Author's Note
Christian Rätsch, born in 1957, is an ethnopharmacologist, speaker, and author. He studied Mesoamerican studies, ethnology, and folklore. For the past twenty years, he has researched shamanic cultures worldwide and their use of psychoactive plants. He is the editor of the "Yearbook of Ethnomedicine" and the author of numerous books translated into many languages.

Blurb
"Incense Materials - The Breath of the Dragon: 72 Plant Portraits - Ethnobotany, Rituals, and Practical Applications. The lighting of incense is one of humanity's oldest ritual practices. Shamans entered trance states with the rising smoke of certain woods, resins, and leaves. Seers inhaled the smoke of consciousness-altering substances to enter ecstasy. Priestesses and priests burned resins to establish contact with gods and goddesses. The aromatic smoke has long been attributed with magical or medicinal properties. Following an introduction to the cultural history of incense burning, a comprehensive lexical section presents all incense materials from Aloe to Cypress in detail through text and images: botanical description of the main plant, history, rituals and customs, effects and applications, chemistry and pharmacology, as well as notes on harvesting and preparation. Through its well-founded ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological presentation of incense materials, the book opens a door to the mysteries of nature, provides insights, and encourages a personal creative approach.".