"Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice"

Paper Summary:

The paper's thesis states that preservation and efficient management of the rain forest's botanical, cultural and therapeutic resources is the key to a healthier life and a better world. On this basis, the paper reviews the book "Tale of a Shaman's Apprentice" by Mark J. Plotkin, in which he demonstrates the urgent need to cease the rapid environmental destruction increasing at an alarming pace. The paper shows that by describing the reactions of medicinal plants of the rain forests on the human body and outlining the various classifications of forest plants, Plotkin has successfully managed to accomplish his aim of spreading the much-needed awareness regarding the protection, preservation and management of the rain forests spread world wide and the need to take care of and conduct research of the fragile cultures that inhabit these forests. The paper discusses how this captivating book highlights the importance of the Amazonian forests by describing in detail their diverse and unique botanical power and the availability of the majority of the insects and other animals in various regions of the Amazon jungles. It shows, too, how Plotkin also puts emphasis on the botanical wisdom of the shamans of the Amazonian forests.

From the Paper:

"Examining and exploring the characteristics, distribution, origins and classification of the plant life of a region is the primary concern of an ethno botanist. Since Plotkin was the principal ethno botanist, his job status demanded exploration of rain forests for the betterment of human kind. Hence, to hunt down shamans who are well aware of medical treatments done though the plants, were the basic requirements of his work. However, this was not the only reason as the author suggests in his book. He was intrigued by plant life and it all started on a September night lecture in 1974 at Harvard University (Plotkin: 2) that ignited a spark in the thirsty soul and made him discover the wonders of the Amazonian ever developing plant life and the cures that the medicine experts in the rain forests of the Amazon exposed (Plotkin: 3). For the same reason, he chose the particular plant life of the Amazon areas to study and learn, how to ameliorate the contemporary world and the ensuing deadly ailments with the advancement of industry and science."

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