Page 56 - Fall2012

All Thumbs Book Reviews

Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for few of the conditions that plague us. . . drugs
Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria artificially alter the condition of the body, but do
By Stephen Harrod Buhner not cure the underlying condition.” The emperor
Second edition, Storey Publishing, 2012 has no clothes. The physician has no clue. The
pharmaceutical industry has no cure. But they
Those who own the first edition of Buhner’s make large amounts of money in the confusion
excellent Herbal Antibiotics will find the 2012 and catastrophe inherent in the health struggles
edition to be very different from the small, of modern life.
straightforward, short work of a decade ago. Our The book begins with a lengthy introduc-
personal copy of the original is well-worn, well- tion covering where we are and why humanity
loved, and well-used over the past seven years of stands on the verge of a dangerous cliff, ready
raising three children. The new copy will surely to plunge into an age where modern medicine
follow in its footsteps, but will also require us to and its approach to treating infectious diseases
grow to make full use of its contents, just as the and raising animals will come to a painful end.
book itself has grown with the rise of super bugs The statistics and stories are frightening because
and increased knowledge and understanding of they are factually true; a dark reality that the
the natural tools we have to protect ourselves mainstream media and most people choose to
from them. ignore.
Checking in at around four hundred pages, Antibiotic overuse, both in humans and in
this new edition truly is a comprehensive intro- agriculture, generates new strains of pathogens
duction worthy to be on the shelf of any holistic with far more complex offensive and defensive
practitioner, herbalist, farmer or parent. The book systems than their earlier versions, outpacing
is also thoroughly WAPF-friendly, pulling no technological advancements in antibiotics and
punches in condemning factory farms and other other treatment approaches, while maiming and
contributors to our current health and pathogen killing ever increasing numbers of people each
problems, while showing an appreciation for year. We stand on the brink of possible global
the melding of traditional practices, tools, and pandemic not seen since the Middle Ages.
wisdom with modern research and insight. Buhner then dives into a complex discussion
In the opening sections, Buhner emphasizes of general guidelines, pathogen types, and a short
that “bacteria are not our enemies,” but rather list of specific pathogens and treatment protocols.
play an integral role in supporting, maintaining One thing readers will notice about this edition
and rebuilding health. He points out that “In is the more nuanced and advanced approach
Bacteria are declaring war on [bacteria], we declared war on to the whole field of herbalism—formulations,
not our the underlying living structure of the planet, on scientific research and literature, and vocabulary
all life-forms we can see, on ourselves.” Indeed, (terms such as “multi-drug efflux pump inhibi-
enemies but it is a war we are destined to lose unless we tor” and “diaphoretic adjunct” appear, along with
rather play an move from competition to cooperation with our many others that caused me to break out a good
integral role microscopic co-workers. dictionary).

Buhner also does an excellent job in pull-

Buhner covers particular herbs, including
in supporting, ing back the curtain on the hidden wizards of their usage, preparation, cultivation, traditional
maintaining, modern medicine, displaying their impotence usage from around the world and current scien-
and rebuilding in the face of pathogenic and degenerative dis- tific research. Buhner has broken these herbs
ease for all to see. “In spite of cultural beliefs into three categories: systemic, non-systemic
health. to the contrary, physicians can cure relatively and synergists.
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