Opium Poppy Garden The Way of a Chinese Grower (Paperback)

~ (Author) "It was late in the morning when Ch'ien got off the bus in Cahuita..." (more)
Key Phrases: non opium, morphine content, raw opium, Costa Rica, Puerto Limon, San Jose (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 77 pages
• Publisher: Ronin Publishing (December 9, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0914171674
• ISBN-13: 978-0914171676
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #498,527 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Way of an ornamentalist, February 9, 2000

By	Rusty (KY) - See all my reviews

A lovely tale of a young Chinese immigrant in South America offeres some insight to the "way of a Chinese Grower" and what the culture is like... The second half of the book goes into considerable detail as to how to cultivate the poppy, albeit on a quasi large-scale endeavor- not really for the ornamental grower. Excellent depth into pharmacologic properties, particularly chemical structure of medicinal components and traditional harvesting methods and tools.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A young man's opium adventure., July 7, 2002

By	Lorna N. Brawn "Trinity fan" (Myakka, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really liked the mix of a story of a young man's first adventure away from country and family, and the technical information needed to cultivate the opium poppy. It gave me a sense of tranquility to his endeavor, not as if it were a clandestine operation. It spoke of the roots his and other families had in this way of life. Of course, it gives you all the information you need for your own adventure. I hope there is a sequel.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient Chinese Secrets, January 11, 2006

By	R. Lowe "RemOrb" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The opium poppy is a potent plant that has been cultivated and used for thousands of years to alleviate suffering. The use of plant substances as alternatives to synthetic medicines is resurging due to their beneficial properties and less-toxic side effects. For example, many cancer and HIV sufferers are growing opium for personal use.
Opium Poppy Garden is the only book available that describes the cultivation, harvest, and pharmacology of opium in a format that combines literary and instructional writing. The heart of the book is a tale of Che'ien, a young Chinese man who travels from Costa Rica to Columbia to grow an opium garden in the manner his Taoist grandfather taught him. The story, in conjuction with "The Cultivator's Diary" and the techniccal appendix, provide the reader with a working knowledge of this plant,