Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief [Paperback]

David Winston (Author), Steven Maimes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2, 2007

The definitive guide to adaptogenic herbs, formerly known as “tonics,” that counter the effects of age and stress on the body

• Reveals how adaptogens increase the body’s resistance to adverse influences

• Provides a history of the use of these herbal remedies and the actions, properties, preparation, and dosage for each herb

We all deal with stress every day, and every day our bodies strive to adapt and stay balanced and healthy. In Adaptogens, authors David Winston and Steven Maimes provide a comprehensive look into adaptogens, non-toxic herbs such as ginseng, eleuthero, and licorice, that produce a defensive response to stress in our bodies. Formerly known as rejuvenating herbs or tonics, adaptogens help the body to “adapt” to the many influences it encounters. They increase stamina and counter the normal effects of aging and thus are becoming important tools in sports medicine and in the prevention and treatment of chronic fatigue and other stress-related disorders.

Winston and Maimes present the historical uses of these herbal remedies in India, Russia, China, and the Americas and explain how they work and why they are so effective at combating stress-induced illness. Monographs for each adaptogen also present the latest scientific research and include the origin, traditional use, actions, properties, preparation, and dosage for each herb.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Adaptogenic herbs can be most useful in the quest for health in our stressful society. David Winston and Steven Maimes explain and champion the use and benefits of these important herbs."
(James A. Duke, author of The Green Pharmacy )

"This is a much needed book, an important update to the materia medica of North America, and constitutes important continuing education on a wide variety of new herbs entering into the North American herbal marketplace." (
Paul Bergner, Medical Herbalism, Winter 2007 )

"It's about time a book took on the subject of immune herbs, and this one does an excellent job of explaining why they are so effective at combating stress-induced illness. The text is very easy to read and understand, but still contains the latest scientific research, all well referenced." (
American Herb Association, Vol. 23:1, April 08 )

“Brilliant! Fully researched, full of information not readily available, as well as being practical and easy to digest. The authors have managed to blend the traditional and recent scientific information into a fully comprehensive and informative text. This will become a classic, a definitive work on this most important group of medicinal plants.”
(Rosemary Gladstar, founder of United Plant Savers and author of Herbal Healing for Women )

“Essential reading for all involved with adaptogens, whether practitioners or consumers. This is the first comprehensive guide to adaptogens based on good herbalism, good science, and NO hype! A truly excellent book.”
(David Hoffmann, BSc, FNIMH, author of Medical Herbalism and Herbal Prescriptions after 50 )

“With Adaptogens, David Winston and Steven Maimes have finally made this important healing concept accessible to a wider audience. We need adaptogens--gentle remedies that, over time, have the powerful effect of restoring and protecting our health on many levels. David Winston’s vast clinical and practical knowledge of herbs adds tremendously to the value of the book.”
(Christopher Hobbs, author of Handmade Herbal Medicines and Natural Therapy for Your Liver )

"There is so much valuable information packed into this volume that I am grateful to have my own copy and will keep it close by as a very handy reference"
(

Marjorie Tietjen, Price-Pottenger: Journal of Health and Healing, Volume 34 / Number 2, September 2010

)

From the Back Cover

HEALTH / NUTRITION

“We need adaptogens for their powerful effect of restoring and protecting our health. Finally, this important healing concept is made accessible to a wider audience.”
--CHRISTOPHER HOBBS, author of Handmade Herbal Medicines and Natural Therapy for Your Liver

“Adaptogens are destined to play an increasingly important role in the future of health care. This book provides an excellent introduction to and comprehensive overview of their traditional uses and of the science supporting their safety and therapeutic benefits.”
--MARK BLUMENTHAL, founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council

“Brilliant! . . . a definitive work on this most important group of medicinal plants.”
--ROSEMARY GLADSTAR, founder of United Plant Savers and author of Herbal Healing for Women

We all deal with stress every day, and every day our bodies strive to adapt and stay balanced and healthy. In Adaptogens, authors David Winston and Steven Maimes provide a comprehensive look into adaptogens, nontoxic herbs such as ginseng, eleuthero, and licorice, that produce a defensive response to stress in our bodies. These rejuvenating herbs and tonics help the body to “adapt” to the many influences it encounters. They increase stamina and counter the normal effects of aging and thus are becoming important tools in sports medicine and in the prevention and treatment of chronic fatigue and other stress-related disorders.

Winston and Maimes present the historical uses of these herbal remedies in India, Russia, China, and the Americas and explain how they work and why they are so effective at combating stress-induced illness. Monographs for each adaptogen also present the latest scientific research and include the origin, traditional use, actions, properties, preparation, and dosage for each herb.

DAVID WINSTON, RH(AHG), is an herbalist and ethnobotanist who has practiced Cherokee, Chinese, and Western herbal medicine since 1969. He is a founding member of the American Herbalists Guild, an internationally known lecturer on the topic of herbal medicine, and the president of Herbalist and Alchemist, Inc., a company that manufactures over 300 herbal products. He is the author of Herbal Therapeutics and Saw Palmetto for Men & Women and coauthor of Herbal Therapy and Supplements, and he lives in Washington, New Jersey. STEVEN MAIMES, the former owner of an herbal products business in the San Francisco Bay Area, is a researcher, freelance writer, and principal of SALAM Research in Rochester, New Hampshire.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Healing Arts Press; 1 edition (April 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594771588
• ISBN-13: 978-1594771583
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Personal Health > Stress > Stress Management

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book on an important class of herbs, April 22, 2007

By 

Karen Vaughan "Herblady" (Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief (Paperback)

The great American herbalist David Winston and researcher Steven Maimes have written an excellent analysis on what is arguably the most important class of herbs for those of us living in a stressed world. The book is clearly written and free of jargon, but will meet the needs both of professional herbalists and those who want to understand this group of herbs more deeply. Adaptogens are herbs that help us work better, which balance our neuroendocrine system as well as our immune system, which make our organs function normally and which increase stamina. Herbs like ginseng, schisandra, eleuthero, ashwaganda, holy basil and lycium (goji) berries are described in useful monographs. Interestingly, the book differentiates adaptogens from similar or overlapping classes of herbs like Chinese qi tonics, Ayurvedic rasayanas, amphoterics which normalize the functions of specific organs, and alteratives which enhance generalized elimination. I highly recommend this book to people at all levels of interest in herbal medicine.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars, April 25, 2007

By 

Jamie M. Plante - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief (Paperback)

As a student of traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, I find this book very useful as it highlights many traditional herbs as adaptogens. These herbs are important for health and well-being and the authors have presented a valuable reference book for both practitioner and general reader. The section on herbal adaptogens and monographs on adaptogens are particularly useful.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Art of Herbal Medicine Reflected in Adaptogens book, November 26, 2007

By 

MLB "Dr Mary Bove" (Brattleboro, VT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief (Paperback)

I am delighted to hear David Winston's voice reflecting his skill and wisdom as a herbalist in the book Adaptogens Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress. This book brings to the reader the opportunity to learn from both the traditional herbal knowledge on this important subject along with the information coming to the subject from science and modern technology. The book has the flavor of a more traditional herbal bringing in the subtle skill of energies unique to each individual plant which belong to this group and introducing the reader to the concept of formulation of adaptogen plants. The reader can truly begins to experience the Art of Herbal Medicine reflected in David's writing voice.