Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States - Charles Kane

Exploring the most significant plant medicines of the Mountainous West, the following reference presents a working model of how to best apply the region's therapeutic plant life.

Inhabitants of the greater Rocky Mountain Corridor (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana) along with readers whom live in proximity to the Basin and Range/higher outlier mountains of Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington will derive the most from this guide. Essentially, if there is snow accumulation in the winter, and mountains, conifers, and Aspen are in the area, then this book will be of value.

Included within are the following sections: description, distribution, chemistry, medicinal uses, indications, collection, preparations, dosage, and cautions. 105 distribution maps and 166 color photos additionally accent each monograph. An entire chapter is devoted to DIY herbal preparation: teas, tinctures, ointments, liniments, essential oils, and other conveyances. Helpful appendices include a therapeutic index, bibliography, glossary, and general index.

Plant list (105): Agastache, Agrimony, Alfalfa, Alumroot, Angelica, Apache Plume, Arnica, Asparagus, Aspen, Avens, Balsam Poplar, Balsamroot, Baneberry, Barberry, Bilberry, Birch, Bistort, Bitterbrush, Bogbean, Buckthorn, Bugleweed, Checker Mallow, Chicory, Cinquefoil, Cleavers, Coral Root, Cottonwood, Cow Parsnip, Dandelion, Dock, Dogbane, Elder, Evening Primrose, False Solomon's Seal, Field Mint, Figwort, Fir, Fireweed, Fragrant Sumac, Gentian, Geranium, Goldenrod, Green Gentian, Grindelia, Hawthorn, Hedeoma, Henbane, Hollyhock, Hops, Hoptree, Horsetail, Hound's Tongue, Juniper, Larkspur, Ligusticum, Lomatium, Madrone, Marsh Marigold, Monarda, Monardella, Mullein, Nettle, Oak, Oregongrape, Ox-Eye Daisy, Pedicularis, Pine, Pipsissewa, Plantain, Pulsatilla, Pussytoes, Pyrola, Rattlesnake Plantain, Red Osier Dogwood, Red Raspberry, Red Root, Ribes, Sagebrush, Scarlet Pimpernel, Self Heal, Shepherd's Purse, Silk Tassel, Skullcap, Sneezeweed, Spearmint, Spruce, Squawroot, St. John's Wort, Stachys, Sweet Cicely, Sweet Clover, Toadflax, Usnea, Uva-Ursi, Valerian, Verbena, Western Mugwort, Wild Cherry, Wild Iris, Wild Rose, Wild Strawberry, Wild Violet, Willow, Yarrow, and Yellow Pond Lily.

A passage from the introduction:
Overall the plant life of the western mountains does seem to exhibit a number of interesting population patterns. From Ligusticum and Populus species to Pine family trees, there are more balsamic plant medicines in the mountains than in surrounding areas. The Heath family urinary tract medicines are small and some even herbaceous (Pipsissewa, Pyrola, Uva-ursi, and Bilberry) as opposed to Madrone and Manzanita, larger plants that grow to the south and west and lower in elevation. The mountains also have higher densities of bitter tonic Gentian family plants and Rose family astringents than other areas. Beyond these interesting trends, overall the western mountains have a deep bench of botanical medicines, covering nearly all organ systems and their atonic/tonic states, certainly more so than the Deserts or Plains.