[MPWG] syllabus & readings for complementary herbology

[joyal at asu.edu]

Greetings,

I’m tentatively teaching “Complementary Herbology” at the Phoenix Institute of 
Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture this fall.  Up until now the course has focused 
on Ayurvedic medicine and on medicinal plants of the greater Southwest; 
Oriental medical theory and the energetics of plants have been central in the 
education of these students and there is the expectation that this perspective 
will be included.  I would like to redesign the course and broaden it to more 
fully “complement” what they are learning about traditional Chinese herbs 
(Bensky & Gamble is their primary text there).  Has anyone on this list taught 
a class similar to this?  If so, would you be willing to share your syllabus 
and reading list?  

Thus far, I’m thinking about using Mark Blumenthal’s The ABC Clinical Guide to 
Herbs as the main text.  Other readings may come from Grossinger’s Planet 
Medicine, Holmes’ The Energetics of Western Herbs, Frawley and Lad’s The Yoga 
of Herbs: Ayurvedic Guide, Johns’ Chemical Ecology and the Origins of Human 
Diet and Medicine, Moore’s Herbs of the Southwest and / or Los Remedios: 
Traditional Herbal Remedies of the Southwest, and Tierra and Frawley’s 
Planetary Herbology.  Can anyone comment on this selection? or offer 
alternatives?   

Finally, and particular to this list, does anyone know of a review paper or 
book chapter that nicely summarizes the major issues involved in wild-crafting, 
from proper harvest methods and conservation issues to concerns about the 
medicinal value of wild-crafted versus cultivated herbs.  Any suggestions 
welcome.

Thanks,

  

Elaine Joyal, PhD

333 East Balboa Drive
Tempe, AZ 85282  USA