Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West

by Michael Moore

This classic work on medicinal herbs of the Western uplands is an authoritative presentation of more than 100 species. Unsurpassed as a field guide for its authoritative information on collection and medicinal preparation. Focuses on the plant life of rocky and arid lands of the West, and includes detailed information on the preparation and use of these vital herbs.

About the Author
Michael Moore wrote numerous classic works on the herbal plants of the West and Southwest, including Los Remedios: Traditional Herbal Remedies of the Southwest, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, and Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West as well as a host of clinical herb manuals. He was the founder and director of Southwest School of Botanical Medicine, in Bisbee, Arizona, where he worked as a writer, researcher, therapist, and teacher for professional herbalists.

Acclaim
"Medicinal Plants can be used as a field guide, a reference on home remedies, and a treatise on the applications of herbal medicine in an era of high-tech healing."—Los Angeles Times

Genres: Gardening, Health, Plants, Nonfiction

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Michael Moore (January 9, 1941 – February 20, 2009) was a medicinal herbalist, author of several reference works on botanical medicine, and founder of the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine (SWSBM). Before he was an herbalist Michael Moore was a musician and a composer. [1] He operated the SWSBM as a residency program for 28 years, first in Albuquerque, New Mexico and later in Bisbee, Arizona For decades, Moore influenced, impacted, taught, reached one way or another more practicing herbalists than any other living herbalist in the United States. His books put the previously unknown materia medica of the southwest into mainstream botanical medicine.

While Moore believed herbs and plants provided a natural way of treating many minor afflictions, he accepted that medical drugs should be used for serious illness.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West" by Michael Moor is a extensive detailed field guide covering herbs across New Mexico, Arizona, West Texas ,and Califonia with over 100 detailed species of medicinal plants. Serving as a wonderful reasorce for anyone thats interested in learning more about the potental uses of indigonus plants. This may be a wonderful reasource to some however in my opinion the book couldve been writen better. Reading it makes u feel drowned by sheer information like a molodical wave that drags you into its materal but that is only attempted to be balanced with odd out of place comments. Nevertheless reading the book you feel like it was simply writen for information but you get this odd feeling that the author is trying to display it in a more casual way by going in and out of sounding like a text book to sounding like a conversation. But regarless of this it was still an enjoyable book and makes you apreciate your natrual reasorces more.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t wait to go out and find all the plants from this book in my area. I already know of four or five of them that grow right in my yard!

[Parrotfeathers · Rating 5 out of 5]

even if you just have a passing affection for desert plants you WILL learn something new from this book.
if you are looking to be a practicing healer in the southwest you NEED this book.
i think this is the only herbal reference book in my collection that i have actually bothered to read all the way through...entertaining and thought provoking.

plus mimi kamp rocks and she makes pretty flower pictures.
now if only she would write a book....

[Mimielle LaFauve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear b/w line drawings, Latin, common and alternate names, appearance and habitat, constituents, collecting,preparation and medicinal uses, and side effects entries for each. A short formulary and good glossary is included and a theraputic and use index as well as an alphabetical plant index by both Latin and common names. A useful secondary but I like color pix with several views in several season for identifying/collecting, to be more sure. Also good reference for drawing local plants.

[Joolie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have one of the earlier hippier looking versions of this classic and its is fabulous like all of his herb guides. i took it with me to Joshua Tree and it was so helpful. books like these make me never want to move away from the West!

[Spider Goddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fabulous guide for any herbalist living in a desert region. The plants are well discussed and detailed, and the author imparts a wealth of information in a very humorous and playful manner.

[J. Aaron Blecher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't finished learning from this book

[Korina Adkins]

I love his writing style -- educational, yet humorous!

[Kei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the "voice" of the writing.
Could wish for more detailed imagery, but the lack thereof will just goad me into a good next step at some point.

[Armatstorage · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like learning this kind of information.
Has an awful lot to remember(:
184 pages. Would like to own my own copy.

[Warmdarksky · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good <3