Customer Reviews

Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Moore tells what each plant is used for, but just as important, he details where and when to find the plant. He gives step by step recipes for each plant, telling if it should be rubbed on, eaten, soaked in, or steeped and drunk. He writes at least two pages on every plant, and some plants have seven pages because they are so useful. The only way to improve this book would be more photos. Every plant is illustrated, but less than half are shown in photos.

I enjoyed reading about western medicinal plants as well as the author's wry humor (I found especially hilarious that comment about the temperature of sitz baths and not wanting to "poach your privates") and obvious expertise. The recipes and directions for making medications out of the plants are outstanding. However, the photography leaves much to be desired. A few of them are blurred and most do not show sufficient detail to enable unequivocal identification. Moreover,the pictures for Yerba Santa and Yerba del lobo are switched in the last page of the color plates. NOT GOOD, if you are using this as a field guide. This then raises the question of, are there other inaccuracies in the book? Definitely check the appearance of the herb you're looking for in another book if you plan to use it.

Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West has been the book I most often refer to when trying to treat a certain ailment or disease.
I came across this book when I attended the California School of Herbal Studies in California. Moore's ability to pinpoint specific uses of herbs, but at the same time his ability to admit to being wrong is what attracts me so much to his herbals (not to mention his humorous and quirky writing style). I was once told that Moore was one of the few herbalists who have doctors running up to his front door asking for answers. I have no idea if this is true considering the stubbornness of most M.D.'s, but it wouldn't surprise me considering the extent of his knowledge. I can't recommend this book enough.

Michael Moore's two earlier books in the 'Medicinal Plants' -series were very good, but this one is outstanding. Michael Moore knows his plants, and he is very entertaining in his writings. To top it off, the plant drawings (by Mimi Kamp) are exquisite works of art. This is the best book on western herbs I've seen to date. Don't miss it!

I like this book a lot, and I appreciate the style that Mr. Moore uses. He just cracks me up! One of the things that I find very appealing in this book is the comprehensive information that Mr. Moore offers, along with his own experiences with the plants. I wish it were a book that would help me identify plants better. The graphics are not conducive for someone like me to use it to identify plants in the wild. But if I know what I am looking at it is easier.

Author writes in accessible and entertaining style even with technical content. Very thorough book and I have not seen another that even compares. If you want to know about medicinal plants in the northwest, this is THE book to read!

I live by this book. It is a little technical sometimes but I love the author's humor and his indepth research. a wonderful book that is easy to look things up in. just love moore. haven't found a more complete book yet. Reverend Z

After reading his stories of finding plants and prepration tribulations, I think Mr Moore is a big teddy-bear. He seems kind hearted and caring.
The book is an easy read with loads of information: location to find the plant , what it looks like (clear line drawings and description), what it does (also cross refrence tables) how to prepare plant (also a seprate section on prepration) and how to use (some recipes with multiple plants).
I even found a few plants nobody else was talking about!!yippe!

I like natural healing so I also like to make medicines that help me heal in time of need. I was basically antibiotic resistent for infections to my upper respiratory until I tried making my own tinctures from these books and last year my infection was cured by making a tincture for myself.

Caution...I believe this book has inverted photos. The very last 2 pictures, for the plants Yerba Del Lobo (Helenium hoopesii) and Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum)....In the book the top name is for the top picture and the bottom name is for the bottom picture. Yet I am quite certain they are inverted. The plant descriptions sound so different, from the picture shown, that it seems obvious. Look the plants up in another source and see for yourself. They have distincly different uses and information. So please just be aware and maybe draw arrows in your copy! Thanks