Ana Nez Heatherly, a woman with mixed Cherokee and Celtic bloodlines, was exposed to home remedies and the Medicine Way as a youth. In Healing Plants: A Medicinal Guide to Native North American Plants & Herbs, she relates how she experienced a "science crisis" in school, and she explains that her final conclusion was that traditional and contemporary medicine should work together. She became a registered nurse.

We are introduced to the healing plants by a Cherokee story of how plant remedies began. After the previously mentioned section on learning to heal, the author explains how to gather and prepare the plants. This section includes all the standard means of utilizing plant parts: infusion, plaster, compress, oil infusion and so forth. These sections comprise a powerful introduction, although only 10 pages. This writer gets right to the business of dispensing information.

The plants listings are arranged alphabetically and average two pages each. The listings begin with a narrative about the plant that includes anecdotes, historical information, a description of the various stages of growth, and tips on harvesting. A sidebar lists what it used to treat and how it is used. A map of the United States shows the range and a section titled "Growing" tells about how the plant can be cultivated and provides tidbits about its growth habits in the wild.

A section on "Medicinal Uses & Preparation" gives you the knowledge to fully utilize this plant's medicinal properties. Under "Food," we find facts about eating the plant and any commercial availability, including specialty shops. The section on "Current Interest" has fascinating information on the latest testing of plants, results of recent testing and potential uses. It relates all the latest news and gossip about the plant. A caution section warns readers of any possible dangers associated with the plant. A final block of information reveals a related topic: how to make a dye, how to make an anti-wrinkle cream, how the plant got its name, how to store the roots, and so forth.

Heatherley also takes us on a plant-gathering trip with a Cherokee medicine man. She explains what he is doing and the traditions or beliefs behind his actions. Her writing is so descriptive and colorful that you will see the environment and the medicine man at work. She engages all your senses to deliver a profound reading experience.

Heatherley has produced a magnificent reference on plant medicine. She is thorough and writes with clarity. She has included a plant index and a general index for ease of locating information. You can find anything in a flash. There is a full-color center section with more than 120 photographs to assist you in identifying plants. I have a collection of plant books and this is one of the best I have encountered. It ranks at the top of the field!