In Tales from the Medicine Trail, author Chris Kilham shares the experience and excitement of discovering natural substances and forgotten ancient wisdom. Readers will learn how to integrate the healing secrets of shamans, herbalists, mystics and yogis into their own personal health plan. Kilham, who has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, ABC-TV's "20-20, " and Parade magazine, introduces new supplements, among them the herb Macca-touted as nature's Viagra.
Tales from the Medicine Trail offers readers an armchair adventure into the healing practices of ancient and modern cultures. This is blended with actionable health remedies such as teas for tension, meditations for migraines, and poultices for pain. Combining adventure, history, and anthropology with powerful, practical health remedies, Kilham takes readers on the hunt for the earth's greatest healers and the most potent healing elements available today.
More than 5.1 billion people--85 percent of the world's population--depend on herbs as their primary medicines. "Herbs can be used to cleanse the bowels, open congested sinuses, help mend broken bones, stimulate the brain, increase libido, ease pain, aid digestion, and for a thousand other purposes," writes Chris Kilham. Kilham is a medicine hunter: he "walks the medicine trail" around the world researching traditional medicines, specifically beneficial plants.
Many other books give the benefits and uses of herbs, but this one is unique because it's a combination travel-herb book: the author takes the reader with him as he travels. We experience the storms, flesh-feeding insects (including wasps, swarms of gnats, flies, and ants) of his storm-tossed journey to the Amazon River and rain forest ("a medicine-hunter's mecca") seeking sex-enhancing remedies that could be marketed in the United States, particularly catuaba and muirapuama. We travel to Bangalore, India, learning about Ayurvedic remedies and methods; Churin, Peru, pursuing maca (a plant reputed to increase strength, energy, stamina, libido, and sexual function); and a remote area of Hawaii for kava ("nature's Valium without the side effects"). We also get to know the people, foods, healing arts, and legends of each region. This is a terrific book for someone who is interested in the healing powers of herbs and who yearns to travel to remote regions (even if vicariously from an armchair). --Joan Price
"Part David Attenborough, part Indiana Jones, Mr. Kilham, an ethnobotanist from Massachusetts... scoured remote jungles and highlands for three decades for plants, oils and extracts that can heal." - The New York Times
Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter, author and educator. The founder of Medicine Hunter Inc., Chris has conducted medicinal research in over 20 countries including India, China, Siberia, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Vanuatu South Pacific, Lebanon, Syria, Ghana, Austria, Germany, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Morocco and the United States.
Chris is the FOX News Medicine Hunter and appears on FOX News Health online in the US and international television markets. He also writes a weekly column for FOX News Health. Chris is Explorer in Residence at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he teaches the popular ethnobotany course The Shaman's Pharmacy through the Department of Plant & Soil Sciences. This intensive immersion course takes students to the Peruvian Amazon, where they learn about medicinal plants, the rainforest, and native culture.
Chris works with companies to develop and popularize traditional plant-based food and medicinal products into market successes. These include kava, maca, rhodiola, schisandra, horny goat weed, catuaba, tamanu oil, herbal beverages and dozens of other plants. He is currently working to build market demand for cat's claw and dragon's blood, both strong medicinal plants from the Amazon rainforest.
Chris is the author of fourteen books, including Hot Plants, The Five Tibetans, Psyche Delicacies, Tales from the Medicine Trail and Kava, Medicine Hunting in Paradise. Chris also writes articles on plant medicines for several publications, and is a contributing columnist for FOX News Health.
"I love adventure! That's why I love teaming up with The Medicine Hunter, Chris Kilham." - Dr. Manny Alverez, Fox News Health
Chris lectures extensively on holistic health and botanical medicines, throughout the United States and the European Union, Hong Kong, Thailand, Dubai, Australia, Peru, Vanuatu and many other countries. Recent appearances include The Vitamin Shoppe, In Cosmetics, American Herbalists Guild, Missouri Botanical Garden, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Medicines of the Earth Symposium, Natural Products EXPO East, Natural Products EXPO West, Southwest Yoga, Midwest Yoga, Plant Teacher's Convergence, University of Massachusetts, Evolvers, Geneva Vitafoods Conference and HBA New York.
As a guest expert, Chris has presented across a wide variety of sectors to companies such as; Coca Cola, Pepsi, Unilever, Pfizer, Roche, Beiersdorf, Avon, L'Oreal, Chanel, Clarens, Body Shop, Royal Canin, GNC, and Whole Foods. He is also a regular advisor to Woman's World, Fox News Health, and various industry and trade publications.
Chris has appeared as a guest expert on over several hundred radio and television programs including news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, BBC, Oprah & Friends, FOX TV, and NPR. He has appeared as a guest on The Dr. Oz Show, and is a regular guest on FOX News Ask Dr. Manny. As a TV guest he has spoken about medicine hunting, traditional botanical medicines, nutraceuticals, environmental and cultural preservation and other related topics for a wide variety of audiences. Chris has appeared on over 1500 radio programs and more than 500 TV programs worldwide.
Since October 2007 Medicine Hunter Chris Kilham has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, FOX News, The Dr. Oz Show, NBC Nightly News, ABC 20/20, Psychology Today, International Herald Tribune, CNBC Power Lunch, HD Net World Report, Prevention Magazine, Natural Health Magazine, Oprah & Friends, PBS Healing Quest, Better TV, Good Morning America, Ode Magazine, and Woman's World.
Chris conducts medicinal plant research for Naturex of Avignon, France, one of the largest botanical extraction companies in the world. He is also an advisory board member of the Naturex Foundation, which funds community development projects in various countries.
Chris is on the Scientific Advisory board of EuroPharma, founded by pioneer Terry Lemerond. EuroPharma is a maker of superior plant-based medicines, distributed exclusively through the natural products industry.
An avid body surfer and adventure traveler, Chris lives and works in Massachusetts with his wife, artist/activist Zoe Helene and their dog Boo. Chris advocates sane drug policy and the shamanic and ritual use of hallucinogens. Chris and Zoe travel the globe on Medicine Hunter expeditions, and work together to promote plant medicines, environmental protection and cultural preservation.
CNN calls Chris "The Indiana Jones of natural medicine."
This review is from: Tales from the Medicine Trail: Tracking Down the Health Secrets of Shamans, Herbalists, Mystics, Yogis, and Other Healers (Hardcover)
Having read many adventure travel books, and explorations into ethnobotany, I am a hard marker on books in this genre. I was impressed with Kilham's writing style, narrative drive, ability to quickly sketch colorful characters, and skill at connecting the lives of indigenous peoples and their herb lore to the jaded first-world reader. (He also doesn't skimp on the supporting science, but doesn't bog the reader down in it.) I learned a lot about kava, maca, and other unfamiliar but intriguing herbs, and had fun doing it. Highly recommended, as a perfect hybrid of adventure travel (replete with very amusing misadventures) and herbal health.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 starsTales from the Medicine Trail, July 10, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Tales from the Medicine Trail: Tracking Down the Health Secrets of Shamans, Herbalists, Mystics, Yogis, and Other Healers (Hardcover)
Wonderful travel adventures as well as a professional look at the world of natural medicines. The world needs more people with the heartfelt dedication of Chris Kilham. A great read.....
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5.0 out of 5 starsIndiana Jones meets Luther Burbank!, August 9, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Tales from the Medicine Trail: Tracking Down the Health Secrets of Shamans, Herbalists, Mystics, Yogis, and Other Healers (Hardcover)
Wow! Get ready for a magical mystery tour into the secrets of healing you won't find anywhere else. Chris Kilham takes us to some of the most hidden and exotic locations around the world, and uncovers remedies and rituals that heal the body and the soul. Don't miss this book if you long for excitement, authenticity and cutting edge discoveries.
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