customer reviews)Delicious, appetizing recipes fill this book, all of which were made from the freshest organic ingredients, giving a pure simple taste. An excellent second book by Michel Nischan, winner of a James Beard cookbook award in 2004 for his book, Taste Pure and Simple.

Michel Nischan grew up in Illinois where his mother grew most of their fruits and vegetables. His love of food coninued as an adult where he became the executive chef of Heartbeat in the W Hotel (NY-1997). Nischan is a contributor to numerous magazines including: Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Cooking Light, and much more. He has also appeared on various television programs. He is the founding member of New American Farming Initiative. He currently lives in Connecticut with his wife and five children.
Mary Goodbody is a food writer who has worked on over 45 cookbooks.
Susie Cushner is a photographer whose work has appeared in Real Simple, Gourmet, Martha Stewart Living and more. She has worked on numerous books: The New England Table, The Cape Cod Table, The Pleasures of Slow Food and The Bride & Groom First and Forever Cookbook.
Michel Nischan yearned for the days where his mother grew all their vegetables in their garden when he was a child. With the tragic findings that two of his five children were diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes (at ages five and two), his focus on his cooking changed. He decided that not only should he and his family eat healthier, but also his restaurant customers. This book has been inspired by his children and his desire for fresh pure ingredients without the use of cream, butter, processed starches or processed sugars. Michel has made it his mission to educate people on eating and cooking healthier.
This is more than a cookbook, but also a book filled with cooking and gardening tips, planting seeds, storing produce, sterilizing jars, choosing knives, and handling food. There is an excellent glossary in the back of the book, as well as a list of sources if some items are hard-to-find in your area. And I must comment on the gorgeous photographs throughout this book.
This book has even received kudos from the American Heart Association and Alice Waters.
The book is broken down by the following chapters: My Garden and How It Grew; Salads; Soups; Main Courses; Side Dishes; Extending the Harvest; Breakfast and Breads; Desserts. The recipes are wonderful. They are simple to make and extremely tasty. In fact, I never even noticed, initially, that the book had no recipes laden with fat and sugar! Some of my favorites in this book were: Osaka Mustard Greens Salad; Pumpkin Soup with Crispy Sage Garnish; Baked Fresh Ham with Roasted Apple and Almond Salad; Skillet-Browned Broccoli and Cauliflower with Pan-Toasted Garlic; Homemade Applesauce; Butternut Squash Muffins; and Sweet Corn and Toasted Almond Rice Pudding.
In our society, where everything runs at such a fast pace, I think it is time to slow down, and appreciate life and family. Eat healthier. Buy this book!

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RX from the Garden: 101 Food Cures You Can Easily Grow Review

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(More customer reviews)This book may have some useful information in it. However, getting past the bad grammar, misspelled words, even missing or incorrect words is annoying. The errors are so numerous I began doubting whether the author, editor, or publisher cared to even read the book and check the facts, since obviously they never cared to read the book and check for the problems noted above. To list all the spelling and grammatical errors, one would feel it quicker to re-write the book instead. Also, as has been pointed out by another reviewer, there is a "table of contents;" however, it does not work with the Kindle's menu system. A little a bit of effort before publishing could have made this feature work properly. A little bit of editing could have made this book readable. -- It is truly a shame the author's enthusiasm and probable knowledge in a worthwhile subject gets lost because of a lack of editing.

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Colds. Headaches. Upset stomach. Allergy symptoms. Depression. Circulation problems.This timely book goes beyond using herbs as medicine; it also focuses on beneficial foods for more than 100 common ailments--and shows you how to grow them.In that way, this book lets you circumvent expensive meds with questionable side effects by explaining what to eat to help you feel better. In addition to aligning health problems with natural cures, this valuable resource provides step-by-step instruction--complete with illustrations--on how to easily cultivate the corresponding vegetables and herbs in your lawn, garden, or flowerbed.According to Hippocrates, "Our food should be our medicine. Our medicine should be our food." Now you can reap health benefits from your very own backyard bounty.

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The Herb Society of America's Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs Review

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(More customer reviews)Just when I think I have all the books about herbs that I could ever want, along comes another must-have book to tempt me! I couldn't resist The Herb Society of America's Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking With Herbs. Edited by long-time herbalist Katherine K. Schlosser with contributions from many other noted herbalists, this is one of the best, most authoritative guides I've seen recently.
The book is divided into three sections. Part One contains horticultural information about each of the 63 culinary herbs grown in the National Herb Garden, a long-time project of the Herb Society of America (HSA). If you're new to herbs, you'll appreciate the reliable, easy-to-read information for each herb. It will help you decide which plants and/or varieties are hardy in your area, which will grow on your kitchen window sill, and what kind of culture the plant needs. But even if you're knowledgeable about the "useful plants," you're sure to discover something new and interesting in each of the entries. You'll learn, for example, why caraway is often called "German cumin," why dill and fennel seeds were once known as "meeting seeds," and how to turn a woman into an ideal housewife (for the answer, check out the mustard entry). There's also a section on herbal trees, such as cinnamon. (Okay--'fess up, now. Bet you didn't know that this favorite spice comes from the bark of a tree!)
If Part One of the book is informative, Part Two--the recipe section--is simply scrumptious. These recipes, all contributed by members of HSA, were selected for their originality and taste appeal. Each was tested, and the tester's notes included with the recipe. From appetizers (Rosemary White Bean Puree, Herb-Roasted Garlic) to desserts (Saffron Cake, Lemon Basil Tea Bread), there's an herb-flavored dish that will make any meal special.
Part Three is a special bonus: a tour of the National Herb Garden in Washington D.C., with wonderful photos and helpful plant lists for each of the main gardens. The book is fully documented and includes a comprehensive bibliography. It belongs on your bookshelf.
Susan Wittig Albert is the best-selling author of the China Bayles' Book of Days and Spanish Dagger (China Bayles Mystery), the latest in China Bayles herbal mystery series.


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Fresh herbs offer a healthy and delicious way to spice up any meal, but growing and cooking with these delectable plants are endeavors fraught with uncertainty.What herbs will grow year-round on my kitchen windowsill?What foods complement rosemary?Which part of a lemongrass plant has the best flavor?Can I really eat the geraniums growing in my flower bed?This indispensable guide from The Herb Society of America takes the guesswork out of using herbs in the garden and in the kitchen by providing detailed information for cultivating a wide variety of herbs, along with easy-to-follow recipes that will surely impress even the most discerning palate.Ranging from Alliums (onions, chives, and garlic) to Zingiber (ginger), the volume's first section provides horticultural information for each of the sixty-three herbs found in the National Herb Garden's Culinary Garden, including common and botanical names, family, place of origin, hardiness, and general light and soil requirements. Botanical sketches accompany many of the entries.Each entry also includes a short history of the herb, gardening basics, and suggestions for using the herb in your kitchen.Culinary herbs without Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Status are included in a separate section, with an explanation of their history and ornamental value.An informative introduction to this section compares several different definitions of the word herb, explains the advantages of fresh over dried herbs, describes the proper storage and use of spices, and suggests the best timing and methods for harvesting herbs. In the second part of the book, HSA members offer classic and creative recipes for more than two hundred dishes incorporating a variety of herbs.Learn how to use the aromatic and flavorful herbs in your garden to enhance stews and casseroles, create dips and pestos, and add a new dimension to your favorite liqueurs.Among the mouth-watering recipes featured are Lemon Basil Tea Bread, Chicken Linguine with Fennel and Tarragon, Five-Herb Pasta Salad, and Rosemary Fizz.The concluding section of the book contains a fascinating personal tour of the two-and-one-half-acre National Herb Garden, which lies in the heart of Washington, D.C., at the center of the United States National Arboretum, and of its various themed areas, including the Knot Garden, the Antique and Heritage Rose Garden, the Dye Garden, the Colonial Garden, the Native American Garden, the Beverage Garden, the Medicinal Garden, and many others.Complete plant lists accompany the description of each garden.Green thumbs and gourmets alike will find inspiration in these pages to look at herbs in new ways--perhaps to see beyond their cupboards and into their own yards for ways to liven up their meals--and will gain the knowledge and confidence to grow and use herbs effectively. More than a gardening book, more than a cookbook, The Herb Society of America's Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs will prove to be an indispensable companion for all herb lovers.376 pages, 7 Halftones, 32 Line Drawings, 6.25 x 9.25

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The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits, and Nuts: How to Find, Identify, and Cook Them Review

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(More customer reviews)The title is a bit leading, and while although I found reading this book a bit enjoyable (mostly do to her recipes and general outlook/writing style) there are a few too many things missing.
All around not a terrible book, my three starts are likely a little more then I'd say, BUT I did read it all the way through and have read it twice (I think hoping I just forgot some of the information I read the first time though honestly).
I was very bothered by one section, I believe about mushrooms, that she even suggested to get a better guide because it wasn't with in the scope of her book. The title does say "The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruit, and Nuts..." right?
I would suggest buying other books to read along with this one. In fact I'd suggest reading a lot of foraging books before attempting to do so yourself. Especially ones written about your area specifically. A class and some online research would also be of great benefit!

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Edible wild plants, mushrooms, fruits, and nuts grow wild along roadsides, in country fields, and in urban parks. All manner of leafy greens, mushrooms, and herbs that command hefty prices at the market are bountiful outdoors and absolutely free for the taking. But to enjoy them you must know, when to harvest, how to recognize, and how to prepare and eat them. The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits, and Nuts provides everything you need to know about these wild treasures. Included is information on the most commonly found of these wild comestibles, going beyond a field guide's description to provide folklore and mouth-watering recipes for each entry, such as wild asparagus pizza, fiddlehead soup, blackberry mousse, and elderberry pie.This fully illustrated guide is the perfect companion for hikers, campers, and anyone who enjoys eating the good food of the earth. With The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits, and Nuts in hand, you'll never walk through a field again without casting your eyes about with dinner in mind.

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The Green Pharmacy: New Discoveries in Herbal Remedies for Common Diseases and Conditions from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing Herbs Review

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(More customer reviews)Since I began making and using herbal remedies in 1980 I have been very concerned at the lack of reliable information. Pop and self-help books on herbalism suffer from excessive vagueness (if they are conservative and the author is trying hard to avoid lawsuits) or irresponsible promulgation of superstition (if the author is clumsy, credulous, or ignorant). On the other hand, publications dealing with formal studies of bioactive compounds of plants tend to be inaccessible to the public. There have been very few books that I (as a Ph.D. student in botany as well as a bit of an herbalist) feel comfortable in recommending. This one is at the top of the list.
Nobody can beat James Duke at comfortable pop-level communication combined with solid, informed good judgement. In this book he gives practical preparation and dosage suggestions -- something the too-careful books don't do. He also provides clear, definite cautions on drug interactions and side-effects.
My only criticism of Duke's book is that he may be a bit too confident when he suggests combining several herbs at once to treat some conditions. Folklore and formal studies may provide reasonable dosage guides for individual herbs. But no single folklore or ancient system encompasses, at once, medicinal plants of South America, China, and Europe. Combining herbs that have not been traditonally used, nor clinically tested, in such combination, is not something I would advise to a general audience.
Nevertheless I rate this book very highly. I don't know how many copies of the previous edition I bought to give to people: teenagers, undergraduate college students, my old hippy friends, my father, doctors, and various people who ask me about medical botany.
We all owe Duke a great deal for his tremendous work and his true desire to help others.EVERYONE, without exception, who is interested in medical botany from a practical standpoint, should have this book.

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Grow Your Own Drugs: Easy Recipes for Natural Remedies and Beauty Fixes Review

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(More customer reviews)Grow Your Own Drugs is filled with (mostly) easy to make recipes--all from natural ingredients that are readily available. The book is also beautiful to look through, making it more likely you will feel motivated to actually try many of the recipes. The book covers beauty recipes, and recipes to make you feel better or cure what ails you.
I have been waiting for this book to be available in the States, as a friend from the UK had been raving about it.
I already use (almost) only natural/organic beauty products and drugs, but look forward to replacing some store-bought with home made. Furthermore, I cook from scratch and make most of my cleaning products from scratch. Finally, I do use essential oils and flower essences to help alter my moods and for medicinal purposes--and they work. (For example, lavender is calming, tea tree for blemishes, etc.) So, Grow Your Own Drugs this is a natural step forward for me.
I also like that the author, James Wong, is a scientists who has also studied the properties of plants around the world--this is no hobbyist! (As someone who has dabbled with the property of plants, I recognize many of the cures as those that are well established.) So, I feel comfortable will his advice and recipes.
A quick look shows me that I already have many ingredients necessary to get me started on making several recipes, including one for inflammation, sore throats and for the upcoming season--bee stings.
Highly recommend.
Author of HARMONIOUS ENVIRONMENT.

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