HERBAL MEDICINE of the AMERICAN SOUTHWEST

Hailed as one of the most complete books written on Southwestern herbal medicine, this work goes beyond impersonal ethnobotanical and scientific research by putting plant use into a practical-real life context.

Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest is based on trial and error and personal experience; it is supported by scientific findings and conclusions of experts working in the field.

The medicinal uses applied to each plant are consistent and practical; devoid of hype and cure-all sensationalism this book relays common sense logic in a field known for the opposite.

Over 210 western plants are profiled withing 100 monographs. The bulk of the plants are found within the Southwestern United States, many others have a wider western range, and then others are found country wide.

Containing 80 detailed paintings by Frank S. Rose, and over 250 color photographs on the whole plant and smaller details, the book also serves as a useful identification reference.


Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Lincoln Town Press (January 5, 2006)
Reprinted and revised: 2007
Author: Charles W. Kane
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0977133303
ISBN-13: 978-0977133307
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds

This book presents an interesting approach to regional herbal medicine – the utilization of locally available wild plants for self-limiting and self-treatable disorders. A do-it-yourself alternative to commercially available herbal remedies, this guide profiles 100 medicinal and edible plants, native and naturalized to the deserts of the southwestern United States.

Equal parts field guide and pharmacopoeia, this book does a good job of distilling an array of specialized and technical concepts into the vernacular. 100 ‘‘plants’’ are profiled, by common name (more than 200 species are actually represented), with information on how to find, identify and prepare them. Each profile also contains an overview of that plant’s chemistry and pharmacological activity, therapeutic indications and recommended dosage forms, as well as cautions, concerns and counterindications. Clear color photograph of each plant are included, along with a set of magnificent botanical illustrations. Each plant profile contains a selected bibliography, along with general bibliographic references in the areas of botany, human physiology and general medicinal use (including therapeutics, pharmacognosy and pharmacology). A therapeutic index, glossary of technical terms and a comprehensive index enhance the user-friendliness of this volume.

We live in an era marked by increasing globalization, commercialization and marketing of "natural’’ medicines; less-than-critical product endorsements and uncertainties about the origin, authenticity and quality of these products remain a cause for concern. This volume provides the reader with a hands-on solution to both of these challenges, offering a nuanced approach to herbal self-medication along with an entre´e to the scientific literature, and providing information to help the reader successfully locate, identify and sustainably harvest these selected medicinal plants from the wild.

The book, unapologetically (and without disclaimer), promotes both the harvest and utilization of wild plant species as medicinal agents, including species which are known to contain toxic compounds. As Paracelsus noted, ‘‘All things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dose permits something not to be poisonous’’. Inclusion of medicinal plants with known toxicities [such as Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) with its hepatotoxic nordihydroguaiaretic metabolites, as well as several species known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids] might be seen by some to be unacceptable, ill-informed, subversive, or at least to be pushing the envelope of propriety. Inherent in this approach is the faith that society, in general, and the reader, in particular, will adhere to a common-sense respect for nature and take personal responsibility for identifying potentially toxicity and adverse drug–herb interactions.

Despite the fact that (1) the conservation status of many wild medicinal plants is increasingly threatened, especially for plants with specialized habitat preferences and limited range, (2) our limited knowledge of both drug–herb and herb–herb interactions continue to loom large over the field of herbal medicine, and (3) our hyper-litigious society has prompted the authors or publishers of many books on herbal medicine to include disclaimers of responsibility for the interpretation and use of the materials they present, this positive attitude and faith in humanity to ‘‘do the right thing’’ are refreshing.

As a working model of a modern herbal, the value of this book transcends both the limits of its geographic scope and its focus on nondomestic plant species. It should be of interest to lay readers and scientists alike, consumers and practitioners of herbal medicine, ethnobotanists, pharmacognosists, policy-makers, regulators and those interested in the utilization of wild medicinal plant species.

Adjunct Assistant Professor
James Graham
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy,
University of Illinois College of Pharmacy

Albuquerque Journal, Winter 2006
“Lincoln Town Press has just published Charles W. Kane’s “Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest.” The book’s subtitle is “A Guide to the Identification, Collection, Preparation, and Use of Medicinal and Edible Plants of the Southwestern United States.”Kane, an herbalist, operates the Tucson Clinic of Botanical Medicine where he uses medicinal plants in his private practice. Publicity material accompanying the book quotes the author says that “almost any problem or condition can be addressed naturally. The severity of the problem and compliance to the therapy are the two main factors that will influence relief.”The geographical area covered in the book includes New Mexico, West Texas, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Southern California and parts of Colorado. Each year, Kane organizes lecture-field trips between March and August. For more information about them contact Kane through the Web site www.tcbmed.com, by e-mail at charkane@earthlinknet or by calling the clinic toll-free (866) 364-5440.” 

The Bloomsbury Review, Winter 2006
“Handsomely produced, this herbal guide covers more than 200 plants native to the Southwest.  Useful as both a field guide and a reference source, the plants are carefully identified and include the chemistry of active ingredients, medicinal uses, and collection and preparation suggestions.

This is not a complete collection of regional plants, as is found in some herbal encyclopedias, but focuses on common varieties and accessible uses.  The author has a functional belief in self-healing; the approach here is to offer non-pharmaceutical, “green” alternatives to standard medical therapeutics, promoting a do-it yourself functional philosophy.  Spiritual aspects of plant healing are not included.  Appropriate warnings detail how specific plants could cause harm, and there is an emphasis on disorders that are “self-limiting and self-treatable” – use is best tempered with common sense.  Color photographs provide identification in the field for most entries, but there is an added illustration bonus: elegant, classic paintings of key plants by Frank S. Rose, a noted watercolorist.” 


The Prescott Daily Courier, January 2006
“Many Southwestern plants are medical powerhouses that can do everything from help alleviate minor aches, cuts and pains to help fight major medical conditions.  For example, you may not have known that Arizona cypress isn’t just a tree with which to decorate your yard.  The book will tell you how to prepare cypress to heal warts, help heal wounds, fight gingivitis and more. Tucson resident and teacher Charles W. Kane details the medicinal uses of 210 such Western plants in his book, many of which grow in central Arizona.  The book includes over 250 photographs to assist in field identification.”

 Paper Clips, Winter 2006
“This work details more than 210 medicinal plants.  The majority are found throughout the Southwest, others have a wider western range, and then some are found country wide. Each profile discusses the plant’s identification, distribution, chemistry, medicinal and edible uses, and cautions. More than 250 color photos and 80 paintings further enhance the information’s usefulness. Well researched, practical, and pertinent, this work serves as a resource for those who are interested in finding medicine from the land.” 

Mid West Book Review, March 2006
“Herbal Medicine Of The American Southwest: A Guide To The Identification, Collection, Preparation, And Use Of Medicinal And Edible Plants Of The Southwestern United States by practicing herbalist Charles W. Kane (Tucson Clinic of Botanical Medicine) and featuring elegant and accurate illustrations by Frank S. Rose is the “user-friendly” and easy to use guide perfect for exactly what is described in the title. Herbal Medicine Of The American Southwest informs the reader of how to find the plant, how to prepare it, what it can be used for, what side effects may occur, and what resources might be necessary to further define the plant, giving the overall book a very definitive and notable study of the plants it features. Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest is highly recommended to all naturalists living in the southwest of America, as well as organic studies students, however especially recommended to all inhabitants of the featured area.”

 Gold Canyon News, Spring 2006
“Kane authored the 2005 “Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest,” and will be a special guest at Boyce Thompson Arboretum on Sunday, Feb. 26, leading the 1:30 p.m. Edible/Medicinal Plants of the Sonoran Desert Walk and also signing copies of his book. Kane will discuss a number of native plants that he has found useful in his clinical practice…” 

Book News, Spring 2006
“This reference describes over 210 western plants within 100 profiles. Each profile discusses the plant’s identification, distribution, chemistry, medicinal and edible uses, and cautions. To help identification, it contains over 250 color photos and 80 color paintings. Kane explains how to dry the plants and to make teas and tinctures. He includes a glossary, a therapeutic index and an extensive bibliography.” 

Jonathan Treasure’s Herbal Bookworm, April 2006
“Kane’s book is good for ID, has quality photos, some unique original paintings, and succinct practical indications and usage profiles of over 200 mostly SW desert plants by an herbalist who walks his talk. If you want to know more about these precious and in some cases powerful medicines, check out Kane’s book here at his Tucson clinic website.”  

Alternative Medicine Review, March 2006
“Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest: A Guide to the Identification, Collection, Preparation, and Use of Medicinal and Edible Plants of the Southwestern United States Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest by Charles W. Kane, published in January 2006, highlights the wealth of medicinal plants residing in just one corner of our vast national landscape.This text covers over 210 western plants within 100 distinct plant profiles, from Acacia to Yucca. Each profile is identified by what the author calls its “main common name.” This is followed by the plant’s Latin family name, its current Latin binomial, and any other common names. The profile is further broken down into segments such as description, distribution, chemistry, medicinal uses, indications, collection, preparation and dosage, and cautions.

Kane’s writing style is simple and easy to follow. Drawing from over 15 years of experience in the field, he equips the reader with practical information that can be readily applied, while at the same time lending insights that can only come from someone with a true passion for, and intimate knowledge of, botanical medicines.

Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest serves as a decent field guide as well. In addition to the text, the book contains 80 detailed paintings by Frank S. Rose and over 250 photos of the plants covered in the book, allowing for easy recognition on site.Although the name focuses on plants in the southwest, many may be found throughout North America. Such familiar names include dandelion, horsetail, juniper, and verbena. Thus, the medicinal plants in this book go well beyond the geographical borders of its title.For anyone interested in botanical medicine, Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest is a valuable addition to your library.” 

Arizona Highways, August 2006
 "Charles Kane combines his love of medicinal plants and 15 years of experience with herbal medicine in his recently published Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest.  The comprehensive field guide to plants from Acacia to Yucca instructs on collection, preparation and use of the Southwest's botanical bounty.  Each plant's chemical makeup, medicinal uses and distribution are detailed.  Kane believes on must interact with the land to truly understand it.  Part folk medicine, part scientific study, Herbal Medicine is enhanced with more than 250 detailed color photographs and 80 vivid watercolors by Frank S. Rose, who has been painting wildflowers and other plants for decades and is a signature member of the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild." 

HerbalGram, Winter 2007 
"Herbalists of the Southwestern United States will be pleased to see this valuable addition to the region’s materia medica. Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest combines the comprehensive information of a reference book with the confidence and practical knowledge of an experienced clinical herbal practitioner. Charles Kane has written a handsome, user-friendly guide that details the description and distribution, chemistry, medicinal uses, indications, preparations, dosages, contraindications, and comparative cultural and historical information for over 210 western plants within 100 profiles. The bulk of the plants mentioned are found within the American Southwest, while others have an expanded western range and can often be found growing across the continental United States. Some of the plants are native to the region, while others, like the showy, red flowered Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima [L.] brought into this region from subtropical or tropical America and were planted in desert landscapes as ornamentals, and somehow were able to survive. Charles Kane was auspiciously introduced to plant use as a young boy by his grandfather, an experienced backwoods-man, who would take him and his brother on outings to collect wild cresses and onions. The elder’s favorite plant for treating the young boys, who would occasionally get rashes from tromping around in the vicinity of poison ivy, was jewel weed (Impatiens spp. Balsaminaceae). Later as a young adult Kane discovered for himself how plants could be powerful tools of healing. Through self-study and learning from experienced regional herbalists, including the legendary Michael Moore at the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine in historic Bisbee, Arizona, Charles developed a unique, eclectic style of herbalism. Kane combines traditional and modern herbal uses, western physiology, and constitutional diagnosis in his private practice through the Tucson Clinic of Botanical Medicine. He also personally collects and prepares most of the herbs he dispenses. Kane addresses the controversial issues of wildcrafting practices with a light-handed, sustainable approach, abiding by 6 sensible guidelines in which he explains to the reader that the respectful wildcrafter takes only what he or she needs and should never collect more than 10% of any stand of plants.

The majority of the plants Charles has chosen to profile, such as acacia (Acacia greggii Gray, Fabaceae), mesquite (Prosopis velutina Wooton, Fabaceae), creosote bush [aka chaparral] (Larrea tridentata [Sessé & Moç. ex DC.] Coville, Zygophyllaceae), and prickly pear (Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm, Cactaceae) are some of the best-known medicinal plants of the region, while others, such as trixis (Trixis californica Kellogg, Asteraceae), deerweed (Porophyllum ruderale ssp. Macrocephalum [DC.] R.R. Johnson, Asteraceae), chinchweed (Pectis papposa Harvey & Gray, Asteraceae), and hopbush (Dodonaea viscose [L.] Jacq., Sapindaceae) are used by the indigenous healers of the Southwest region but rarely, if ever, are discussed in medicinal herb guides.

Common and scientific names are given for the plant and the plant family, as well as the Spanish name, when applicable. The book includes a glossary of medicinal terms and a general index. A therapeutic index, which cross-references plants included in the book according to the various ailments for which they are used, will undoubtedly be advantageous to those unfamiliar with materia medica of the Southwest.    

In the format explanation Kane gives the reader clear and precise directions on how to prepare herbal infusions, decoctions, and cold infusions, as well as how to make fresh and dry plant tinctures. This section also gives succinct recipes for making a cough syrup, eyewash, douche, fluid extract, fomentation, liniment, herbal oil, poultice, powder, salve, and sitz bath. He cautions the reader that, when using herbs, less is probably better. “A little will help, a lot may harm. Any plant properly dosed in small amounts can be medicinal. The same plant may be toxic in larger amounts.” His wise and practical advice for using herbs in pregnancy is, “If an herb is affecting the mother-to-be then it is affecting the fetus. The herb’s activity is usually delivered to the baby through the breast milk as well. While pregnant or nursing, limit herbs that have strong physiologic activities. In these times think of food as medicine.”    

The plant monographs are a combination of folk medicine, well-researched scientific findings, and conclusions found in the latest scientific journals. The bibliography is arranged clearly and neatly. I particularly like the way in which the author lists references separately for each plant, making it easy and accessible for the reader who may choose to do further research on an individual plant. The author’s photography is also commendable. Included in this compilation are 252 excellent color photos, which will make field identification of the plants nearly effortless. As an extra special bonus, the book is additionally illustrated with mesmerizing watercolor prints painted by Frank S. Rose, a veteran artist and signature member of the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild and Western Federation of Watercolor Societies.”