Herbal Emissaries [Paperback]

Steven Foster (Author), Yue Chongxi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1992

 
This extensive and engaging book--the first collaboration between a Chinese scientist and an American author and herbalist--blends traditional wisdom from both cultures with scientific verification of the medical effectiveness of many ancient Chinese plants, thereby deepening our knowledge of and appreciation for ornamentals whose usefulness extends far beyond their beauty. 
  
More plants have been introduced from China to American and European gardens than from any other part of the world.

Many of the Asian species grown as ornamentals--such as daylilies, forsythia, gardenia, peonies, crape myrtle, and mums--are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. 

The authors supply specific techniques for cultivating Chinese herbs and flowers in Western gardens, as well as for using them medicinally.
 

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Since 1949, China has worked to integrate traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern Western medicine, so that today both systems are used, along with a blend of the two. TCM is now researched using scientific methods at institutions such as the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing, where Chongxi is a pharmacognosist. He has also authored numerous works on herbal medicine. Foster has authored several herb books (and coauthored the Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants , Houghton, 1990). The authors introduce Western readers to a blend of the two systems by describing about 50 plants used in TCM that are also known to Westerners as ornamentals, weeds, or herbs (e.g., day lilies, gardenias, honeysuckle, privet, and forsythia). They cover in detail the uses, history, dosage, descriptions, cultivation, and processing of each plant. An excellent resource for alternative medicine collections.
- Katharine Galloway Garstka, Intergraph Corp., Huntsville, Ala.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"An authoritative guide to 44 common Chinese medicinal herbs grown in the U.S. but seldom regarded for their medicinal properties."
(Natural Health )

". . . a detailed, readable guide to Chinese herbs, ornamental shrubs and flowering plants, and their medicinal uses."
(?Booklist, ALA )

". . . a valuable addition to plant science."
(?American Herb Association )

"Since 1949, China has worked to integrate traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern Western medicine, so that today both systems are used, along with a blend of the two. TCM is now researched using scientific methods at institutions such as the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing, where Chongxi is a pharmacognosist. He has also authored numerous works on herbal medicine. Foster has authored several herb books (and coauthored the Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants, Houghton, 1990). The authors introduce Western readers to a blend of the two systems by describing about 50 plants used in TCM that are also known to Westerners as ornamentals, weeds, or herbs (e.g., day lilies, gardenias, honeysuckle, privet, and forsythia). They cover in detail the uses, history, dosage, descriptions, cultivation, and processing of each plant. An excellent resource for alternative medicine collections."
(Library Journal (Wednesday, July 01, 1992) ?Katharine Galloway Garstka, Intergraph Corp., Huntsville, Ala. )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: Healing Arts Press; First Edition edition (April 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892813490
• ISBN-13: 978-0892813490
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #403,875 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steven Foster is the author or co-author of seventeen books, including National Geographic's A Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine (2006, with Rebecca Johnson), a 2007 New York Public Library "Best of Reference." He is senior author of three Peterson Field Guides, including A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs (with Dr. James A. Duke), 2nd edition, 2000, A Field Guide to Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs with Christopher Hobbs, (2002), and A Field Guide to Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants of North America (with Roger Caras, 1995). My goal is simply to explore the relationship between people and plants in words and images. My travels have taken me to every continent except Antarctica, mostly in search of medicinal plants to photograph from the Amazon rainforest to the highlands of Vietnam, resulting in a photographic library of over 200,000 images. In 1974, I began my career at the Herb Department of the Sabbathday Lake, Maine, Shaker Community, America's oldest herb business dating to 1799. It has been an extraordinary journey, and it is my pleasure to share my experience through my books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful info & history of herbs, February 5, 2009

By 

J. Smith (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Herbal Emissaries (Paperback)

This book is great. It explains the modern uses of Chinese herbs as well as history & folklore. Wonderful addition to my herbal book collection. I also recommend Herbal Renaissance for western herb history. Both are by Steven Foster.