Encyclopedia Of Psychoactive Plants (Hardcover) by Dr. Christian Raetsch
3 ratings since posting on Monday, July 23, 2007
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Overall Rating based on 3 ratings |
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Well, for years since it's English trans. it has remained one of my favourite reference titles on my Library! However, I would love to see him write a book dealing with the Magick, and "Mythological" uses of plants-- I think that would be fascinating, given his research! Sadly, however, the research of his, and his subsequent collaborators, will not be readily accebted or taken seriously, or even openly acknowledged[!] by British scholars (who have the most hold on twentieth-century Pagans and Witches), and to a lesser extent those American scholars that have been heavily inflienced by the extremist likes of Ronald Hutton from Bristoll University. For example, has shown open hostility towards the notion (even to the extent that he treats it as though it were a non-existant thesis or theory) that medieval witchcraft belief sprang from, or was the "preservation of", endemic forms of shamanism-- thus, a pagan survival; regardless of the fact that it is the primary thesis heald by thge vast majority of specalized scholars throughout continental Europe he refuses to acknowledge it in his texts! Though, when he is pressured to do so in small print articles he invents shallow reasons-- that amount to re-definong the wheel and splitting hairs-- in order to dismiss it as a probability! You see, when writing his polemics, he doesn't discuss that British history is all about "competative plausibility"! However, it some scholars from continental Europe-- such as Prof. Carlo Ginzburg-- present iron clad evidence that can seriously contradict Hutton's extremism, he publically disclaims it by saying "it proves nothing!' and then engages in essentialy "re-writing" the book via paraphrasal, as if it cannot speak for itself! Well, if Hutton has misrepresented Carlo's book to a mendacious degree, are there other texts with which he does so? Yes! Many texts he cites as being in agreement with his position-- that there weren't any notion of pagan survivalism, which he has never defined, just in case one might find any evidence for it-- many of those texts he cites don't reach his extremist conclusions; moreover, many of them firmly believe that there was a great deal of pagan survivalism and worship going on! But, from reading Hutton's books you wouldn't get this idea that any historian disagrees with him in any way, which isn't accurate. PS--Too bad his site's not available in English! - MacMorrighan , posted 08/02/07 |
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Raetsch kicks ass. Great book. - Parad , posted 07/25/07 |
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Review Andy Wickens, Library Journal, August 2005 : “. . . this superb academic reference is the first comprehensive work devoted to psychoactive plants. Ratsch, an anthropologist, ethnopharmacologist, . . . includes more than 400 traditional and modern substances that ‘affect the mind or alter the state of consciousness’. . . .Each major monograph contains the plant’s scientific and common names, chemical structure, history, distribution, cultivation, appearance, preparation and dosage, ritual and medicinal uses, commercial forms and regulations, and effects, as well as research literature references. . . .This book offers something for everyone. . . . Highly recommended.” Rick Strassman, M.D., University of New Mexico School of Medicine, and author of DMT: The Spirit Molecule : “Rätsch’s Encyclopedia is massive in scope, exhaustively researched, heavily referenced, user-friendly, authoritative, and beautifully illustrated. It belongs on the bookshelf of everyone with an interest in psychoactive plants--from those with only a casual interest to veteran researchers.” Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council, and editor of HerbalGram : “It is a truism in anthropology that virtually all cultures utilize plants and mushrooms for their psychoactive effects. The impulse to achieve altered states of consciousness is universal. Several previous books on psychoactive plants have become classics on this subject. While valuable historic additions to the library, they must now move over. This encyclopedia is truly destined to be the most authoritative reference on natural psychoactive substances for years to come.” Ralph Metzner, PH.D., psychologist, author of Green Psychology, and coauthor of The Psychedelic Experience : “In the realm of psychoactive plants, Christian Rätsch is the world’s most knowledgeable person. Here is his magnum opus--a veritable treasure trove of information about the most fascinating members of the plant kingdom. As the “teachers” and the gatekeepers to the spirit world, psychoactives help us cleanse the lenses of perception. No one interested in natural ways to expand consciousness should be without this magnificent volume.” Stephen Harrod Buhner, author of The Secret Teachings of Plants and The Lost Language of Plants : “Christian Rätsch’s remarkable Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants is an essential and comprehensive work that explores not only the expanse of plants that affect human consciousness but the genetic necessity for humanity to experience wide-ranging flexibility in consciousness. The plant world is basic to us, the foundation of our food, clothing, and shelter. But Christian’s book reminds us that human/plant interactions reach much deeper than these three needs; plant intelligence reaches deep within us and teaches us to see, hear, and understand the deep meanings in the world, meanings that we need, and are meant, to encounter in order to remain human.” Charles Hayes, High Times, Nov 2005 : ". . . the granddaddy of all drug books." Mark Stavish, Institute for Hermetic Studies, April 2006 : "A premier work, and important to have and refer to if you have any relationship to the world of psychoactive plants." Book Description The most comprehensive guide to the botany, history, distribution, and cultivation of all known psychoactive plants • Examines 414 psychoactive plants and related substances • Explores how using psychoactive plants in a culturally sanctioned context can produce important insights into the nature of reality • Contains 797 color photographs and 645 black-and-white illustrations In the traditions of every culture, plants have been highly valued for their nourishing, healing, and transformative properties. The most powerful plants--those known to transport the human mind into other dimensions of consciousness--have traditionally been regarded as sacred. In The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants Christian Rätsch details the botany, history, distribution, cultivation, and preparation and dosage of more than 400 psychoactive plants. He discusses their ritual and medicinal usage, cultural artifacts made from these plants, and works of art that either represent or have been inspired by them. The author begins with 168 of the most well-known psychoactives--such as cannabis, datura, and papaver--then presents 133 lesser known substances as well as additional plants known as “legal highs,” plants known only from mythological contexts and literature, and plant products that include substances such as ayahuasca, incense, and soma. The text is lavishly illustrated with 797 color photographs--many of which are from the author’s extensive fieldwork around the world--showing the people, ceremonies, and art related to the ritual use of the world’s sacred psychoactives. - christian , posted 07/23/07 |
Encyclopedia Of Psychoactive Plants (Hardcover) by Dr. Christian Raetsch was recommended for:
- Tribe: Botanical Conservation and Research
- Tribe: Shamanism
- Tribe: Ayahuasca
- Tribe: Ethnobotany
- Tribe: Sacred Tobacco Tribe
- Tribe: PostPaganism (Discovering Life-Place)
- Tribe: San Pedro Cactus
- Tribe: Bio-regional Animism
- Tribe: Edible and medicinal plants of the wild
- Tribe: Curanderos Mesa Carriers
- Tribe: Ethnobiology
- Tribe: EntheoShamans
- Tribe: Eco- paganism
- Tribe: Herbal Medicine
