1st Edition
Herbal Voices American Herbalism Through the Words of American Herbalists
Learn how traditional herbal practitioners are responding to the sudden, massive popularity of herbal medicine!
Herbal Voices: American Herbalism Through the Words of American Herbalists examines how herbal practitioners who started in the 1960s and 1970s are reacting to the mainstream popularity of herbal medicine today. This unique book features interviews with 20 of America’s most prominent herbalists—focusing on their careers, their beliefs, and their perspectives on the contemporary herbal product boom in recent years. Also included is important information on herbal organizations, publications, schools, and companies where seeds and rootstock of endangered medicinal plants can be obtained, as well as a list of the United Plant Savers’ “At Risk” and “To Watch” medicinal plants.
Herbal Voices synthesizes the words of a representative group of herbalists into a compelling picture of modern American herbalism as they offer their opinions on the roles of science, folklore, and spirituality in herbal medicine. This timely resource addresses controversial issues that arise within the herbal community, such as the endangered plant crisis, professionalism and licensure, and shifting the American consciousness toward a more Earth-centered way of life and health.
In Herbal Voices, you’ll hear from many well-known herbal practitioners, including:
- Rosemary Gladstar—founder of The California School of Herbal Studies and United Plant Savers, co-founder of Sage Mountain Herbs, and author of Herbal Healing for Women and of the Sage Healing Way series
- James Green—former Director of The California School of Herbal Studies, a member of the advisory committee for United Plant Savers, and author of both The Herbal Medicine-Makers Handbook and The Male Herbal
- David Hoffmann—Fellow of Britain’s National Institute of Medical Herbalists, former President of the American Herbalists Guild, and author of The New Holistic Herbal, An Elder’s Herbal, and Therapeutic Herbalism
- Richo Cech—herbalist, owner of Horizon Herbs, executive board member of United Plant Savers, and author of Growing Your Garden Pharmacy
- Sharol Tilgner—licensed naturopathic physician, founder and current President of Wise Woman Herbals, Inc., editor of Herbal Transitions, associate editor of Medical Herbalism, and author of Herbal Medicines From the Heart of the Earth
- Foreword (Robbie Davis-Floyd)
- Preface and Acknowledgments
- PART I: THE WEAVING
- Chapter 1. The Dream: My Process and Methodology
- Chapter 2. The Terrain: Consideration of Botanical Medicine and Holistic Herbalism
- Botanical Medicine
- Holistic Herbalism
- Chapter 3. Recycling Science and Grasping the Ungraspable: Cartesian Thought and Folklore in Herbal Practice
- How Does Modern Biomedicine Enhance the Practice of Herbalism?
- What Does Herbalism Derive from Folklore?
- Observation and Change: The Link Between Science and Folklore
- Chapter 4. Free-Form Goes Mainstream: The Debate over Licensure and Professionalization
- A Case for Licensure
- The Reservations
- Chapter 5. The Ecology of Herbalism: The Role of the Herbal Community in the Endangered Plant Crisis
- The Role of Industry in the Endangered Plant Crisis
- What About Beyond Industry?
- Are Plants Really Endangered? An Herbalist’s Perspective
- Chapter 6. Sinking Roots, Reaching Branches: Spirituality and Tradition in Modern American Herbalism
- The “Borrowing” of American Herbalism
- Giving Back
- The Herbalist and the Spirit: Unification
- PART II: THE THREADS—INTERVIEWS WITH TWENTY AMERICAN HERBALISTS
- Chapter 7. Laura Batcha
- Green Mountain Herbs (GMH)
- Running a Heart-Centered Business on the National Level
- The Boom in Natural Products
- Current Federal Regulations
- Small Companies and Consumer Expectations
- The Mission of GMH
- Endangered Plants
- Certifying Efficacy
- Nature of Clinical Trials
- Advice for People Wanting to Get into the Herb Business
- Educating Consumers About Heart-Centered Herbal Products
- Chapter 8. Richo Cech
- Factors Contributing to At-Risk Plants
- Criteria for Listing on the UpS At-Risk List
- Role of Manufacturing in the Endangered-Plant Crisis
- Rationale and Effect of Listing Goldenseal on CITES—Appendix II
- Monopopularizing and the Limited Mainstream Materia Medica
- Proactive Approach of UpS
- Chapter 9. Ryan Drum
- Herbalism and Its Renewed Popularity
- Clinical and Lay Herbalists
- Education in the Marketplace
- Necessity of a Thorough Education for Practitioners
- Clinician-Patient Relationship
- Usefulness of Science and Folklore
- Forging a Relationship with the Allopathic Community
- Offering Herbs When Antibiotics Are Not Appropriate
- Chapter 10. Daniel Gagnon
- Holistic Health
- The Process Rather Than the Pill
- More on Holistic Health
- Is the American Public Healthier Today?
- Helping the Mainstream Access Herbal Information
- Medical Science and Its Interface with Herbalism
- Science versus Folklore in Evaluating Herbs
- Holistic versus Allopathic Herbalism
- Mainstream Access to Holistic Health
- Licensure for Herbalists
- Education for Herbalists
- Endangered Plants, Organic Growing of Herbs, and Diversifying the Mainstream Materia Medica
- Chapter 11. Leslie Gardner
- Leaving Clinical Practice
- Working in Deep Relationship with Plants
- Commercialization of Herbs
- Why the Herbal Renaissance Is Happening Now
- Opening the Mainstream up to Holistic Herbalism
- Steps an Herbalist Can Take to Preserve Herbalism
- Ritual
- Rediscovery of Ritual in America
- What Makes Ritual Meaningful?
- Rituals That Anyone Can Do
- Plant Allies
- Education for Herbalists
- Benefits of Classroom Learning
- Integrating Different Experiences of H
Biography
Ethan B Russo, Anne Dougherty
