"By making subtle changes, the
old ways collapse, like a house of cards."
(Talking about how the people of the Shuar tribe in
the Amazon region of Peru are losing their culture and medicinal plant
knowledge due to the influence of outsiders - notably evangelists).
"Plotkin (in Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice) says
that of the world's 250,000 or so plant species, only about 5000 have
been screened in the laboratory to determine their therapeutic potential. There
are, he says, 120 plant-based prescription drugs currently on the market. They
are derived from only 95 species."
Another great book from the most original of travelers.
Shah goes deep into the Amazonian jungle in search of the head-shrinking Shuar
tribe who - legend has it - are able to fly like birds over the jungle. Another
brilliant epic voyage full of fascinating information, bizarre situations
and amazing characters.
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Trail-Feathers-Tahir-Shah/9781611455090/?a_aid=ajcairns
Have also started on "Timbuctoo" - Shah's first novel (it takes places during the Regency period and is based on the true story of an American who was taken slave after a shipwreck on the coast of Africa and ended up in the legendary city of Timbuctoo). Good read so far.
