Customer Reviews

Nutritional Herbology : A Reference Guide to Herbs

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

 

 

This book is one of very few that list the nutrients found in common western and Chinese herbs, allowing one to find which herbs are good sources of, say selenium or beta carotene. As such it is an important addition to any herbalist's library.

However like most food science analyses, the book lists nutrients found in the plant, not nutrients which can or will be absorbed by the human body. For example, aluminium intake is closely regulated by the gut flora and excess aluminum is normally excreted unless that flora has been decimated by antibiotics or unhealthy diets. Its presence in an herb does not automatically mean that an herb like echinacea, which rates moderately high in aluminum, should be avoided.

The actions of herbs often go far beyond their constituents. Yellow dock, for example is not especially high in iron, yet yellow dock tincture (which contains very little iron at all) can in low doses allow the body to overcome anemia far faster than iron supplements.

However with those caveats, the book is highly recommended. It also lists actions of herbs, the body systems affected, folk history and use of the plants, medicinal properties, chemical constituents, nutrients of note and typical dialy doses in various forms. Of particular note are traditional combination formulas which are analyzed like the single herbs for their nutritional profiles.

A worthwhile reference for those seriously interested in herbal medicine and nutrition.

In the area of herbs,this book is more scientifical, than practical. It gives a list of herbs in alphabetical order and gives many other facts(nutritional content, origination, uses, and herbal classification) which most people who are just getting into herbs may have a difficult time understanding. I own this book and it has done its job as a main reference on herbs. I do not, however use this book on a daily basis as I do others. If you are a nerd who loves to read and research like a crazy person such as myself, then this is the book for you. If that idea scares you, then look for more simple reading.

This book does exactly what the title says. If you want to know the nutritional value of herbs rather than just the medicinal value, this is the place to go.

The author wastes no time getting to the point. The charts and graphs make great visuals and are easy to understand. Plus, the book is well referenced.

I have been a student and teacher of herbal medicine for twenty years. I have reached for this book many times over the years and recommend it to all my students.

Remember, this is not the book to get if you are a beginner and want to know what to use for your daughter's ear infection. Look to Rosemary Gladstar for that. This book is a reference on nutrition and is numbers oriented.

For what it tries to do, it succeeds very well.

Best herb reference and nutrient content book on the market. Awesome stats and reference materials.

I am pleased that my book was in perfect condition but alittle put out because some of the herbs are not listed. Very informative.

As it says "Nutritional Analysis of scores of herbs - Scientific analysis that authenticates historical usage" a lovely book with great information throughout.

This book begins with a brief chapter outlining the herbs that are highest in certain nutrients, such as silicon in the herb horsetail. Then there is a large section dedicated to the single herbs. This section has some folk history and use, and medicinal properties. The part that makes it stand out is the nutritional profile where the nutrients are rated as very high, high, average, low or very low compared to 93 herbs.

I found this detailed analysis of the nutrients particularly useful on one occasion. I needed to know which herb was the highest in organic aluminum, which is gotu kola. We use the seaweeds such as bladderwrack to pull inorganic aluminum from the body, but we use herbs high in organic aluminum such as gotu kola and uva ursi to prevent picking up the harmful inorganic aluminum.

The second time I might have found it helpful was when I needed to look up what herb was highest in organic zinc. Unfortunately, the book contradicts itself on this subject. On page 32 it says that bilberry has the highest source of zinc at .87 mg calculated on a zero moisture basis per 100 gm, but then on page 192 it says that mistletoe (also called golden bough) has 8.6 mg calculated on a zero moisture basis per 100 gm. If that's true, mistletoe is by far the winner. I have yet to write to the author to see which is correct.

Next is a section he calls the "minor herbs." I do not agree with him on some of the herbs that he considers minor, such as dulse, Irish moss, lady slipper and mistletoe. This section was very brief. The following chapters were sections that covered herbal combinations for the different body systems.

I have referred to this book a couple of times, but normally have then gone on to check other herbal references. It's certainly a book I want on my reference shelf; it just isn't one of my favorites

To me, there are many more helpful and thorough books as to the overall use of an herb.

I had heard great things about this book. I suspect the better version was an earlier edition. Now Pederson has expanded this book to herbalism, rather than the nutritional content. He is trying to sound like an herbalist, but being a professional herbalist myself, I think he does a poor job of mimicing one. He merely compiles. Fine for nutritional content but the book is much longer than it should be...

The book is very informative an exelent work, a must read referance guide I love it.

This book is a must for anyone interested in health and nutrition. It was recommended to me by a friend who is very knowledgable in herbology. It is a good guide in the relationships of different herbs also.