Latino Folk Medicine: Healing Herbal Remedies from Ancient Traditions [Paperback]

Anthony DeStefano (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2001

Camphor for asthma . . . Guajava for skin care . . . Eucalyptus for bronchitis . . . Dragon's Blood for wounds . . . Cat's Claw for arthritis. . . .

The Latino folk pharmacopoeia is one of the largest and richest on earth. Drawing on a centuries-old culture of healing tradition, informed by a deep reverence for history, this marvelous resource gives a vivid, balanced look at Latino folk medicine as practiced across America. Inside you will meet the lay healers, curanderes, who prescribe for the sick, visit the botanicas that sell hundreds of medicinal plant products, and learn all about the folk remedy tradition, including how

¸  GINGER can soothe an upset stomach
¸  ANISE keeps colic under control
¸  KALALLO BUSH treats the common cold
¸  EMBAUBA works as an astringent on dry skin

Each botanical profile lists the scientific and common name, where the plant is grown and its physical characteristics, traditional uses, availability and dosage, and contraindications and special precautions. It is important to note that herbs should only be taken with the consultation of your physician.

Welcome to the world of the yerba buena ("good herb"), where scientists are finding new hope for chronic disease and ordinary folk are discovering new possibilities for better health and well-being!

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter DeStefano (New York Newsday) offers information on approximately 60 of the most widely used medicinal plants in Mexico and Central and South America and among North American Hispanic populations. The author provides a brief historical background and cultural/spiritual context but focuses on descriptions of the plants, including uses, dosages, precautions, and research findings. Many of these plants are native to Latin America, but others, such as anise, eucalyptus, peppermint, and ginger, were introduced to the Americas. Much of the information seems drawn from publications widely in use, such as Mark Blumenthal's The Complete German Commission E Monographs (American Botanical Council, 1998). Although DeStefano interviewed curanderas and other healers, as well as physicians, it is disappointing that the book was not co-written with a specialist. Complementing the many resources describing traditional Asian herbal remedies, this book fills a niche and is guardedly recommended here, but one should also consider Abel Delgado's Los Mejores Remedios Caseros ("The Best Home Remedies," Rodale Pr., 1998).DAndy Wickens, King Cty. Lib. Syst., Seattle
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

Camphor for asthma . . . Guajava for skin care . . . Eucalyptus for bronchitis . . . Dragon's Blood for wounds . . . Cat's Claw for arthritis. . . .

The Latino folk pharmacopoeia is one of the largest and richest on earth. Drawing on a centuries-old culture of healing tradition, informed by a deep reverence for history, this marvelous resource gives a vivid, balanced look at Latino folk medicine as practiced across America. Inside you will meet the lay healers, curanderes, who prescribe for the sick, visit the botanicas that sell hundreds of medicinal plant products, and learn all about the folk remedy tradition, including how

¸  GINGER can soothe an upset stomach
¸  ANISE keeps colic under control
¸  KALALLO BUSH treats the common cold
¸  EMBAUBA works as an astringent on dry skin

Each botanical profile lists the scientific and common name, where the plant is grown and its physical characteristics, traditional uses, availability and dosage, and contraindications and special precautions. It is important to note that herbs should only be taken with the consultation of your physician.

Welcome to the world of the yerba buena ("good herb"), where scientists are finding new hope for chronic disease and ordinary folk are discovering new possibilities for better health and well-being!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (January 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345438361
• ISBN-13: 978-0345438362
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,622,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Umm..., November 24, 2004

By 

Inner Spiral - See all my reviews

This review is from: Latino Folk Medicine: Healing Herbal Remedies from Ancient Traditions (Paperback)

I was really hoping to like this book a lot. I ordered it used and am sort of glad that I did. To begin with, the author writes in sort of an obnoxious way. About every 5 sentences or so he uses the phrase "according to one source". That gets a little old after the first chapter, Im not kidding he actually uses this like every 5 sentences. Add to that the author seems to have a somewhat negative view of Santeria. He wrote this book about Curanderismo and mexican folk practices and sort of makes a comparrison that curanderismo is good and santeria is bad. He also calls Brujeria black magic. I think the author needs to do some better research before he writes these things. I will say that the actual herbal section is pretty well researched and has some usefull information. All things considered buy this one used, it's not worth full price.