Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine (National Geographic) [Hardcover]

Steven Foster (Author), Rebecca L. Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Series: National Geographic | Publication Date: April 18, 2006

For millennia, humans have looked to nature for remedies to ailments great and small. Long before formal science enabled us to take a systematic approach to medicine, healers used plants to alleviate pain, ease the symptoms of dozens of diseases, and treat complaints of every kind. And today, countless people still use medicinal plants, whether in traditional roles or as building blocks for new research and innovative drugs.


Featuring 350 full-color photographs, botanical drawings, and maps, this accessible, fact-filled book is based on the work of renowned botanical experts and presents alphabetically arranged, beautifully illustrated entries for hundreds of plants touted for millennia to soothe, even heal. Each is clearly described, with full details of its physical appearance and medicinal uses; its origins and geographic distribution, how it's harvested and used in conventional and alternative medicine, a range map; and more.


It's also a fascinating medical chronicle filled with informative sidebars on everything from ancient folklore to the latest research. Readers learn how aspirin evolved from a concoction of willow bark to the familiar white pill of today, how the foxglove's flowery beauty contributes to the potent heart drug digitalis, and how many other now common treatments have deep historical and cultural roots. It's a journey that starts many centuries ago in remote places like the Amazon rain forest, where shamans practiced their powerful curative magic of plants, and leads to the high-tech pharmaceutical labs of today's scientists working to discover new plant-based drugs that can be used effectively to treat diseases major and minor alike, from cancer to the common cold.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

National Geographic's guide to medicinal plants introduces 150 of the most popular plants and herbs used as dietary supplements, among them aloe, ephedra, ginkgo, and peppermint. There are more than 80,000 known species of medicinal plants worldwide, but what this book lacks in comprehensiveness, it makes up for by presenting a wealth of essential information on the history, culture, folklore, and science of traditional and contemporary herbal medicine in all major culture areas of the world.

Emphasizing current research and therapeutic uses, the volume provides an A-Z listing of plants by common name. Information about each plant covers a two-page spread and includes traditional and current medicinal uses, common and Latin names, description, habitat, cultivation and preparation, research, and caution alerts. Color photographs, botanical illustrations, and range maps accompany the text, while sidebars offer interesting facts about biology, nomenclature, history, or folklore that add to a better understanding of the plant and its healing properties. Regional essays on the healing plants of Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Central and South America, China, Europe, India, North America, the Middle East, and Oceania provide insightful glimpses into the fascinating range and diversity of local health practices from around the world while also revealing the multifaceted roles that herbalists, healers, and herbal--medicine practitioners play in the lives of their patients. Reference tools include a glossary, Latin name index, and subject index.

This attractive and reasonably priced volume is recommended for most public library reference collections. Diana Kirby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Society; 1st edition (April 18, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792236661
• ISBN-13: 978-0792236665
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 1.3 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #306,880 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

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In-depth and up-to-date excellent reference book, April 28, 2006

By 

Steven Maimes "SALAM Research" (Rochester, New Hampshire United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine (National Geographic) (Hardcover)

The National Geographic Society is known for producing high quality books and this is a fine example of one of their best works. The book is being promoted using their brand name rather then the names of the authors. I would like to acknowledge the authors Steven Foster and Rebecca Johnson; with Botanical paintings by Jane Watkins and Mary Eaton; and color photographs by Steven Foster.

I am familiar with the writings and beautiful plant photographs of Steven Foster and believe that he is one of the finest authors on medicinal plants.

This book contains in-depth and up-to-date profiles of 150 medicinal plants including herbal and pharmaceutical uses, cultural and scientific information and a botanical painting, map and color photograph for each plant.

The book has been well researched and provides a significant amount of information that is both succinct and clear, not lacking in any way. A reader would have to consult dozens of books to find the same information presented in this one volume.

The book is highly recommended for the general reader, herbalist, health professional and certainly every library.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Comprehensive Single Book Herbal I've Seen, June 21, 2006

By 

D. Adams (NC, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine (National Geographic) (Hardcover)

I wholeheartedly agree with the other reviewers that this is a 5-star book and an important volume to include in your herbal library - or if you are looking for ONE herbal book, this is it.

Each entry has information on the history and lore of not only the herb, but even its name; where and how it grows, how to cultivate (that information is often left out of other books, which just tell you what part of the plant to use, now HOW to use them), and any supporting scientific evidence (or lack thereof).

The sections on geographic locations worldwide and their indiginous plants and cultural contributions to herbalism are unlike anything in any other herbal book I've seen. I could not put this one down, I turned each page with the same enthusiasm I'd have had for a suspense thriller, and this is a reference book, not something that would normally garner excited responses like that. Don't pass this one up!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Over 200 color photos, 150 botanical drawings and over 150 maps, June 19, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine (National Geographic) (Hardcover)

There are so many herbal books on the market today that one could wonder about the need for yet another, even with the National Geographic branding attached to it promising quality - but DESK REFERENCE TO NATURE'S MEDICINE offers something different. It's put together not by a single person but by leading experts in the herbal medicine field, it packs in over 200 color photos, 150 botanical drawings and over 150 maps, and its alphabetical arrangement of therapeutical plants covers not just physical appearance and medicinal properties but geographic distribution, how it's harvested in used, and more. Nine essays provide an overview to world healing traditions while handy sidebars of detail pack in the history and cultural insights, making for a practical manual which is also a superb history.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch