Tongan Herbal Medicine

This book is aimed at students, plant conservationists, biodiversity specialists, doctors studying alternative medicine, and anyone who wants to learn about the rich Tongan culture and its herbal medicine heritage. Seventy-seven of the most commonly used medicinal plants in Tonga are described and arranged in alphabetical order by Tongan name.

Dr. Art Whistler is a botanist whose field of expertise includes the plants of the tropical Pacific islands, including Hawaii, and eastern Polynesia (Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti), Fiji, and Micronesia. Born and raised in Southern California, where he attended the University of California at Riverside for his bachelor's degree and master's degree (UC Santa Barbara), he received his Ph.D. in Botany (1979) from the University of Hawaii with his dissertation focusing on the vegetation of Samoa. He began his Pacific experience serving three years in the U.S. Peace Corps teaching Biology in Western Western Samoa (1968-70). He has conducted many research projects in the Pacific Islands, including Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Yap, Chuuk, Guam, and the Northern Marianas.

Dr. Whistler has published numerous scientific articles about plants, as well as eleven books, including Plants of the Canoe People, Tropical Ornamentals: a Guide, Plants in Samoan Culture, Polynesian Herbal Medicine, Samoan Herbal Medicine, Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore, Rainforest Trees of Samoa, The Samoan Rainforest, and Wayside Plants of the Islands.

Featured in the 24 September Pasifika newsletter.
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