The Cherokee Herbal: Native Plant Medicine from the Four Directions

by J.T. Garrett

A practical guide to the medicinal uses of over 450 plants and herbs as applied in the traditional practices of the Cherokee.

• Details the uses of over 450 plants for the treatment of over 120 ailments.

• Written by the coauthor of Medicine of the Cherokee (40,000 copies sold).

• Explains the healing elements of the Four Directions and the plants associated with them.

• Includes traditional teaching tales as told to the author by Cherokee Elders.

In this rare collection of the acquired herbal knowledge of Cherokee Elders, author J. T. Garrett presents the healing properties and medicinal applications of over 450 North American plants. Readers will learn how Native American healers utilize the gifts of nature for ceremonial purposes and to treat over 120 ailments, from the common cold to a bruised heart. The book presents the medicine of the Four Directions and the plants with which each direction is associated. From the East comes the knowledge of "heart medicine"--blood-building tonics and plants for vitality and detoxification. The medicine of the South focuses on the innocence of life and the energy of youthfulness. West medicine treats the internal aspects of the physical body to encourage strength and endurance, while North medicine offers a sense of freedom and connection to the stars and the greater Universal Circle. This resource also includes traditional teaching tales to offer insights from Cherokee cosmology into the origin of illness, how the animals found their medicine, and the naming of the plants.

Genres: Indigenous, Herbs, Nonfiction, Gardening, Health, Native Americans, Science

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2003

Reviews

[Latasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is SO full of information! It's a treasure trove of plants for medical uses. Granted, the author does not give specific amounts or formulas and if some are sacred to the tribe, he says so. That is all he will say about those and that is that. I love it! I'm sure this will be a constant reference book for me. Anyone interested in plant healing should pick this book up.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plenty of herbs, many of them poorly covered elsewhere, but not much detail on each. Herbal information is poorly organized

[Rena Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone interested in herbal healing, growing herbs, and identifying plants with healing or herbal qualities, this is a wonderful book. Despite it's being set in the southern and southeastern United States, it either brought back memories, or confirmed stories I heard from my grandmother about Cherokee remedies. And many of these plants are indigenous to other areas, such as the northwest.

I have a student interested in homeopathic medicine that I think this book will be a great addition to her collection. Glad I made this connection. Hope it's helpful to her.

[Kathy Dobronyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for those who are interested in Cherokee culture in healing. Helps the layman have a working understanding how plants in their many forms are used to address the life values in each of the Four Directions.

East Medicine values the importance of family life, the importance of women as Mother Earth and the importance of the heart in relationships and life.

South Medicine addresses outdoor exposure of the exterior body and skin.

West Medicine is about internal conditions and diseases that influence the physical body and endurance.

North Medicine teaches in reference to the four winds, cold weather, and calm.

[William Crump · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another important book from a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee. Based largely on how the medicines of each of the Four Directions differ, there is very much detail on each plant. This book was fundamental to my understanding of Indigenous American Cosmology and how diseases find their way into humans. Both were critical to fleshing out the multiracial characters in my "Savannah's Hoodoo Doctor" and "Savannah's Bethesda." Too much detail about individual plants for most readers.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an herbalist, this was an interesting account of the Cherokee uses with herbs. A few new-to me herbs but most are fairly well-known in the ‘realm’.

It seemed most Cherokee herbs were focused on likely Cherokee issues-which understandably don’t seem to be many; mostly digestive, a few urinary, and a handful of kidney.

I enjoyed learning ‘directional’ herbs tho I don’t pretend to understand the concept. A decent reference to add to my collection.

[Theresa M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal Historical documentation. Indigenous American verbal history of herbs and medicines, dictated from verbal accounts of chiefs and Medicine Men. Divided into regions of North/South/East/West.

[Ognjen Radulović · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly well written and formatted, with plenty of insights and information regarding both the plethora of plants mentioned in the book, as well as the plethora of other perennial knowledge passed down through the generations.

[Janet Geren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful 😆

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my go-to herbal medicine book. The set up for finding what you're looking for is fantastic.

[Dee Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. American Native plant medicine. Some different plants...

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview reference to various plants that the Cherokee would use for healing purposes. I say overview, because it mostly touches on the individual plants in a paragraph or two. The books chapters are broken down by the directions, some general information and then plants related to those directions and that healing.

[Nilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars only because I wanted more and it met the needs of the average reader. That is not a criticism of the book at all; only my desire to continue to learn more about this subject because I really liked what I learned from this book.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great info about plants and the four directions. Also, good stories from the Cherokee tradition and region.