Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Bandgt;NATURAL andlt;Iandgt;REMEDIOSandlt;/Iandgt; FOR EVERYDAY AILMENTSandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; When the Spaniards conquered the Aztecs, they stumbled upon a treasure trove ultimately more valuable and lasting than the glittering mounds of Moctezuma's gold -- the herbal remedies and medicines developed by the Indians, which in many ways surpassed the rudimentary medicine of the Old World. The remnants of these cures, potions, infusions, and tonics form the basis of the countless natural remedies still used in many Mexican-American households today. Now, these healing herbs and remedies are brought together in a volume that is as practical as it is fascinating. In andlt;Iandgt;Infusions of Healingandlt;/Iandgt; you'll find: andlt;BRandgt; * The intriguing story of how this long-suppressed ancient knowledge was passed down over the course of five centuries.andlt;BRandgt; * Hundreds of safe, effective herbal treatments for everyday ailments -- teas, liniments, compresses, salves, and soothing baths for headaches, colds, fevers, digestive disorders, menstrual cramps, skin problems, aches and pains, and much more.andlt;BRandgt; * An alphabetical listing of more than 200 herbs and plants, from andlt;Iandgt;abedulandlt;/Iandgt; (birch) to andlt;Iandgt;zarsaparillaandlt;/Iandgt; (sasparilla), including their English, Spanish, Nahuatl (Aztec), and botanical names, with extensive notes on their histories and healing properties.andlt;BRandgt; * Expert advice from today's traditional healers and practitioners of Mexican-American herbal medicine, many of their remedies recorded in print for the first-time. andlt;BRandgt; Thorough, well organized, and rich with history, andlt;Iandgt;Infusions of Healingandlt;/Iandgt; is a practical handbook for anyone interested in natural remedies, as well as an invaluable contribution to the preservation of a tradition deeply embedded in Latino culture.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [341]-346) and index.
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;Joie Davidow,andlt;/Bandgt; an award-winning journalist, was a founder of the andlt;Iandgt;L.A. Weekly, L.A. Styleandlt;/Iandgt; magazine and andlt;Iandgt;Sand#237;,andlt;/Iandgt; a national Latino lifestyle publication, and is coeditor with Esmeralda Santiago of two anthologies, andlt;Iandgt;Las Christmas: Favorite Latino Authors Share Their Holiday Memoriesandlt;/Iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;Las Mamis: Favorite Latino Authors Remember Their Mothers.andlt;/Iandgt; She lives in Los Angeles, California.
Table of Contents
andlt;Bandgt;Contentsandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Introductionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part Iandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Five Centuries of Healingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;War of the Worldsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Glory of the Ancient Gardensandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Fifth Sunandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Kingdoms of the Cosmosandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Three Centers of the Spiritandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Magic and Medicineandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Body and Soulandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Gods Must Be Deadandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Friars' Legacyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Trafficking in Herbsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Four Humorsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Mystery of the Lost Volumesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Joyful News from the Newfound Worldandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Mestizo Medicineandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Aztec Revivalsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Curanderismo en el Norteandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Los Santos Curanderosandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Santa Teresa de Caboraandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Don Pedritoandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;El Niand#241;o Fidencioandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Profiles: andlt;Iandgt;Las Abuelasandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Ofelia Esparza, Concha Talavera, Fidela Gutiand#233;rrez --andlt;/Iandgt; Yerberas andlt;Iandgt;(East L.A., California)andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part IIandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Plantas Que Curan:andlt;/Iandgt; Healing Plants and Their Usesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Introductionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Instant Aztec: The Nahuatl System of Identifyingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Plantsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Plantsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Profiles: Professional Healersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Lee Cantu's Healing Center (Austin, Texas)andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Socorro Vand#225;zquez, Componedora (Pico Rivera,andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;California)andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Bonnie Ochoa, Yerbera (Las Cruces, New Mexico)andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part IIIandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Preparations for Herbsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbal Teasandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Steeped Teas: Infusionsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Simmered Teas: Decoctionsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Cold Infusions: Macerationsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Tincturesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Measuring and Dosageandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Infused Oilsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Salves and Ointmentsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Linimentsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Compressesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Poulticesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part IVandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Los Remedios:andlt;/Iandgt; Traditional Treatments for Common Ailmentsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for the Digestive Systemandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;To Aid Digestionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Colic and Stomach Crampsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Constipationandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Empachoandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Intestinal Inflammationsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Diarrheaandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lack of Appetiteandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Nauseaandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Intestinal Parasites and Amebic Dysenteryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for the Urinary Tract, Kidney, and Liverandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Water Retention and Urinary Tract Disordersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Kidney Problemsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Adult-Onset Diabetesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Bilisandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for the Respiratory Tract, Fever, Flu, and Sore Throatandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Asthmaandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Bronchial Congestion, Chest Colds, and Coughandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Head Cold and Stuffy Noseandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Colds with Fever and Fluandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Feverandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Sore Throat and Hoarsenessandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for the Ears and Eyesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Earacheandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Sore, Irritated Eyesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for the Mouth, Teeth, and Gumsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Toothacheandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Gum Inflammationandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Canker Sores and Cold Soresandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for Aches and Painsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Headachesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Migrainesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Arthritis and Rheumatismandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Sciatica and Backacheandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Sore Musclesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Bruisesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Soothing Compressesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Hemorrhoidsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Sore, Swollen, or Tired Feetandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Chilblainsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for the Skinandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Skin Irritations and Rashesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Wounds and Abrasions, Cuts and Scratchesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Stings and Bitesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Boils and Abscessesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Burnsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Sunburnandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs to Soothe the Spiritandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Nervousness and Insomniaandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Depressionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for Womenandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Premenstrual Syndromeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Delayed Menstruation and Crampsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Excessive Menstrual Bleedingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Menopauseandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Vaginal Inflammationsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Infertilityandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Childbirthandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Postpartum Discomfortandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Nursingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for Babiesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Caand#237;da Molleraandlt;/Iandgt; (Fallen Fontanelle)andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Diaper Rashandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Colic and Diarrheaandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Sticky Eyesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Teethingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Bathingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbal Tonicsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for Dextoxifyingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for Hangoversandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for Baths and Soaksandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;To Prepare an Herbal Bathandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Soothing Soaks for Arthritis, Rheumatism, Aches, and Painsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Soothing Baths for Irritated Skinandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for Beauty and Hairandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Pimples and Skin Eruptionsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Skin Creams and Freshenersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Hair Careandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Hair Lossandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Deodorantandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Weight Loss Aidsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Herbs for Insecticidesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Profile: A Modern andlt;Iandgt;Curanderaandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Elena Avila, M.S.N., R.N., andlt;Iandgt;Curanderaandlt;/Iandgt; (Rio Rancho, New Mexico)andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;When the Remedy Is a andlt;Iandgt;Limpiaandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Where to Find Mexican-American Herbsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Resources and Further Readingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix: Herb Listandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Index