Ginseng, the Divine Root: The Curious History of the Plant That Captivated theWorld
Author: David Taylor
The story behind ginseng is as remarkable as the root itself. Prized for its legendary curative powers, ginseng launched the rise to power of China's last great dynasty; inspired battles between France and England; and sparked a boom in Minnesota comparable to the California Gold Rush. It has made and broken the fortunes of many and has inspired a subculture in rural America unrivaled by any herb in the plant kingdom.
Today ginseng is at the very center of alternative medicine, believed to improve stamina, relieve stress, stimulate the immune system, enhance mental clarity, and restore well-being. It is now being studied by medical researchers for the treatment of cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease.
In Ginseng, the Divine Root, David Taylor tracks the path of this fascinating plant—from the forests east of the Mississippi to the bustling streets of Hong Kong and the remote corners of China. He becomes immersed in a world full of wheelers, dealers, diggers, and stealers, all with a common goal: to hunt down the elusive "Root of Life." Weaving together his intriguing adventures with ginseng's rich history, Taylor uncovers a story of international crime, ancient tradition, botany, herbal medicine, and the vagaries of human nature.
Publishers Weekly
Take an ordinary root. Endow it with restorative capacities and a pungent flavor a bit like sarsaparilla or anise. Make it elusive to capture, and you've got a commodity worthy of myth-and, in the case of ginseng, one which will inexplicably boom and bust with the dictates of fashion (unless you live in China, in which case it will be omnipresent). The U.S. is experiencing a ginseng boom at the moment-in the more "rational" mid-century period it fell out of favor-evidenced not only by its frequent appearance on package labels but also by this intelligent, wide-ranging account by documentarian Taylor. Skeptical (though ultimately persuasive) about ginseng's subtle but genuine curative powers, Taylor uses the intriguing substance, prevalent in both China and the eastern U.S., as an occasion to ponder the different approaches to medicine in East and West and to present some amusing characters, including traders, experts and the "ginsengers" who hunt the "sang." There's little doubt that ginseng is as beguiling as Taylor's subtitle suggests-even its biggest American booster is wont to claim, paradoxically, that ginseng is good for "everything, and not really anything." Readers may also want to see Ginseng Dreams: The Secret World of America's Most Valuable Plant by Kristin Johannsen (Reviews, Jan. 2). (June) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
Taylor is no stranger to discovering the secrets of natural history, having done documentary work for the National Geographic and Discovery channels and written for Smithsonian magazine, the Washington Post, and the Village Voice. Here, he takes us on a fascinating tour through ginseng's history, writing in a style that shows he obviously enjoyed his research and the people he met; in his descriptions of natural settings, he reads like a master storyteller. This is not a how-to guide for growing or using ginseng; instead, Taylor describes the cultural, political, and economic roots of ginseng, from China's Qing dynasty to the Colonial Americas to present-day dealers and hunters in Appalachia (where the plant grows). Amazingly, Taylor's prose jumps back and forth in time and place without seeming disjointed or losing flow. Who knew that this unassuming root had such a colorful history and promising future? Highly recommended for East Coast libraries and recommended for all libraries that collect in areas of popular natural history.-Marianne Stowell Bracke, Univ. of Arizona Libs., Tucson Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Look this: Book of Cheese or Chinese Cooking for Beginners
The Pennington Plan: 5 Simple Steps for Achieving Vibrant Health, Emotional Well Being and Spiritual Growth
Author: Andrea Pennington
The former medical director and spokesperson for the Discovery Health Channel and Discovery Health Online and founder and president of the Pennington Institute for Health and Wellness offers her five-step plan for achieving wellness.
This empowering guide to balancing the mind, body, and spirit and achieving total wellness-not just freedom from disease-provides a program as practiced by Dr. Andrea Pennington at her wellness institute. In her book, she lays out a practical plan to help readers feel better, overcome chronic health problems, and tap the healing power within. Dr. Pennington's plan encourages readers to:
- deЮne goals that go well beyond the issues of physical health;
- Юnd the motivation to make positive change;
- design a personalized plan for achieving goals;
- chart progress and stay on track; and
- learn the value of celebrating success along the way.
Practical and inspiring, The Pennington Plan will give readers the power to reclaim their health and guide them on their way to total wellness.
Author Biography: Andrea Pennington, M.D., C.Ac., is the founder and president of the Pennington Institute for Health and Wellness in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she joined forces with her mother, Abigail Pennington, M.D., to bring more than thirty-five years of combined experience to the institute's holistic health solutions. The Pennington treatment style blends traditional medicine with fitness and nutritional consultation, inspirational counseling, and motivational support. Dr. Pennington is also the former medical director and spokesperson for the Discovery Health Channel and Discovery Health Online.
Abigail Pennington, M.D., has worked as an internist in private practice for 25 years. She is the cofounder and medical director of the Pennington Institute for Health and Wellness.
Publishers Weekly
Unflaggingly positive, this book promises a roadmap to wellness. For Pennington, who, with her mother, Abigail, cofounded a preventative medicine and holistic health services institute in Maryland, wellness goes far beyond physical health. In this hazily spiritual guide, she addresses states of mind, body and spirit-all of which, she says, must be in balance for optimal well-being. Pennington's advice, while sometimes New Agey, is broad enough for most readers and applicable to almost any goal, whether it's eating more healthfully, overcoming an addiction or finding a more meaningful career. For example, Pennington ends each chapter with a list of "affirmations," which range from "I will access my spirit regularly for guidance and peace" to "I will use the vision of myself enjoying my motivating factors to keep me on course." (Pennington also suggests quieting the mind by "practicing yoga or chanting at least two or three times each week.") Detailed stories from the author's patients help enforce the value of her advice, and her concrete, five-step plan, with its in-depth information on defining goals, devising a strategy and getting started, charting progress and celebrating success, ensures that readers will come away from this book closer to a state of holistic wellness. (Jan.) Forecast: Pennington has appeared on Oprah and The Jane Pauley Show. Her extensive Web site will soon be selling products, and if that move is matched by an aggressive marketing campaign, book sales should soar. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
What People Are Saying
Christiane Northrup
Dr. Andrea Pennington is practicing the medicine of the future now. The Pennington Plan is beaming with wisdom.
—M.D., author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom
Wayne Dyer
This Pennington Plan is filled with life-changing energy. Read it carefully.
—author of THE POWER OF INTENTION
Table of Contents:
| Introduction : the Pennington plan and how to use it | 1 |
| 1 | Wellness is your birthright - and you have the power to reclaim it | 7 |
| 2 | Spirit : the source of wellness | 25 |
| 3 | Mind : the great governor of life | 43 |
| 4 | Body : battered warhorse or royal chariot? | 75 |
| 5 | Requirements : desire, belief, and dedication | 105 |
| 6 | Step 1 : define your goals | 115 |
| 7 | Step 2 : define your motivations | 135 |
| 8 | Step 3 : devise a plan and get started! | 143 |
| 9 | Step 4 : chart your progress | 159 |
| 10 | Step 5 : celebrate your success | 171 |
| Conclusion : applying the Pennington plan in your life | 181 |
