CHARLES W. KANE | author, herbalist & teacher                                 home |          clinic |          studies |          works |          contact |          bio |


Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd. | Western cohosh | Santa Catalina Mountains

c u r r e n t

June 16th
Television appearance - Arizona Illustrated with Bill Buckmaster (PBS/KUAT)

August 21st
Edible and Medicinal Plant Walk
Mt Lemmon, August 21, 8:00 -noon
Edible and medicinal plant expert Charlie Kane will discuss the many therapeutic uses of high elevation trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Participants will car pool from a meeting place at the base of the mountain.
Reservations required. Fee $10.
Contact: Meg Quinn
<Meg.Quinn@pima.gov>

September 8th
Tucson Organic Gardener's lecture-signing
Details to be announced.

o n - g o i n g

Studies in Western Herbal Medicine

Patient intake (generally one-week wait)

2nd ed. of Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest
First edition (2006) has sold over 6000 copies (if you want this soon to be out of print collector's edition - now is the time). New edition is updated and expanded. Release date: September 15th, 2009.

p o i n t s  o f  i n t e r s t

What is an herbalist?
Technically: a health care professional or layman who dispenses or recommends plants with the aim of relieving that persons suffering.
This designation is open to wide interpretation among interested groups. Bottom line: anyone can call himself an herbalist. What separates the grain from the chaff is the quality of work and the relief gained by the treated.

Positives of the field:
No governmental or regulating bodies. Like the West before it was tamed. The field's strength is due to its understatement and misunderstanding. Like a humble street fighter - he'll likely win over the strutting black belt.

Negatives of the field:
Filled with kooks and hippies. Sharks and hustlers abound.