Having recently visited Finca Luna Nueva in Costa Rica with the opportunity to shoot the plants in the wonderful ethnobotanical collection at Luna Nueva’s Semillas Sagradas (Sacred Seed Sanctuary), I have new images of Uncaria tomentosa (Cat’s Claw, Una de Gato). See also our images of the closely related Uncaria guianensis, shot on various trips to the Peruvian Amazon. In addition we also have images of the bark from markets in Peru. Note that Uncaria tomentosa has upturned “claws” (along with hairy “tomentose” stalks) while the claws of U. guianensis are downturned. These herbs are valued for antioxidant and immunostimulant activity and are widely used by native groups in the neo tropics.

The American Herbal Products Association bestowed its annual awards at it member’s meeting in Anaheim, California, March 13th. Steven Foster was the recipient of an HERBAL INSIGHT award. According to AHPA’s, Director of Communication, Katia Fowler:

“Acclaimed photographer Steven Foster was presented with the Herbal Insight award for furthering the knowledge and understanding of medicinal and aromatic plants through his excellent work as a photographer, author and consultant. Mr. Foster’s ability to capture the elegance and intimacy of the ‘human-plant relationship’ continues to astound.”

Anthony Young, Partner, Kleinfeld, Kaplan & Beckler, was given the Herbal Hero award for his outstanding contributions to AHPA committees and initiatives. The Herbal Industry Leader award given to a company with outstanding business practices went to Sara Katz and Ed Smith of Herb Pharm in Williams, Oregon. The late Dr. Stephen Strauss, the first director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, was posthumously honored with an Herbal Insight Award.

“For the third year, we have been honored to recognize top-notch representatives of the herbal industry with AHPA Awards,” said Michael McGuffin, the association’s president. “This is a very impressive slate of winners, and AHPA is pleased to know we will have an impressive slate next year. Our awards have only begun to honor the outstanding members of the herbal world.”

On April 27, 2007, The New York Public Library named A Desk Reference to Nature’s Medicine by Steven Foster and Rebecca Johnson among the best reference works for 2007. According to the New York Public Library:

“Best of Reference is an annual list of books, websites, and electronic resources selected by a committee of librarians for their usefulness in branch references collections. Selection criteria include value and appropriateness of material, style of presentation, and authority of authors and editors.”

This year’s announcement of the distinguished list of references was held on 27 April at the NYPL’s Donnell Library Center in midtown Manhattan. See the New York Public Library’s website for more information.

It states: “More than the familiar guide to herbal remedies, this is illustrated with botanical drawings and color photographs. It gives the cultural, historical, and scientific background of hundreds of plants used for healing by people the world over. ”

Here’s information on the book:

Desk Reference to Nature’s Medicine. By Steven Foster and Rebecca L. Johnson. 2006. National Geographic, Washington, D.C.Hardcover. 416 pp. 200 photographs, 150 botanical drawings and 159 maps. ISBN: 0-7922-3666-1. $40.00. Order at your favorite independent book store, Amazon.com, or via the National Geographic Society’s website.