Mi'kmaq Medicines (2nd edition): Remedies and Recollections

This book provides a cursory overview of select plants and their uses. The book also contains the author's musings on the natural world and Mi'kmaq culture. Readers having some background in herbal medicines looking for detailed information may not find this book useful, however it is a fine entry-level book for novices and a quick read. As the author points out, it is of paramount importance for traditional knowledge to be recorded, and this book serves as a useful tool in that regard.I would recommend that the author include the corresponding latin binomial with each plant profile, as common names (while interesting from a cultural standpoint) vary spatially and temporally.

Note: I purchased the more recent, 2nd Ed. of this book, and my review is based upon that edition.I received this book very quickly - within 24 hours of ordering it! It showed up in excellent new condition. I was thrilled to start reading it immediately. It makes for an excellent pocket guide or quick resource to look up (especially Eastern) Canada's traditional medicinal plants and their functions (i.e. what they are/were used for, and how to use them in some cases). There are some recipes at the back of the book near the end, before the listing of plant names (by common name with its scientific name next to it in brackets) and before the index. There's a bibliography as well, which I've already used 2 sources from while doing research and found them both incredibly helpful and very interesting. The drawings are NOT in colour though, so it may be difficult for newer herbalists to use to find/locate the plants in the wild. The depth of knowledge and use/recipes offered are also limited in that they are quite short and sweet, so to say. The write ups on each plant get right down to the point without any excessive written dialogue, making it a fairly short book. Most single pages contain a write up on the plant itself (usage, history, where to find, etc.) along with a drawn picture of the plant. If you're looking for something with substance, with more contextual knowledge, organized by chapters and sections, with multiple perspectives or indigenous points of view regarding traditional uses - then I sadly must say that this is NOT the book you're looking for.

I like this book. It speaks to me because i live in Canada and now can identify plants on my nature walk, that i can harvest for medicinal purposes. The book has pencil drawings inside of each plant/tree/shrub. It gives you the general idea of the plant uses and then if you want to make madicine out of it, you can search elsewhere as to how it is best made. I have no regrets buying this book.

This is a beautiful book but I would not recommend this if you're looking to use it for plant identification. The hand-drawn illustrations are great if you already know the plants, but not for beginners. Well worth the purchase for the stories as medicinal information.

I STARTED TO READ THIS AS SOON AS IT CAME I FOUND IT VERY INFORMATIVE AND WILL BE UTILIZING MY NATIVE BACKGROUND TO IDENTIFY WITH HERBS AND PLANTS THANK YOU