Indian Herbalogy of North America: The Definitive Guide to Native Medicinal Plants and Their Uses

by Alma R. Hutchens

An encyclopedia of North American medicinal plants, this classic herbalist’s guide goes inside Native American herbalism and other natural healing traditions around the world
 
For more than twenty years, this pioneering work had served as a bible for herbalists throughout the world. It is an illustrated encyclopedic guide to more than two hundred medicinal plants found in North America, with descriptions of each plant’s appearance and uses, and directions for methods of use and dosage.
 
Native American traditions are compared with traditional uses of the same plants among other cultures where the science of herbs has flourished, particularly in Russia and China. Included is an annotated bibliography of pertinent books and periodicals.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Native American, Health, Nature, Indigenous, Herbs

424 pages, Paperback

Published August 27, 1991

Reviews

[Matal “The Mischling Princess” Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read and consulted this book as a an undergraduate while completing a dried plants project at OLC.

[Kei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing, on a number of levels. Russian, Indian, Pakistani, and Native American usages for many of the plants, with both folkloric data and scientific (when available.) Lots of interesting side information, and even agricultural cultivation data. (How much per acreage, etc...) Also had to keep looking up old names for illnesses, to find out what was being spoken of, which also amused me.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An old book that belonged to my grandfather when he was still alive. So much information that has not been taught to us. My mother remembers little things that her father taught her but I must learn from books and thankfully his notes.

This book was incredibally written, bringing in different cultures and their facts, sadly it didn't have as much focus on the Indians as I thought it would, and I was surprised that it was written by a white woman.

Regardless it was a very incredible, informational book.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

History and folklore make this an interesting read despite the somewhat archaic language, e.g. throat deafness, mutterings of the ear, noises in the head, summer complaints of children. (Not sure what those are, but it does makes you think.) The title on the book cover (Indian Herbalogy, not Herbology as listed online) suggests one might learn about indigenous uses of plants, but that information was only occasional.

[Melanie Arison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful guide to home herbal gardening

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting guide, but there are better ones for Indigenous herbology.

[Michael]

Great reference book to have on the shelf.

[Isabel Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the staples in my herbal reference library.