The Cherokee Herbal, by J. T. Garrett, is a well-written book containing a wealth of information on herbs that the Cherokee peoples have used for generations for medicinal purposes. It not only lists the herbs that are used for specific illnesses, but lists them as specific to the Four Directions and what the medicines in each location focuses on, such as the body energies relative to the environment. In herbal remedies, it is always best to use the herbs that grow in your own local area, for the herbs growing in a particular locale have the most beneficial healing properties to combat the illnesses contracted in those areas.

J.T. Garrett is a member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee from North Carolina. He has written other books, including Meditations With The Cherokee and coauthored two books with his son, Medicine Of The Cherokee and The Cherokee Full Circle. Garrett has been a student and teacher of Native American Medicine for over thirty-five years. Ancient wisdom and teachings of the Cherokee elders has been his background and guide. Garrett is currently the Health Director for Carterer County in North Carolina.

Garrett writes about the "Medicine Way Of Life" and the medicines of different animals and how they found their medicines. He also explains the relationship of the medicines to Mother Earth, the Creator, the Four Directions and Universal Life. Medicine is an important way that the Cherokee preserve the past as well as the future and Garrett defines this in Chapter One, The Medicine Way Of Life, and the right relationships he discusses in Chapter Two, Being In The Medicine.

Garrett stresses the vital importance of respect when working with these medicines and the traditions. He states that, "Respect is a valuable Cherokee lesson to learn as a student of the Medicine. Respect for the traditions, the elders, and the Great One is foremost in the hearts and minds of Cherokee."

For each of the Four Direction, East, South, West and North, Garrett devotes an entire section of the book. The plants and herbs that are listed in each section have particular association to that part of the land. He relates stories that tell of the origins of the medicine and how the plants were named.

For each of the Four Directions, Garrett lists the herbs or plants that are beneficial in treating specific symptoms, such as headaches, colic, fever, etc., then gives a little history on the plant and it's origins. In the appendix, specific ailments are listed along with the herbs or combination of herbs that can be used to treat them.

The Cherokee Herbal is an excellent source for finding out which herbs to use for which physical, emotional or psychic disorder and which herbs in your area will give you the best results with their specific healing properties.
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