The Herbal Handbook: A User's Guide to Medical Herbalism. - book reviews

David Hoffmann's knowledge and expertise as an herbalist are extensive. In addition to traditional herbal tore, Hoffmann keeps abreast of current pharmacological and medical papers that relate to herbalism or to plant constituents. In some ways, then, The Herbal Handbook is an understatement -- the scientific data is integrated so seamlessly into the traditional lore that Hoffmann's extensive technical and scientific background could easily be missed.

The book is organized around the actions of the plants (adaptogen, alterative, anthelmintic, anti-bilious, etc., etc., etc.) and around bodily systems. Hoffmann lists four possible contexts or approaches to using herbs: traditional knowledge, pharmacology of active ingredients, within the framework of a philosophical system (e.g., Ayurvedic or Chinese), or within a new holistic approach. While Hoffmann states that none of these approaches is better or worse than the others, it is clear that the author has chosen the latter approach, and it suffuses the book. Under "nervine tonics," plants to strengthen a nervous system under stress or depression, the leading entry (ahead of St. John's Wort) is oats, most easily taken as gruel or porridge. I associate eating porridge with sesshin, where it is generally served every morning for breakfast:

"Porridge is effective in ten ways to aid the student of Zen...." I know I always feet good after a sesshin, but I always attributed it to all of those hours of zazen. Now I have been eating porridge every morning and am already feeling clear, strong, virile....Thank you, David.

Other chapters in the book cover aromatherapy, herb cultivation, preparation of herbal medicines, herbs and cooking, herbs as dye plants, and potpourris. With bibliography and index.

"Any disease that manifests in the body must be seen in an emotional, mental and spiritual, as well as a physical, context. We must also remember that as part of the greater whole of humanity, we are, in a deep and mysterious way, connected with humanity's diseases, and immersed in a sea of impulses and factors not directly under our control. Many `neuroses' met in today's western society are quite possibly normal responses to an absurdly abnormal environment, sane reactions of the psyche and emotions to the insanities of a diseased society.

In this sense, there is a limit to the healing of an individual, when the disease is really a reflection of society's disease. To be a healer in the late twentieth century involves an awareness of the whole and a certain amount of political insight, if not activity. For us to be whole, our society must be whole. For our society to be whole, we must be whole. For our society to truly reflect our highest aspirations, we have to live, embody and reflect those aspirations.

Herbal medicine can be an ecological and spiritually integrated tool to aid the nervous system of humanity, so that humanity can help itself. It is an ideal counterpart on the physical level for therapeutic techniques on the psychological level, to help people to embrace their wholeness.

COPYRIGHT 1998 Point Foundation
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group