Western Herbs for Martial Artists and Contact Athletes: Effective Treatments for Common Sports Injuries

A book for your permanent library

Being a certified massage therapist with a martial arts background, this book quickly caught my eye. I have read numerous books on nutritional healing and this is one of the better ones. I had a feeling that I was going to like this book when I read `As for precautions, this book is full of them. Though I believe in boldness, I also believe there is another name for a beginner who would charge boldly into great risk for small reward. That other name is "fool"' Too many of the books in this subject area that I have read seem to promise the Fountain of Youth. Dr. Peterson's pragmatism is refreshing. Many other reviewers have already done a great job of detailing the content and the quality of the overall research. I gave this book four stars instead of five only because I felt that chapter four (Applications and Uses) was not extensive enough. It was hard at times, having a symptom in mind, to find which herbs could be considered as a possible treatment. General symptomatic categories are offered such as `Joint Pain and Inflammation', `Sprains', Bruises and Contusions', etc. So, where does one go to get suggestions for treating a jammed finger: the Joint Pain section or the Sprain section? In this book jammed fingers are covered in the Sprains section, which is probably technically more correct, but I found myself often looking in multiple sections before I found where a certain symptom was referenced. Fortunately, symptoms that can fall under multiple categories are sometimes listed in multiples sections, and the index in the back of the book, while not extensive, does help. Nonetheless, this book is definitely a book worth keeping.

A valuable addition to the martial art literature for the serious practitioner of any martial art or contact sport

In the last number of years, there have been many resources on Traditional Chinese Medicine and healing practices of Asia, including using Eastern herbs, published in English. However, some of the herbs and ingredients for the Eastern remedies are difficult to come by in the West, and some remedies just don't jive well with the way many Westerners believe and think. Those who study Asian martial arts have most likely been introduced to some of these remedies, being a part of many advanced martial art practices. However, that still does not get around the lack of ingredients or the way some feel about such potions, even if they have embraced other Asian practices and arts. This problem has been solved by Sysan Lynn Peterson, PH.D. Her new book, "Western Herb for Martial Artists and Contact Athletes: Effective Treatments for Common Sports Injuries," focuses on Western herbs that will help the martial artist with bruises, scrapes, cuts, sprains, muscle strains, breaks, and dislocations. There are also herbs that help with breathing, managing adrenaline, and other anxieties. The book is a great resource for all martial artist's bookshelves. Peterson describes herself as a researcher, not an herbalist. She is also a 5th degree black belt in Shuri-ryu karate. With this background, she has written a book that is very user friendly and aimed at martial artists. I especially like that she uses a grading system regarding the various herbs and treatments that goes from Universally recognized by conventional medicine and alternative medicine, to tests that the herb does not work for a specific condition. This grading system is found throughout the book and helps you know which remedies are most useful. The book starts with a chapter on using herbs safely, and the proceeds to chapter two "The Herbal." This second chapter is almost 200 pages long and contains an alphabetical list of herbs. Nearly 70 herbs are described in this section. Under each selection you find the scientific name, information about the herb, what it is good for, how to use it, how much to use, and what you should be aware of before using it. These entries are all backed up with a huge amount of research notes. There are 1798 notes in the "Notes" section at the end of the book. Enough research material to keep the person who wants to see where Peterson found her information busy for a long, long time. Personally, I'm so glad to have a researcher like Peterson put all of this information into a single easy to use and understand volume. The third chapter is a short chapter on preparing herbs, where chapter four focuses on applications and uses. This chapter is organized by some of the more common ailments that you can use herbs to remedy. The fifth chapter is only two pages long and contains a few herbal contraindications regarding bleeding, blood sugar, blood pressure and a few others. Chapter six contains four pages of additional resources and then there is a short Glossary and the Notes section. If you are a martial artist here in the West and have an interest in herbal therapies, this is the book to get. It is a fantastic resource on the subject that is easy to read and understand. It is a valuable addition to the martial art literature for the serious practitioner of any martial art or contact sport.

For More than Martial Artists

Any athlete, martial artist, weightlifter, or mom or dad would find a trove of information in this book. Dr. Peterson must have put in a great deal of research to put Western Herbs together. It's easy to look up information you need, and the herbs are readily accessible and easily found.

For strains, sprains, bruises, twists, and flexibility issues, I've found Western Herbs to be very useful in helping recover quickly from minor injuries and nagging pains.

I've been weightlifting and practicing martial arts for over 20 years, and I really could have used this book 20 years ago!

Useful because herbs are available

he thing that makes this book useful is the fact that the herbs are available in the western kitchen garden. My New York garden this year contained: Aloe Vera (a house plant here), Calendula, Capsicum (peppers), Caraway, Catnip, Chamomile, Echinacea, Elder, Fennel, Garlic, Horsetail, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosehips, Rosemary, Sage, Slippery Elm, St. John's Wort, Thyme, Witch Hazel and Yarrow. Not a bad pantry if I want to try some of the treatments listed in the book. The same cannot be said for many of the Asian Herbal manuals. I like that the descriptions give you the Scientific name, What is it good for, How do you use it, How much do you use, What should you be aware of before using. Just perusing the chapters quickly, I can across a paragraph about Ginko Biloba and how it has a higher rate of nasty side-effects than most herbs. Ginkgo can raise blood pressure when combined with a thiazide diuretic. If you are on blood pressure medication, check with your doctor before using ginkgo. You can be sure I will show this to my husband, who has been on blood pressure meds for years and also taking Ginkgo to improve memory. Maybe he'll remember to read the labels before consuming! The black and white photos are nice, however, not enough to be used as a full plant identification guide. There is an extensive list, 75 pages of notes in the book that will be very useful to people who want to pursue growing and using their own herbs to treat common sports injuries and conditions.

Go Natural! Western Herbs for Martial Artists and Contact Atheletes.

Western Herbs for Martial Artists and Contact Athletes is a diligently researched and extremely useful guide for the medicinal use of over sixty herbs commonly found in Europe and North America. Due to the complexity of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the difficulty obtaining indigents for Chinese herbal mixtures, (bear gall bladder, etc.) Western Herbs is essential for anyone who wants to treat injuries and ailments with herbs commonly found in this part of the world. Though the title suggests that the book is geared towards martial artists and contact athletes, I'd recommend it to anyone who uses, or is interested in using western herbs to treat common injuries (sprains, fractures, bruises, etc.) and ailments (common colds, insomnia, anxiety, etc.) and for anyone who wants to know a specific herb's safe usage, effects, possible side effects, limitations and dangers. Although color photos would have been a nice addition for easier field identification, each herb is clearly illustrated with black and white photos in the herbal section (chapter 2). Besides a thorough herbal, the book includes chapters on using herbs safely (careful - herbs can kill you!!!), preparing herbs (infusions, decoctions, essential oils, compresses, poultices, etc.) applications and uses (for injuries and ailments), herbal contraindications, and additional resources for research. Dr. Peterson has obviously done a tremendous amount of research (which she describes in her introduction) to produce a remarkably informative and useful guide to western herbs and how to use them effectively for healing injuries and ailments. "Western Herbs" is packed with a wealth of valuable information. Unless you're an experienced herbalist, if you use - or want to use - herbs in any capacity, you should have this volume on hand.

This Book Belongs On Your Shelf!

This book is for everyone--not just those who are martial artists and athletes. It is a well-written, concise manual that encourages novices and experts alike to make informed decisions about using herbs for medicinal purposes, in this case, herbs that grow in Europe and the Americas. This text is well researched and thoroughly documented. Not only is each herb illustrated and its healing properties detailed, but also clearly explained is when to use it, as well as when not to use it. The author emphasizes safety first and encourages medical treatment when needed. The major portion of the book is about the herbs, which includes nearly full-page illustrations, recommendations, and other important information. An entire chapter explains and illustrates how to prepare your own infusions, poultices, powders, creams, and decoctions; another chapter lists appropriate applications, which is followed by a chapter that explains possible interactions. A significant table of contents, glossary, and excellent index lets you easily find what you are looking for. This book is enjoyable and easy to read, as well as being very informative.

No text was provided for this review.