Sarawak State Library Herbal Garden: a collection of the natural gift of health by Margaret Chan Kit Yok. Kuching: Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, 2017. 336 pp., RM 50.00 (Paperback) ISBN 9789839205480
Reviewed by Nesly Rebid ( [email protected] )
For thousands of years humans [ non-gender-specific term] have traditionally relied on plants not only for food and materials but also to treat illnesses and relieve aches and pains. Plant parts such as the seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark or flowers are often used as herbal medicines. Plants of the same or related species are often used for similar purposes by different communities in different parts of the world. Sarawak’s ethnic communities have long traditions in the use of plants for healing and mystical rituals.
Despite the development of modern medicines there is growing interest worldwide in natural products and products that contain active ingredients especially from plants. It is for this reason that there has been renewed interest in growing and using herbal plants not only for culinary purposes but also as natural remedies.
The Herbal Garden was established through a collaboration between the Pustaka Negeri Sarawak (Sarawak State Library) and the Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, University Technology MARA Sarawak, in 2012. Located within the Pustaka grounds, the aim of having a herbal garden is to provide members of the public, especially users of the park with information on herbal plants commonly used by ethnic communities in Sarawak for maintaining good health.
The author of this book, Dr Margaret Chan Kit Yok, is well qualified to write on the subject.
Currently Associate Professor in the Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, University Technology MARA, Sarawak Branch, she gained her Bachelor in Agriculture Science with first class honours and her doctorate in Agricultural Microbiology at Lincoln University, New Zealand. Here she provides information on 57 plants from 30 families planted in the garden.
Information on each plant is presented systematically, starting with its identification, description and traditional uses. She has meticulously tabulated references to research done and identification of the main chemical constituents found in the plants. For ease of plant identification photographs are included.
This book can be used by a wide range of readers seeking to expand their interest, knowledge and use of local herbal plants. Students and researchers will find the references particularly useful.
