(also on my site The Paperback Stash)

I had always eyed this book, and now wish I had broken down and bought it earlier. Tierra has put so much information in these pages its breathtaking, a wonderful way to blend Ayurveda, TCM, and Western herbalism. With the popularity of the internet and with herbalists exploring different cultures and enjoying different aspects of various paths, this book should become a welcome addition to libraries everywhere. Tierra digs into the background of all three branches, breaking down the basics of each area of thought, including more than 400 herbs and their details. It gives Western herbalists another way to view herbs and their actions, which makes the book worth it on its own. One of the very best out there, it blends TCM, Ayurveda, and Western flawlessly; chocked to the brim with information, priceless and worth every cent!

With all lined up beside each other in "The Nature of herbs", it's easier to see similarities between each. If you're in the market for a book that enables you to accurately learn about an herb in whichever culture, this is the one to go to. Tierra and his wife, Leslie, run a school that teaches the same principle of thought called the 'East West School of Herbology'. ( )