Review by Choice Review
For those interested in alternative medicine, this encyclopedia provides useful information about medicinal plants. Chevallier combines the traditional and folkloric use of plants with scientific research, providing a well-rounded base of information. The encyclopedia has four sections. The first, "Development of Herbal Medicine," includes the history and traditions of herbal medicine around the world. The second section, "Key Medicinal Plants," features 100 of the best-known medicinal plants. Each entry includes habitat and cultivation, related species, key active constituents and medicinal actions, plant parts used, scientific research, and traditional and current uses. The "Other Medicinal Plants" section contains briefer entries for more than 450 plants important in herbal medicine, but it includes plants such as du zhong (Eucommia ulmoides) that demonstrate a potential for a greater medicinal use. The last section, "Herbal Remedies for Home Use," has a useful chart of ailments and their general remedies as well as information on cultivating herbs, making remedies, and consulting an herbal practitioner. A glossary, general index, index of herbs by ailment, and addresses of herbal services in the US and Canada are included. Excellent photographs permit easy identification. Descriptions are succinct. Recommended for all libraries. N. Chipman-Shlaes Governors State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
This lavish book, with color illustrations on every page, focuses on the traditional and folkloric use of 550 plants and on their pharmacology. Chevallier has selected herbs that are commonly used and are considered to have particular health benefits. A small number are included because they are of historical interest. The presentation of "key" medicinal plants features 100 of the best known, including aloe, cayenne, cinnamon, lemon, clove, sage, and ginger, for example. The other 450 herbs include such familiar plants as oats, horseradish, tarragon, heather, and hemlock, and such exotic herbs as ylang-ylang, Iceland moss, and scurvy grass. Each of the 550 profiles includes details of the plant's history, cultivation, key constituents, therapeutic properties, and traditional and current uses. Herbal preparations for self-treatment are explained. --George Cohen
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
An illustrated edition of Hoffmann's earlier The New Holistic Herbal (Element, 1992), The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal offers a listing of over 200 herbs and detailed sections on their use in treating ailments associated with each major body system (circulatory, respiratory, digestive, nervous, reproductive, glandular, and urinary) as well as the major organs such as skin, ears, nose, and throat. In addition, an introduction to holistic medicine, instructions for making preparations, and a glossary are included. Hoffmann's effort is devoted almost solely to herbs found in North America (although this is not stated anywhere), with little information on habitat, growth, and gathering and no cautions on usage. For this latter type of information, one needs to consult The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, which covers herbs from all over the world, giving their location and cultivation. The encyclopedia begins with a history of herbal medicine and the herbal traditions of different cultures. Following is a visual guide to 100 key herbs from around the world, with details of their habitat, actions, traditional and current uses, latest research, preparations, cautions about usage, and useful cross references to particular ailments. In addition, there are shorter descriptions of 450 other herbs, with their history, habitat, therapeutic properties, and medicinal uses. The final section covers growing, harvesting, and processing herbs; making remedies; dealing with common ailments; and a glossary. Both books are well indexed, profusely illustrated, and authored by established authorities in the field of herbal medicine. (Hoffman, incidentally, served as the American consultant for Chevallier's book.) The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants is a better choice as a reference manual, due to its comprehensiveness, habitat information, cautions, and cross references, while The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal is stronger on explaining the physiology and the role of herbs in general holistic health.Valerie Vaughan, Hatfield P.L., Mass. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Library Journal Review
