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Reviews of New Books for the Herbal Library - 2006
Many titles recommended here are available at Amazon.com
David Winston, RH (AHG) ©2007
In my yearly review of books I look for interesting titles published during the year (or the previous year that I acquired in 2006) in the fields of herbal medicine, nutrition, CAM medicine, ethnobotany, mycology, and other associated topics. Some years a great number of highly touted books are published, while in other years (such as 2006), there seem to be a limited number of “major” new books. The opinions shared are mine and they come from a clinician and researcher’s viewpoint, i.e., are they clinically relevant or better than what has already been published on the topic. With the ever increasing cost of books (especially scholarly texts), a relatively unbiased review can be an important part of helping you in your buying choices.
Reviewer’s code: *****highly
recommended, purchase immediately
**** very good, worth having
*** good, but not essential
** may have some useful
information, but overall not worth buying
* not worth the paper it’s printed on
Herbal/Botanical Medicine
****Abascal, K., Influenza and Herbs, Tigana Press, Vashon, WA, 2006, 194 pp., paperback, $18.00
In 1918 a deadly influenza pandemic raged around the world, causing an estimated 20 to 40 million deaths1. More people died from what was known as the Spanish flu or La Grippe, than in World War I. Today, infectious disease specialists are quite worried about the possibility of the closely related bird flu evolving into a similar worldwide catastrophe. In her unique book, Kathy Abascal has carefully researched the eclectic physician’s well-documented (and often effective) treatments for the previous influenza epidemic. This previously obscure data gives researchers and clinicians ideas and possible therapeutic choices for treating not only the symptoms of the flu – fevers, muscle pain, coughing, and malaise, but possibly the infection itself. Detailed information is provided on the uses of more than 30 herbs, including safety issues, dosage, eclectic uses, and current uses. Also discussed are overviews of what influenza is, the types of influenza, conventional treatments, the history of the eclectic physicians, and the effectiveness of their remedies almost 100 years ago.
1Billings, M. (2005), The Influenza Pandemic of 1918, http://virus.standford.edu/uda/
***Applequist, W., The Identification of Medicinal Plants: A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce, American Botanical Council, Austin, TX, 2006, 231 pp., 87 b&w line drawings, hardcover, $89.95
This text was not written for clinical herbalists, it was compiled for manufacturers of herbal products. If you happen to be a clinician who makes your own medicines from cut-sifted or powdered herbs purchased in the general herb market, you may also want a copy of this book. With increasing regulation of the herb industry and a worldwide trade in dried, powdered, or cut/sifted botanicals, accurate identification of these materials is essential. Several instances over the last several decades have clearly shown the dangers of herb adulteration – Burdock root adulterated with Belladonna root1, Digitalis leaf mixed in with Plantain leaf2. In addition to possible safety issues, adulteration of herbs can also dramatically affect potency and efficacy of herbal products. Some regulations have pushed for high tech (and expensive) methods of botanical identification such as mass spec or HPLC. This book gives the reader the tools necessary for simple, inexpensive macroscopic (using a hand lens or dissecting microscope) and organoleptic (taste, smell, color, mouth feel) ID methods for 113 herbs. It contains 87 detailed line drawings, information on common adulterants, and is written in a simple, concise style that makes this work accessible to those not trained in classical pharmacognosy.
1Bone,
K. (2003), Phytotherapy Review & Commentary: The Impact of Quality Issues on the
Safety of Herbal Products, Townsend Letter For Doctors and Patients; Nov,
244:42-47
2Anonymous (1997), Industry Alert:
Plantain Adulterated With Digitalis, Herbalgram:40: pp 28
****Kane, C., Herbal Medicines of the American Southwest, Tucson, AZ,
Lincoln Town Press, 2006, 416 pp., paperback, $29.96
When it
comes to books on the medicinal plants of the American southwest, my friend
Michael Moore is the undisputed authority. His series of books on the region’s
medicinal plants are unequaled. When Charles Kanes book arrived and I saw it had
a forward written by Michael Moore, I figured if he endorses this book, it must
be worth reading and having in one’s library. And it is. Illustrated with over
250 color photographs and 80 full color painted pictures of plants, the images
alone are worthwhile. In addition, Kane gives the ethnobotanical, traditional
and current uses (medicinal and edible) of over 210 plants, with detailed
information on plant descriptions, wildcrafting techniques, preparations, doses,
and appropriate cautions. While this book lacks Moore’s outrageous and humorous
real-life anecdotes, it does have specific experience based details gleaned from
actually using these herbs that separates the average herb guide from the
extraordinary.
****Mills, S., Bone, K., Essential Guide to Herbal Safety, Churchill Livingstone, 2004, 704 pp., hardcover, $67.95
As herbal medicine has become more popular and recognized, it has also experienced a peculiar reaction from mainstream medicine. While many orthodox physicians still refuse to recognize the validity of herbal therapies (“there is a lack or research”, “they don’t work”), there is a great openness to seeing the dangers (imaginary and real) of botanicals. Prestigious peer-revised journals such as JAMA and the New England Journal of Medicine have published critical letters and articles on herbal medicines that forget to mention or lack essential data for making a clear case against an herb. Articles lacking the plant’s botanical name, failure to obtain voucher specimens of the product, or not looking into the literature to see if there is already research disproving their theory all impugn the author’s veracity, rather than make a good case against the herb. It is enough to make one believe in conspiracy theories. Does orthodox medicine really have an overtly biased agenda against herbal and CAM medicine? I suppose history will be the judge. In response to the demand for safety data, a number of books have been published. Mills and Bone’s new book, along with Frances Brinker’s Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, are the best of the lot. The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety is comprehensive, with chapters discussing adverse effects, idiosyncratic reactions, allergic reactions, safety of use during pregnancy and lactation, and herb-drug interactions. There are also 125 individual herb monographs reviewing the available data on known adverse reactions, drug interactions, the effects of over-dosage, toxicology, and each herb’s use in pregnancy, during lactation, or with children. The authors also include information on common adulterants, contraindications, typical dosage, as well as an overview of the herbs’ actions, therapeutic indications, botany, and constituents. This book presents a rational approach to the topic, presented by experienced clinicians who know the value of herbal medicine as well as the pitfalls.
*****Wynn, S., & Fougere, B., Veterinary Herbal Medicine, St. Louis, Mosby/Elsevier, 2007, 714 pp., hardcover, $99.00
Over the last 50 years, there have been a number of books on the use of herbal therapies for animals. The best were Juliette de Bairacli-Levys simple but elegant guides for cats, dogs, and farm animals, and Mary Wolff-Tilford and Greg Tilford’s animal herbal – Herbs for Pets. They are excellent guides to herbal home treatment for pet owners, but neither was adequate for the veterinarian or clinical animal herbalist. That book has arrived in Susan Wynn and Barbara Fougere’s new textbook. The book is grand in scale and perhaps attempts too much in presenting overviews of western herbal traditions, TCM, Ayurveda, energetics, herb products, and manufacturing, herb gardens, conservation, and zoopharmacognosy. The most important part of the book is Part IV, Veterinary Clinical Uses of Medicinal Plants (pp. 273-672) which covers veterinary herbal medicine prescribing, a systems based approach to herbal practice, herbal medicine in equine and bovine practice, and over 120 herbal monographs with detailed information on traditional veterinary and human use of the herb, including the authors’ many years of clinical experience, as well as recent research. For any clinician who works with companion animals (primarily dogs, cats, and horses), this book is an essential text for providing better, safer, and more effective care to their 4-legged patients.
CAM Medicine
****Beuth, J., Moss, R., Complementary Oncology-Adjunctive Methods in The Treatment of Cancer, Thieme, NY, 2006, 292 pp., hardcover, $99.95
A recently released report loudly proclaims that cancer deaths have sharply fallen over the past several years (0.5% from 2003 to 20041). This is good news for the 3000 additional survivors, but when looked at in context, cancer is still the second leading cause of death in the US and more than 550,000 Americans will die from this disease in 20072. These reports also clearly state the major reason for decreased deaths (the rate of new cancer cases remains stable) is not chemotherapy, surgery, or radiotherapy, but early detection, reduced exposure to risk factors like smoking and hormone replacement therapy, greater access to early detection screenings for rural and poor populations. In some cases, orthodox treatments for some types of cancers (juvenile leukemia, testicular cancer, prostate cancer) are relatively successful. That still means for many people with cancer they face a daunting prognosis. A rational response to this is to seek out alternative treatment options. The problem with that is there are hundreds of alternative cancer therapies; some are outright quackery, some are possibly of benefit but lack any studies or objective data, and a few (a very few) have progressed to phase I, II, or III clinical trials. How does a practitioner (let alone a patient) decide which therapies have value, which can extend life or improve quality of life? Dr. Josef Beuth, M.D., and long-time alternative cancer researcher Ralph Moss, Ph.D3 have written a valuable guide to adjunctive or complementary cancer therapies. This in-depth book includes chapters on conventional treatment, tumor immunology, medical biometry, and determination of drug efficacy. The authors look at the research and clinical applications for cancer prevention and treatment using diet, exercise, psycho-oncology, high dose antioxidants, selenium, proteolytic enzymes, Mistletoe extracts, thymic peptides, and hyperthermia. While there are many therapies or substances that are not covered in this book (Hoxsey, Essiac, Gerson, artemisinin, polyMVA), this is an important book. It is one of the few texts that has the data that refutes the oncologist who tells their patients not to take vitamin C or E during radiation therapy. It clearly cites the evidence of benefit, lack thereof, or risk of the included treatments and can help the practitioner to guide their patients through the minefield of alternative cancer therapies.
1Anon.,
U.S. Cancer Deaths Fall Second Year in a Row Despite Growing and Aging
Population, Medical News Today, Jan. 18, 2007
2Anon., Annual Report to The
National Finds Cancer Death Rates Continue to Drop, National Cancer Institute,
www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/reportnation2006
3Ralph Moss also has a valuable
website for patients, the Moss Reports (www.cancerdecisions.com)
with articles and reports on many orthodox and unconventional therapies. He is
exceptionally knowledgeable and honest, is willing to expose a fraud
(conventional or alternative), as well as explain challenging concepts in a
clear and easy to understand manner.
****Higdon, An Evidence-Based Approach To Dietary Phytochemicals, Thieme, NY, 2007, 238 pp., hardcover, $59.95
The benefits of dietary phytochemicals receive almost daily mention in the media. One day the press touts the carotenoid lutein for eye health, the next green tea and its catechins. Each day brings a hot new phytochemical - Resveratrol, lignans, indole-3-carbinol, isothiocyanates, and isoflavones all have reputed health benefits. In this unique book, the late Jane Higdon has compiled the available studies and evidence for the actual effects- for foods (tea, nuts, legumes, cruciferons, vegetables, fruits, coffee, etc.) and for isolated compounds (phytosterols, flavonoids, chlorophyll, indole-3-carbinol, and several more). Also included are appendixes on glycemic index and glycemic load, food-drug interactions, and quick references to diseases and phytochemical rich foods. I know of no other such reference that allows the practitioner to so quickly scan the published evidence (up to early 2006) for so many therapeutically active food chemicals. I highly recommend this book to any clinician that works with diet or supplements. It will enhance your protocols and help to improve patient outcomes.
*****Weatherby, D. & Ferguson, S., CBC Analysis, Clinical Laboratory Testing From a Functional Perspective, Bear Mountain Publishers, Jacksonville, OR, 2002, 308 pp., paperback, $65.00
This
book is not new, it was published in 2002. It was my good fortune to come across
it this past year (better late than never) and I want to take this opportunity
to bring it to a wider audience. Understanding standard bloodwork is essential
for physicians (MD’s, DO’s, ND’s, as well as nurse practitioners and PA’s) and
somewhat useful for herbalists, acupuncturists, and chiropractors. Understanding
comparative blood chemistry and CBC analysis is tremendously useful for any
healthcare provider. Gone is the normal/abnormal dichotomy, now you are looking
at comparative values which gives you a much more accurate and valuable
diagnostic tool. Reading regular blood labs tells a story, a story of often
gross pathology with little subtlety.
Once you have read this book, it fills in the gaps and allows you to see many
problems before they become obvious. It expands the scope of blood analysis to
see functional disturbances, deficiencies, and early tendencies when it is often
easier to correct them and thus prevent disease. Weatherby and Ferguson’s book
incorporates the ideas of many practitioners, perhaps most important Lynn
August, MD, who for many years has taught seminars on this topic. Imagine
understanding that a low MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin) (<28) reveals an
increased need for vitamin C, or that a decreased MCH and MCHC (Mean Corpuscular
Hemoglobin Concentration) (<32) with a decreased uric acid (<3.5) may indicate
an increased heavy metal burden. Finally, laboratory blood work has become the
sophisticated tool that any clinician needs to make accurate and early
diagnosis.
TCM/Ayurvedic Medicine
****Caldecott, T., Ayurveda, Science of Life, Mosby, St. Louis, 2006, 376 pp., hardcover, $69.95
I find most of the books from India on the topic of Ayurveda confusing, disappointing, or both. I spoke to my friend Alan Tillotson, PhD, RH (AHG) who is an Ayurvedic scholar about my impressions and he agreed. According to Alan, the practice of Ayurveda in India was severely suppressed during British rule (1776-1947) and most of what is practiced today is a reconstituted and simpler form of the once complex and ancient system of medicine. Since Alan was trained in Nepal where the traditional practice of medicine was never intercepted or suppressed, I suspect he knows what he is talking about! There have been several good introductions to Ayurveda by American practitioners (David Frawley, Robert Svoboda), but it has been left to a Canadian clinical herbalist, Todd Caldecott, RH (AHG) to pen the most comprehensive and authoritative text to date on the practice of Ayurveda. Todd starts with an in-depth introduction to the theory and practice of Ayurveda, including the use of diet, yoga, herbs, meditation, exercise, and massage as therapies. He discusses the treatment of disease, diagnosis, pathology, Ayurvedic pharmacy, common formulas, and includes monographs of 50 essential Indian herbs. Todd has spent many years learning, practicing, and mastering what many scholars believe is the oldest system of medicine in the world. When he mentions the uses for an herb it is not the usual list of 30 diseases it cures. Here one finds a combination of traditional use, along with clinical experience that makes this book both unique and a treasure.
***Kacera, W., Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, WI, 2006, 480 pp., paperback, $29.95
Tongue diagnosis is one of the most useful and easy to learn diagnostic techniques in Chinese medicine. In my mind it is much easier to master their pulse diagnosis and more useful as well. I was aware there was a form of Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis, but had never read about the use of tongue diagnosis in this system of medicine. Even though I am untrained in Ayurveda and so not a very good judge of the accuracy of this book, I am very pleased that Walter “Shantree” Kacera, an experienced Canadian herbalist and nutritionist has undertaken the task of bringing this little-known aspect of Ayurvedic practice to westerners. I am positive that tongue diagnosis will be as valuable to practitioners who look at imbalances of pitta, kapha, and vata, as it is for those who look at disturbances of yin and yang.
**1/2Jing-Nuan Wu, An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2005, 706 pp., hardcover, $89.95
Honestly, if you have Bensky and Clavey’s third edition of their book Chinese Herbal Medicine-Materia Medica or Chen and Chen’s Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, you have the best Ben Cao’s (Materia Medica’s) available.
Most other books are simply anemic versions of these two outstanding texts. Jing-Nuan Wu’s book, An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica, offers no new information and for the most part is a brief overview of the standard information on 320 commonly used Chinese herbs. There is only one thing that makes this book different and that is the illustrations. Most TCM books have line drawings or pictures of the dried herb, this beautifully illustrated book has color, full page drawing of the living plants, along with roots or rhizomes, and fruits or seeds. It is a delight to see such lovely pictures and exclaim “so that is what Picrorhiza looks like” or Lichi, or Chinese Corydalis. If you are looking for information of the uses of TCM materia medica, look elsewhere. If you value knowing what a plant looks like as much as what it does, you will find this book of a worthwhile investment.
****Li Piewen, Management of Cancer With Chinese Medicine, St. Albans, UK, Donica Publishing, 2003, 450 pp., hardcover, $95.00
Here we have another book that is not really new, but it was new to me this past year. Alternative treatment of cancer is a topic that interests me.
Cancer is a very serious, often life threatening disease. It is the second most common cause of death in the U.S. (est. 555,500 deaths in 2002). There are dozens of books and thousands of internet sites purporting to offer “the answer to cancer”. Do these “cures” really work? Who knows? Because there is so little real research in this area. In vitro studies, animal studies, studies using isolated phytochemials, or giving substances IV or IP are liberally offered as proof of efficacy, when in reality much of this “proof” is meaningless. Books offering actual human studies or detailed protocols based on extensive clinical practice are rare. Professor Li’s book begins with the theoretical and historical basis for treating cancer in Chinese medicine, the etiology and pathology of tumors, and the role of TCM therapies used along with conventional treatment. Over 100 pages are dedicated to how TCM therapies can prevent or reduce side effects caused by radiation or chemotherapy. The author also discusses treatment of common complications associated with cancer, treatment of specific types of cancer and, in addition to herbal formulas and acupuncture, the use of Qi Gong and diet as adjunctive therapies.
****Kastner, J., Chinese Nutritional Therapy, Dietetics in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Thieme, NY, 2004, 265 pp., paperback, $44.95
In the U.S., Chinese medicine is primarily thought of as acupuncture, along with the use, in some cases, of herbal formulas. In China, diet, massage (Gua Sha or Tui Na), exercise (Tai Qi, Qi Gong), meditation, herbal medicine, moxibustion, bleeding, and cupping are thought of as equally integral to the successful practice of TCM. There are hundreds of books on these various topics, but Chinese dietary therapy is poorly represented with only a handful of titles. Many of the books published in English over the last 30 years are now out-of-print, while others simply listed foods with their therapeutic benefits. Kastner’s book is perhaps the most comprehensive of these texts, and it is also designed for easy use. The book lists over 300 foods with their energetics, indications, effects, and contraindications. Not only are the foods listed (as in most books on this topic), it also lists medical conditions and what foods can benefit them. Also included is the vitally important diagnostic differentiations (pulse and tongue) needed to understand whether a patient has a hot, dry cough (eat pears, grapefruit, bamboo shoots, lemons, green tea) or a cold/damp cough (eat fennel, radish, ginger, watercress, salted almonds or peanuts).
Mycology
***1/2 Rogers, R., The Fungal Pharmacy: Medicinal Mushrooms of Western Canada, Prairie Deva Press, Edmonton, Canada, 2006, 234 pp., spiral bound, $35.99
While regional field guides for mushroom identification abound, books on medicinal mushrooms are few and far between. Books on the medicinal mushrooms of a specific region were virtually non-existent until now. Rogers, who has authored six books on the medicinal plants of western Canada, has done an excellent job on the medicinal fungi of the region. He covers over 150 species of fungi (many with color photographs), listing their history, folklore, ethnobotany, medicinal uses, homeopathic uses, cultivation, edibility, and even fungi essences (I was unaware anyone made such products!). Many common edible/medicinal mushrooms are covered in-depth – Maitake, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi, Morels, King Boletes, etc. More obscure but useful mushrooms such as my favorite, Chaga, as well as Fomes fomentarius, White Agaric (Fomes officinalis), Ganoderma applantum, the birch polypore (Piptoporus betulinus), and witch’s butter (Tremella) are also found here. While the focus is on the mushrooms of western Canada, so many of these fungi have a wider distribution that it makes this book useful for anyone interested in the topic, whether they live in western Canada, western Kentucky, or the great open spaces of western New Jersey.
*****Stamets, P., Mycelium Running, How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World, Berkeley, Ten Speed Press, 2005, 339 pp, paperback, $35.00
If you have seen Al Gore’s documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, you know the world as we know it is in dire straits. Toward the end of the firm, Gore uses a graph to show how various approaches (carbon sequestering, more efficient cars, alternative energy, etc.) can reduce our greenhouse emissions below the levels that existed in 1970. They are all vital and needed ideas, but he seems to have forgotten one – mushrooms. Paul Stamets, the author of several classic books on cultivating mushrooms, has written a truly unique book. In fact, it is so revolutionary it is difficult to categorize this book – should it be shelved under botany? nature? the environment? Agriculture? Medicine? Pity the employee of Borders. The book is full of vibrant photographs and even more transcendent but practical ideas for utilizing the abilities and constituents of fungi for human medicine, for bio-remediation of soil, for insect control, for food, to enhance agricultural production, to help reforest clear-cut land, to prevent erosion, filter water, and even to help prevent forest fires!
This book represents the type of interdisciplinary thinking (so rare in academia1) we desperately need to help us heal ourselves, our society, our environment, and our planet.
1Cross-disciplary thinking is discouraged in our academic institutions where “specialists” tend to “know more & more about less and less”. Jared Diamond’s brilliant book, Guns, Germs & Steel, is another superb example, like Stamet’s book, of how thinking outside the box (or more to the point, connecting the boxes) can lead to new and exciting ideas and ways of thinking and acting.
Economic Botany
****Shiuying Hu, Food Plants of China, Chinese University Press, Hong Kong, 2006, 844 pp., paperback, $45,00; hardcover, $98.00
The author of this remarkable new classic text is herself rather remarkable. Dr. Hu has spent over a half century studying the botany of her homeland, she is the author of An Enumeration of Chinese Materia Medica (1999), The Genera Orchidaceae in Hong Kong (1977), the co-author of Wild Flowers of Hong Kong (1977), and Wild Flowers of South China and of Hong Kong (1988). She has published more than 160 papers on botany [especially on the genera Ilex, Hemerocaulis, Paulonia, Malvaceae, Compositae, Asteraceae, and Orchidaceae). She has also published articles on Chinese medicinal plants including Ginseng, Eucommia, Dendrobium, and Ephedra. Her encyclopedia of Chinese edible plants is exhaustive. She covers 1,430 plant species, varieties, and cultivars used in China from ancient times to today as foods, spices, famine (survival) foods and beverages. Part I of the book covers cultural aspects of Chinese food plants – cultivation, food storage and preservation, fermented foods, cooking techniques and recipes, the use of spices and Chinese herbal teas. The second part of the book is a thorough list of all of the plants used with common name(s), Latin name, Chinese name(s), a brief mention of part used and uses and a detailed botanical description of the plant and its geographical location. While this is not light reading or a book that everyone will find useful, people who are fascinated by Chinese culture, medicine, or food will find this massive book of use and a valuable reference.
**Prance, G. [Ed.], The Cultural History of Plants, Routledge, NY, 2005, 452 pp., hardcover, $150.00
The UK publisher Routledge tends to publish scholarly books with a hefty price tag. This book is no exception.
The book is a collection of chapters on man’s use of plants for food (wild foods, grains, fruits, tubers, nuts, seeds, spices, vegetables, etc.), medicine, psychoactives, fibers, dyes, wood, and other economic uses. It catalogs most common and uncommon plants in each caregory and gives their history, geographical origins, current uses, and distribution as well as facts about processing and cultivation. Did you know the Ylang Ylang was first “discovered” in Java and was(is) used as a temple offering, for garlands, and to adorn bridal beds? If you like to play herbal trivial pursuit, this book will keep you entertained for weeks. Elsewise, unless you are a writer of herb or plant books, this is an expensive book that has little practical use.
****Van Wyk, B., Food Plants of The World, Timber Press, Portland, OR, 2005, hardcover, $39.95
I love food and anyone who knows me can see the evidence of my passion. Ethiopian food, Thai food, Cajun food, Sushi, Island cuisine – yum! The more one eats beyond the typical American diet, you discover a world (literally) of unusual, nutritious, tasty, and sometimes downright peculiar fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, spices, grains, and tubers. Teff, the world’s smallest grain, is ground and made into the spongy Ethopian bread injera. Carob pods are thought to be the “locusts” that sustained John the Baptist (St. John’s bread) in the desert and the uniform seeds may be the source of the word carat, still used by jewelers today. This volume has monographs on over 350 food plants, each with a botanical description, information on the origin and history of the food, the parts used, cultivation, and harvesting information. Each monograph describes the uses, properties, and nutritional value of the food, and has one, two, three, or even four full color photographs of the flowering plant, the part used, and often shots of the product as it is found in the market. For anyone interested in food plants, common and uncommon, this book is by far the best introduction to this topic.
If you’d
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Herbal Therapeutics, Inc., P.O. Box 553, Broadway, NJ 08808.
Reviews of New Books for the Herbal Library - 2005
David Winston, RH (AHG) ©2005
Reviewer’s code: ***** highly recommended, purchase immediately
**** very good, worth having
*** good, but not essential
** may have some useful information, but
overall not
worth buying
* not worth the paper it’s printed on
Western Herbal Medicine
****Brinker, F., Complex Herbs-Complete Medicines-A Merger of Eclectic and Naturopathic Visions of Botanical Medicine, Eclectic Medical Publications, Sandy, OR, 2004, $24.95
This is a fascinating book that gives the reader a detailed look into traditional and modern medicinal plant preparations, and what truly constitutes good quality. Brinker shows that the modern fad of standardization is not all that is it is purported to be and liberally quotes the famed Eclectic pharmacist, John Uri Lloyd’s works as examples. A detailed look at Eclectic and modern uses and research on 9 popular medicinal plants (Saw Palmetto, Echinacea, Kava, Milk Thistle, etc.) is of great value as well.
***McKenna, D., Jones, K., Hughes, K., Botanical Medicines, the Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements, Haworth Herbal Press, NY, 2002, 2nd ed., $89.95
This rather large and expensive book ($89.95 for a paperback) is rather limited in its scope. The authors thoroughly review the literature on 30 popular medicinal herbs and 3 plant derived supplements (Red Rice Yeast, Grape Seed Extract, Evening Primrose Oil). Each monograph gives a brief review of the botany, history, and traditional uses of the herb and then gives an in-depth review of the chemistry, pre-clinical studies (animal and in-vitro studies), clinical studies, dosage, safety, profile, and a host of references. For the herbalist, it could be a useful reference; for the physician wanting to practice evidence-based medicine, it could become a “bible” for allopathic herbal practice.
****Hanson, B., Understanding Medicinal Plants-Their Chemistry and Therapeutic Action, Haworth Herbal Press, NY, 2005, $44.95
Few herbalists have in-depth training in Phytochemistry. Is this a significant problem? The answer is both no and yes. A good herbalist can practice effectively without knowing the difference between an alkaloid and a flavonoid. Taste, energetics, differential diagnosis can usually help to discern the appropriate herbs or herbs much more effectively the knowing the plant’s chemistry. Be that as it may, in today’s increasingly complex world, it is a very good idea for an herbalist to know the difference between aristolochic acid and betulinic acid, between an isoquinoline alkaloid and a pyrrolizidine alkaloid. This book explains the chemical and phytochemical mechanisms of medicinal plants to those of us who avoided biochemistry and pharmacology classes in college. The text is straight forward, with excellent graphics designed to help the chemically challenged grasp this important but daunting area of study.
*****Mills, S., Bone, K., The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety, Elsevier, St. Louis, 2005, $59.95
With the increased popularity of herbs has come increased paranoia about the dangers of herbs. Make no mistake – some plants are toxic, others can have adverse effects, and herb/drug interactions do exist. Yet when we compare deaths in the U.S. from herbs (less than 37 per year) to deaths caused by properly prescribed pharmaceutical drugs in hospitals (140,000-218,000 per year), the comparison is sobering. Why so much fear in the media (it sells papers), medical establishment (ignorance), pharmaceutical industry (herbs are competition), and the government (see the 3 previous causes)? Mills and Bone’s book has its limitations, but it is clearly the most exhaustive and comprehensive work on the topic available. They examine 125 herbs, looking at their safety, possible interactions, toxicology, dosage, adulterants, use in pregnancy, and adverse reactions. For now, this is the standard text on the topic and it puts the other titles discussing this topic where most belong – in a trash bin.
***Dougherty, A.K., Herbal Voices – American Herbalism Through the Words of American Herbalists, Haworth Integrative Healing Press, 2005, $34.95
The author has interviewed an interesting mix of well-known (Rosemary Gladstar, David Hoffmann, Jim Green) and less well-known American herbalists, recording their thoughts on the practice of modern Herbalism, ecological issues, herbal education, the herbal industry, the history of American Herbalism, licensure, and more. Personally, I would have chosen a greater number of people in the forefront of the American herbal movement, but this book is an interesting snapshot into what 20 herbal practitioners, manufacturers, and educators believe and think about their vocation and avocation.
***Reynolds, T., Aloes, The Genus Aloe, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2004, $119.95
If you want to know everything possible about aloe, this book is for you. This detailed text covers aloe botany and taxonomy, chemistry (there are individual chapters on aloe polysaccharides, aloe lectins, and aloe exudate), aloe therapeutics, including its use in wound healing, immune stimulation, treating skin cancer, and thermal and frostbite injuries, as well as aloe biology and aloe processing and production. In short, an herbalist would find the chapters on medicinal uses interesting, but someone manufacturing aloe products would find this authoritative text indispensable. This series of books is a joint venture between CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, and Harwood Academic Publishers. Their intent is to create a library of industrial profiles of medicinal and aromatic plants, primarily for the herb industry and academia. The book’s high cost and limited information on medicinal uses of aloe make it a luxury for the average herbalist’s library.
****Flint, M., The Practicing Herbalist-Thoughts For Meeting With Clients, Earthsong Press, Marblehead, MA, 2005, $79.95
It is difficult to honestly review a book written by a friend and former student. I certainly cannot profess objectivity. Margi’s book is a unique work by a gifted American herbalist and artist and is illustrated throughout by the author’s lovely artwork. This volume is satisfying to the eye and mind. It is geared to both beginning and experienced clinicians describing how to start an herbal practice, do an effective intake evaluation, create effective protocols (including Lyme disease, cancer, preparation for surgery, etc.), and a detailed guide to physical evaluation and diagnosis. Combining Eastern and Western diagnostics as taught by William LeSassier, Mathew Wood, and myself, readers will discover the basics of tongue, facial, stool, urine, eye analysis, as well as organ/body correspondences and disease energetics. While I do not necessary agree with every diagnostic indicator, this is clearly a book that will enrich any herbalist and help them to help their patients.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
****Wiseman, N., Ellis, A. [Ed.], Ten Lectures On The Use Of Medicinals From The Personal Experience Of Jiao Shu De, Paradigm Publications, Brookline, MA, 2003, $79.95
There are many TCM Bencaos (materia medicas), and after you read a few they mostly seem to be repetitive in content and information. There are a few exceptions, Chen and Chen (see 2004 book review), the new edition of Bensky, Gamble, et al, and Li Sh’Zhen’s Compendium of Materia Medica (below). Wiseman and Ellis’ translation of Jiao Shu De’s lectures also rises above the average book on Chinese medicines. The author is known throughout China as a master physician and he focuses not only on the uses of an “herb”, but therapeutic comparisons and the herbs they should be combined with for each symptom pattern. This type of practical experience transcends the usual repetitive TCM literature and truly enhances the clinician’s understanding of their medicines.
****Yifan Yang, Chinese Herbal Medicines-Comparisons and Characteristics, Churchill Livingston, Edinburgh, 2002, $49.95
Yifan Yang’s book also helps to differentiate the unique characteristics of each Chinese medicinal and compares it with other substances that treat similar conditions. The book is written as a series of questions on the characteristics of each therapeutic category, i.e., herbs that expel wind dampness or herbs that transform phlegm, and then the author discusses the different herbs appropriate for that pattern and why you would choose one over another. To further clarify the book’s message, charts are included which visually compare the strength and temperature of the various herbs in each category.
***Li Shi Zhen, Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu), Vol. 1-6, Foreign Language Press, Beijing, 2003, $1200.00
The Ben Cao Gan Mu, written in 1593, is considered the greatest of all Chinese Materia Medicas. Only small parts of this massive work have ever been translated into English. For the first time, a team of Chinese scholars has translated the entire work into English. The result is 6 large volumes with a total of almost 4400 pages. The quality of the printing and binding is better than much of what is usually produced in China and the translation is clear and makes sense. Additional notes are added to the original text to provide modern comparisons and applications. The real question is do you need such an expensive set of books (they can be found at 1/2 price, $600.00, if you’re persistent) and for anyone but a scholar of Chinese medicine or a TCM practitioner with unlimited funds, the answer is probably no.
****Schnorrenberger, C.&B., Pocket Atlas of Tongue Diagnosis, Thieme, Stuttgart, 2005, $49.95
What a unique and useful little book! Translated from German, the authors provide an excellent introduction to Chinese tongue diagnosis with clear color pictures and suggestions for therapy (acupuncture, herbs and diet) for the symptom patterns displayed on each tongue. The book’s early chapters provide information on TCM theory, a history of tongue diagnosis, western anatomy of the tongue, and craniofacial nerves (with color illustrations) and 2 good chapters on the methodology of tongue diagnosis.
Ethnobotany
*****Austin, D., Florida Ethnobotany, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2004, $149.95
There was very limited information on the Ethnobotany of the plants native to Florida until now. One book has changed that and Dr. Austin is to be commended for producing what is now the standard work on the uses of the plants in the Southeastern-most U.S. Almost 900 species of plants are covered (with more than 500 illustrations) and each plant monograph has a detailed description of its local and ethnic names, the plant’s history, and a multitude of uses. Included are economic uses (soap, lumber, basket-making, dyes, etc.), medical uses, culinary uses, and even stories and folklore about many of the plants. Since the original native peoples of Florida (the Appalachee, Calusa, Timucua) were mostly exterminated at a very early date, there is very little information about their plant use. Later émigrés (the Seminole, Mikosuki, Spanish, Cubans) uses are included and the author wisely chose to also include uses of these plants by people in the Caribbean, Mexico and surrounding areas of the continental U.S. as well.
**** Salguero, C.P., A Thai Herbal, Findhorn Press, Forres, Scotland, 2003, $15.95
Thai herbal medicine is not well known in the West. Sandwiched between China and India, both of whose herbal traditions are well-documented, Thai traditions have received relatively little attention. The author studied Thai massage and traditional herbalism for 4 years in Thailand and has produced a nice introduction to Thai herbs, Thai medicine, food, and healing practices. Salguero introduces the reader to the theories of Royal Thai medicine, food herbs, herbs used in Thai massage and steam baths, how herbs are prepared, mixed and collected, plus a materia medica of over 170 short monographs on Thai herbs and medicinal substances. Included are herbs westerners are very familiar with such as Holy Basil, Aloe, and Black Pepper, as well as lesser-known herbs such as Tongkat Ali, Plumbago, and Zeodoria.
**Mueller, M., Mechler, E., Medicinal Plants in Tropical Countries-Traditional Use-Experience-Facts, Thieme, Stuttgart, 2005, $109.95
This book looks at 26 plants that grow in various tropical countries and offers an evidence-based approach to their use as medicines. Common plants such as Ginger, Turmeric, Aloe, and Cayenne are mingled with plants few American herbalists know or can access (Adansonia, Cajanus, Vernonia, or Balanites). Each herb monograph briefly describes the botany, taxonomy, chemistry, and traditional uses of the plant. This is followed by a more in-depth discussion of experimental and clinical studies, cautions, an evaluation as to the effectiveness of each plant, and a bibliography. The information certainly has value, but such an odd compilation of a small number of plants from around the world’s tropical regions seems to have a limited value or clinical relevance.
****Taylor, L. The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, Square One Publishers, Garden City Park, NY (www.squareonepublishers.com), 2005, $23.95
For herbalists interested in the medical flora of the greater Amazon rain forest, there are only a few good in-print texts in English (Schultes & Raffauf, the Healing Forest, Duke, Amazonian Ethnobotanical Dictionary). Leslie Taylor, a naturopathic physician, has done an excellent job collecting information on the ethnobotanical uses, constituents, clinical research, preparations, and contraindications of 83 plants, including herbs such as Maura Puama and Damiana, which are very difficult to find good data on. The author has an herb company that supplies sustainably harvested Amazonian botanicals and after reading her clear and detailed presentations on Chanca Piedra (Phyllanthus niruri), Sangre de Grado (Croton lechieri), and Aveloz (Euphorbia tirucalli), I am inclined to order some and start using them clinically.
________________________________________________________________________
Reviews of New Books for the Herbal
Library - 2004
David Winston, RH (AHG) ©2004
Reviewer’s code:
***** highly recommended, purchase immediately
**** very good, worth having
*** good, but not essential
** may have some useful information,
but overall not worth buying
* not worth the paper it’s printed on
If you’d like your book reviewed, please forward to P.O.
Box 553, Broadway, NJ 08808.
Western Herbal Medicine
*****Hoffmann, David, Medical
Herbalism-The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine, Healing Arts Press,
Rochester, VT (www.innertraditions.com), 2003, $60.00
This massive text (666 pp.) combines an updated and expanded version of David’s
earlier clinician’s manual, Therapeutic Herbalism, with his long awaited
work on phytochemistry for herbalists. For its content and scope the book is
very reasonably priced and I believe should be on every clinical herbalists
reference shelf. I especially find the chapters on phytochemistry
(carbohydrates, terpenes, polyphenols, alkaloids, etc.), pharmacodynamics,
pharmacology, pharmokinetics, and treatment approaches by body system extremely
useful.
****Skenderi, Gazmed, Herbal Vade
Mecum, Herbacy Press, Rutherford, NJ, 2003, (available from H&A, Inc.)
$24.95
Skenderi is a classically trained Albanian Pharmacognocist who has training and
language skills few American researchers can duplicate. His book is an
excellent reference work for the clinician, but even more so for the researcher
and educator. He covers over 800 herbs, spices, essential oils, and other
natural products, listing common and botanical names, constituents, medicinal or
economic uses, properties, and cautions (he is very cautious). It unfortunately
does not list doses, but it does make available some of the best German
phytotherapeutic literature formerly unavailable in English (especially Madaus’
Lehrbuch, and Hagers’ Handbuch).
***Menzies-Trull, Christopher, Herbal
Medicine, Keys to Physiomedicalism Including Pharmacopoeia, Faculty of
Physiomedical Herbal Medicine (16 Grosvenor Rd., Newcastle, Staffs, ST5 1LW,
England), 2003, £70.00 (approx. $130.00 plus
shipping)
This textbook from the UK is unique in that it has a very useful and detailed
introduction to Physiomedical practice, a very effective but poorly understood
form of herbal medicine. It is a large work (1033 pp.), but in my opinion could
have used some judicious pruning by a good editor. The materia medica is
substantial but undifferentiated lists of medical indications gleaned from other
works are not that useful unless a practitioner already knows his/her herbs
really well. I do think the information on tissue conditions (black letter
symptoms) is often of significant use, as is the data on dosage.
*****Moore, Michael, Medicinal Plants
of the Mountain West, Museum of New Mexico Press, Sante Fe, NM, 2nd
ed.-revised and expanded, 2003, $24.95
All of Michael’s books are superb and the revised and enlarged 2nd
edition of his 1979 classic text is no exception. While the original edition is
still excellent, the new book adds several new monographs (Balsam Root,
Chokecherry, Fireweed, Hawthorn, Red Osier, Sweet Root, Yerbal del lobo),
significant updates of all the original monographs, 16 pp. of color photographs
and more of Moore’s wit, experience, and superb clinical advice. No one can
help you treat patients who have eaten too many 3 day old pizzas, chugged too
much ouzo at boring parties, and driven cross-country without sleeping and
chowing down on Cheetos more than Michael can.
*****Ross, J., Combining Western
Herbs and Chinese Medicine-Principles, Practice, & Materia Medica,
Greenfield’s Press, Seattle, 2003, $149.00
If you like the idea of using Western herbs in a TCM paradigm, this is the book
for you. Ross covers 50 major Western herbs and details their use according to
traditional Western, TCM, and modern phytomedical uses. This text is much more
scholarly and accurate then previous attempts at combining Western/Eastern herb
practice (Tierra, Holmes) and gives detailed information on formula,
construction, safety, and over 1500 references. I personally found the
information on herb pairs (the bases of formulas), the comparisons of TCM and
Western actions, and the obvious experience that the author has, make this book
a significant contribution to the herbal literature.
***Blumenthal, Mark, The ABC Clinical
Guide to Herbs, American Botanical Council, Austin, TX,
(www.herbalgram.org),
2003, $69.95
Mark’s new book review clinical studies of 30 popular herbs (Black Cohosh,
Kava, Cat’s Claw, Saw Palmetto, etc.) and phytopharmaceuticals (Capsaicin,
Berberine, Pycnogenol), plus 12 popular proprietary formulas (Esberitox®,
Liv52®, Padma 28®). The result is a useful guide to
research studies done on specific herbal products through 2001. The layout is
well done, easy to read, and the charts listing the studies and their outcomes
are excellent. This text can certainly be useful to the herbal clinician who
uses standardized herbal products and physicians who want to use
phytopharmaceuticals with a strong evidence-based approach.
***Mitchell, William, Plant Medicine
in Practice – Using the Teachings of John Bastyr, Churchill Livingstone,
www.elsevierhealth.com,
2003, $64.95
Bill Mitchell is a superb herbal clinician, educator, and Naturopathic
physician. I was eagerly awaiting his new book on the botanical remedies of
Bill’s mentor, John Bastyr, ND. Once I got my copy, I must admit I was a bit
disappointed. There are errors throughout the book (especially botanical
nomenclature as well as the indexing) and some plants seem to be included for no
apparent reason, except to say Dr. Bastyr did not use them. The information on
constituents often seems to be an afterthought and mostly does nothing to
improve the book. Despite these faults, there are still clinical gems that any
clinician would be pleased to know scattered throughout the book – the use of
Milk Thistle and B6 for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Ceanothus for
leukemia, Yarrow and Hydrastis for congestive prostatitis, Polygala for
strabismus, and noting that Valerian should only be used as a sedative for
patients with a pale face and cool skin.
****Alfs, Matthew, 300 Herbs,
Indications and Contradictions, Old Theology Book House (P.O. Box 120342,
New Brighton, MN 55112), 2003, $25.00
As the title states, the author lists 300 herbs with their energetics, their TCM
patterns, the Ayurvedic dosha’s affected, their indications according to body
systems, contraindications and doses. The repertory with specific symptom
indications is worth the cost of the book alone. This text is a concise manual
to help the clinician make appropriate therapeutic choices without having to
look in dozens of books because the author has done that job for you.
****Patton, Darryl, Mountain
Medicine-The Herbal Remedies of Tommie Bass, Natural Reader Press (P.O. Box
130255, Birmingham, AL 35213), 2004, $24.95
Tommie Bass was one of two highly influential folk herbalists (Catfish Gray was
the other) that practiced in the American South in the mid-20th
century. Bass deserves this posthumous tribute to his life and to his simple
but highly effective herbal practice. The book is a loving tribute to a great
herbalist, full of beautiful color photos of the plants he used and details on
the way the plants are used and prepared. I especially like the emphasis on
lesser-known Southeastern plants such as Dogwood, Cucumber Magnolia, Crossvine,
Bay Laurel, Peach, Rabbit Tobacco, Redbud, and Sourwood.
****Kraft, K., & Hobbs, C., Pocket
Guide to Herbal Medicine, Thieme (www.thieme.com),
2004, $34.95
This handy pocket guide to herbal practice was originally published in Germany
as a guide for physicians using botanical remedies. Thieme wisely chose
Christopher Hobbs, AHG, to “Americanize” the U.S. edition, making it more useful
and accessible, unlike some other translated German texts (Komission E). This
new publication summarizes the uses of over 100 herbs and gives herbal protocols
(German phytotherapy model) for many conditions including congestive heart
failure, acute gastritis, and biliary dyskinesia. The section on herbal
hydrotherapy is excellent and is more likely to be used by American herbalists
or Naturopathic physicians, then orthodox practitioners.
****Anonymous, E/S/C/O/P monographs, 2nd
edition, European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy, Thieme, 2003, $135.00
The original ESCOP monographs were published from 1996 through 1999; they were
an excellent scientific review of the known data on the 60 herbs covered. The
new hardbound edition (the original edition was published as fascicules in a
ring binder) has added 20 new monographs-plus the editors have updated all of
the original monographs and added additional references (almost 5000 citations).
Each monograph covers the botanical identify of the herb, it’s constituents,
therapeutic indications, dosage, effects on pregnancy and lactation,
contraindications and possible interactions, toxicity, plus in vitro, in-vivo,
and clinical studies. The 80 herbs covered include commonly used herbs such as
Echinacea, Chaste Tree, Hawthorn, Licorice, and Ginger, as well as less commonly
used (in the US) European herbs such as Restharrow, Black Currant Leaf, and
Primula.
TCM
*****Chen, J., & Chen, T., Chinese
Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, Art of Medicine Press, City of Industry,
CA (www.aompress.com),
2004, $89.95
All I can say is wow. If you only have one TCM materia medica, this is the one
to get. It has over 1200 pages of information on TCM uses, differential
diagnosis, dosage, comparisons and differentiations between similar herbs,
contraindications, traditional combinations (formulas), and over 1150 color and
black & white photos. If you like Bensky & Gamble’s Chinese Materia Medica,
you will love this book because it is superior to what used to be my favorite
“Ben Cao” (TCM materia medica) in every way.
Ayurveda
***1/2 Williamson, Elizabeth,
Major Herbs of Ayurveda, Churchill Livingstone (www.elsevierhealth.com),
2002, $49.95.
The literature on Ayurvedic and Indian medicinal plants is huge and largely
disappointing. Book after book that, if you could only cut and paste a dozen
together, you might get one worthwhile title. Williamson’s book is not great
but it is better than most, giving the reader a summary of over 70 of the most
commonly used Ayurvedic plants with information on their botany, chemistry,
traditional uses, modern uses with clinical studies, ethnoveterinary uses,
doses, and safety profiles. In addition, the color photos and the book’s
relatively low cost make it a good reference for those of you using Indian
medicinal plants.
Ethnobotany
**Roth, I., Lindorf, H., South
American Medicinal Plants-Botany, Remedial Properties, and General Use,
Springer-Verlag, (www.springer.de),
2002, $175.00
This book is a scholarly examination of the Phytochemistry, Pharmacognosy,
and to some degree Ethnobotany of plants used in South America for medicine,
food, and as hallucinogens. Researchers and botanists will find this book of
use, especially the close up photographs of leaf microvenation for plant
identification. Herbalists and other clinicians will be disappointed by the
lack of detailed information on medicinal uses, dosage, clinical studies, or
anything approaching clinical relevance.
*Garrett, J.T., The Cherokee Herbal,
Bear & Co., Inner Traditions, Rochester, VT, (www.innertraditions.com),
2003, $15.00
It’s amazing that a book this bad could be published, but herbs and Indians are
popular and I’ll bet this book sells well. Don’t be fooled - this book puts
herbs into categories of directions (East, South, West, & North) which is not a
part of the Cherokee medical tradition. Garrett (who is Cherokee) claims the
medicine of the East represents the female and male energies and the gift of
birth. Oh, please spare us this Pan-Indian crap. Much of the book is “gleaned”
from previously published sources (Virgil Vogel, Hamel & Chiltoskey, Alma
Hutchens, James Mooney, Richard Foreman, Jim Duke) without adding much that is
original or clinically useful. Reading the book makes it obvious the author has
not actually used any of these herbs and writes not from experience but rather
by repeating other writer’s material, errors and all.
Book Sources:
Redwing Book Company –
www.redwingbooks.com,
(505) 758-7758.
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