Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West: A Guide to Identifying, Preparing, and Using Traditi

This book makes it easy to understand the preparation and use of herbs for a variety of everyday family herbal-aid applications. The instructions include the part of the plant used flower, root, leaves, berries, bark etc. It goes on to explain why fresh or why the dry plant is useful and how to deal with your own gathering of the plant and what to do in simple A to Z instructions.

I recently moved to the Sonoran Desert but had no idea what treasures awaited me until I bought and read this small book. This guide has opened my eyes to what is around me. I've taken pictures of interesting plants along the roads but didn't know they were medicinal or edible until I read about them here. The next time I go for a walk or drive, it will be with newly opened eyes. The illustrations are good, the instructions are specific. Some of the explanations and narratives are so hysterically funny, you will have no problem understanding effects of either taking or not taking described potion or poltice. I heartily recommend this quide on several different levels.

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I've been utilizing this book for over 10 years as a teaching tool and reference for my Medicinal Plants of the Baja class. Michael Moore is

a hoot, excellent research on plant constituents and medicinal uses. Couldn't have done it without him! Check out www.bajabotanicals.com

Thank you, Michael.

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This book was very easy to use. I wished there was more color photos but with such good descriptions and drawings you really don't need them. There are color photos for about half the plants described in the book. I love the way Michael Moore writes. He makes it so easy to read and understand. This book will be used for years to come in my home.

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Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West: A Guide to Identifying, Preparing, and Using Traditional Medicinal Plants Found in the Deserts and Canyons of the West and Southwest by Michael Moore was a disappointing book. As someone who lives in the desert I do a lot of hiking and camping so I thought this book would provide useful and easy to use information should I become sick or injured. Unfortunately, this book falls short on providing quick and usable treatment using local plants.

For each of the plants listed the author uses the following format to discuss the plant: common name, Latin name, other names, map of location, appearance, habitat, constituents, cultivation, collecting, stability, preparation, and medicinal uses.

Areas about this book that I did NOT like include:

1. The book provides only three pages on preparation methods to utilize the plant. These methods include: teas, eyewash, salves, poultice and tinctures. These methods range from too complicated if you have never done this before or too general with not enough usable information. If you have never prepared a plant to use as a treatment you are not going to learn it from this book. Each plant listing does provide a "preparation" section but again I did not find the information easily useable.

2. There are 69 plants reviewed in the book but only 30 color photographs and some of the photos come 6 to a page. There are many black and white drawings of the other plants but such drawing fail to do the plant justice.

3. The product description states, "This book can be used as a field guide", yet many of the preparation methods would not be possible to use while in the field. For example on one of the plants you need to heat it to 250 degrees or you need other ingredients that you probably would not be carrying with you. Being able to identify a plant in the field is significantly different from being able to utilize the plant in the field.

4. The font size used throughout the book is very small. I estimate the font size to be 7pt or 8pt.

The following comes from the introduction:

"If you like lists, here is one to keep in mind when using this book:

1. Be sure of the plant you are picking.

2. If the herb makes you sick, take less or throw it away.

3. If it doesn't work, use more or forget it entirely.

4. Trust your own judgment above all.

5. That which stimulates can irritate; that which helps can hurt.

6. If you don't get better or get worse quickly, call your doctor."

While some of that advice can certainly be applied to traditional medicine it surely does not foster confidence in using herbal medicine especially if I am the one who has to pick the plant and prepare it correctly! Herbs are not harmless and mistakes can be harmful or even deadly. Yes, the same is true about traditional medicines but I at least know exactly what I am getting when I pick up medicine from the pharmacy.

In today's electronic age of the Internet and websites such as YouTube it is possible to conduct online research that will provide much more useable information. Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West is a book that I would not recommend unless you have a solid background on herbs and herbal preparations.

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