Cherokee Plants: Their Uses - A 400 Year History

by Paul B. Hamel, Mary Ulmer Chiltoskey

This book is an attempt to help complete the story of the Cherokee people, their relationship with each other and with their environment. To accomplish this we are dealing with the plants and some of the uses made of them by the Cherokee people during the past 400 years. Some of the uses have gradually passed; many of the rituals related to medicine plants and their healing have already been lost for lack of the right people to carry them forward. This book is organized into two sections. The first section contains general information on how and why plants are used. Our concept of the spirit of the Cherokees' relationship to their environment is presented here. Please accept and observe this spirit when you use this book. The second section contains lists of plants from the earliest recorded contacts of Cherokees with other peoples. This can be used in conjunction with a good wildflower or tree guide to appreciate southern Appalachian forests as seen through the eyes of a Cherokee.

Genres: History

71 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[SDestinie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this book some years ago before I moved, and took extensive notes, which also got lost in a move. This book is a true treasure-trove of east-coast (north american) plants and the many many uses as well a a bit of historical context for those plants and their uses about as close to pre-English and maybe even pre-De Soto contact as could be had. Excellent reference work for both herbal studies and Tsalagi/Cherokee studies.

[Dave Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book did a good job of shedding light on how the Cherokee Tribe viewed plants as part of the whole cloth of life. Along with providing some history, some charts show what certain plants were used for. This is an interesting, as well as a useful book for those interested in what potential uses there are for a variety of plants and herbs. It will serve as a great reference book to have on the shelf.
I gave it four stars because of the charts, tables, and citing sources.

[Mira Behn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book, very 'down home'.