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The Cherokee Herbal: Native Plant Medicine from the Four Directions (Original) — Occult Philosophy

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The Cherokee Herbal: Native Plant Medicine from the Four Directions (Original)

Name: The Cherokee Herbal: Native Plant Medicine from the Four Directions (Original)
Price: 15.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781879181960

✍️ Garrett, J T

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$15.00 ~~$19.00~~ Save $4.00 (21%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

J.T. Garrett's comprehensive work, "The Cherokee Herbal," delves into the profound wisdom of Cherokee Elders, cataloging over 450 North American plants and their medicinal applications. This guide transcends mere identification, illustrating their use in treating more than 120 ailments, from common colds to emotional distress. Crucially, it weaves this botanical knowledge with the spiritual framework of the Four Directions, explaining how each cardinal point influences healing practices and associated plant remedies. The volume offers a rare window into a rich indigenous healing tradition.

Garrett, J T

📚 all books by this author (4) →

🕯️

Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“This is an outstanding book . . . disclosing the valuable information of the herbs.”

— Making Scents, Winter/Spring 2004, Vol. 8 Issue 2

🏛 Bear & Company 📅 2003 📖 288 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781879181960

Fun Fact

Garrett's 'The Cherokee Herbal' is an essential addition for anyone serious about ethnobotany and indigenous healing. It excels in preserving and presenting complex traditional knowledge with clarity and reverence, offering far more than a simple plant compendium. While comprehensive, those seeking purely scientific validation or clinical dosages might feel it lacks that specific framework. However, for a deep dive into the spiritual and cultural dimensions of plant medicine, it stands as a cornerstone text.

📝 Description: The Cherokee Herbal: Native Plant Medicine from the Four Directions (Original)

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.

📑 What's inside

The Cherokee Herbal
Native Plant Medicine from the Four Directions
Chapter One The Medicine Way of Life
Introduction Learning From Our Elders The Medicine Story Past and Present: A Circle Journey The Medicine: An Interpretation Thanks to the Elders
Chapter Two Being in the Medicine
Chapter Three The Origin of Cherokee Medicine
The Story of the Rabbit Medicine The Story of Ant Medicine The Story of Deer Medicine The Story of Snake Medicine Plant Medicine: A Story of Naming One Man's Poison is a Tribe's Medicine
Chapter Four East Medicine
Chapter Five The South Medicine
Chapter Six West Medicine
Chapter Seven North Medicine
Appendix Medicine Formulas of Plant and Natural Helpers
East Medicine South Medicine West Medicine North Medicine
References

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Garrett’s work stands out for its dual focus on practical medicine and spiritual context, making it a unique resource in occult-philosophy shelves. However, readers expecting purely mystical or non-indigenous esoteric theories may find the specific Cherokee cultural references too narrow or unfamiliar. It is not suited for those seeking quick, simplified remedies without engaging with the underlying spiritual philosophy of the Four Directions. Additionally, individuals uncomfortable with indigenous epistemologies might struggle with its worldview. Despite these limitations, it remains an essential text for serious students of herbalism who respect the source material and are willing to engage with the cultural depth required to truly understand these ancient plant applications.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a deep, respectful connection to North American indigenous healing traditions will find profound value in this comprehensive guide. It is ideal for herbalists who wish to move beyond mere identification and understand the spiritual underpinnings of plant medicine. Those interested in holistic wellness can utilize its detailed catalog of remedies for over 120 ailments, ranging from physical colds to emotional distress. By integrating botanical knowledge with the spiritual framework of the Four Directions, the book offers a rare window into Cherokee Elders' wisdom. It appeals to anyone looking to enrich their own healing practices with authentic, culturally grounded insights that honor both the earth and the spirit.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you seek a deeper understanding of holistic health, indigenous ethnobotany, or traditional Native American healing practices, this book offers an invaluable resource. It's for those eager to connect with nature's remedies through a culturally rich and spiritually grounded lens.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Garrett’s work stands out for its dual focus on practical medicine and spiritual context, making it a unique resource in occult-philosophy shelves. However, readers expecting purely mystical or non-indigenous esoteric theories may find the specific Cherokee cultural references too narrow or unfamiliar. It is not suited for those seeking quick, simplified remedies without engaging with the underlying spiritual philosophy of the Four Directions. Additionally, individuals uncomfortable with indigenous epistemologies might struggle with its worldview. Despite these limitations, it remains an essential text for serious students of herbalism who respect the source material and are willing to engage with the cultural depth required to truly understand these ancient plant applications.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Far from it. While comprehensively detailing over 450 plants and their uses, it deeply integrates Cherokee cultural narratives, the spiritual significance of the Four Directions, and elders' wisdom, offering much more than a simple botanical index.

The book focuses on North American plants traditionally used by the Cherokee. While many might be found in specific regions, its primary value lies in understanding the traditional applications and the spiritual philosophy behind their use, rather than serving as a universal foraging guide.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Plant-Based Healing

Explores the extensive medicinal properties of over 450 native plants, offering natural remedies for a spectrum of physical and emotional conditions. It emphasizes a holistic approach to wellness, integrating plants into traditional Cherokee health practices, guided by elder wisdom and generational knowledge.

Four Directions Cosmology

Delves into the sacred framework of the Four Directions, detailing how each cardinal point—East, South, West—correlates with specific healing energies, plant associations, and life stages. This spiritual map provides a deeper context for understanding well-being and the interconnectedness of all things.

Indigenous Wisdom Preservation

Aims to document and share the invaluable herbal knowledge passed down through generations of Cherokee Elders, ensuring the continuity of these ancient healing traditions and their profound cultural significance. The book includes traditional teaching tales, offering insights into their worldview.

📜 Historical context

This work stands as a vital contribution within the long tradition of indigenous ethnobotany, preserving practices that predate modern medicine by millennia. It bridges ancient oral traditions with contemporary documentation, offering insights into the Cherokee people's profound relationship with the natural world and their sophisticated system of healing.

📚 Glossary

Four Directions
Heart Medicine
Cultural Botany

📔 Questions to reflect on

Reflect on a plant in your local environment. How might its properties, observed through a traditional lens, contribute to well-being?
Consider the concept of 'heart medicine' from the East Direction. What in your life provides you with vitality and detoxification, physically or emotionally?
How can engaging with indigenous knowledge systems, like Cherokee herbalism, deepen your respect for nature and expand your understanding of health?