Books by Chris Kilham

Along the way, Chris has written a number of books. They range from stories about medicine hunting to practical advice on Yoga practice and sexual health. Most of the titles listed here are available, either on or offline. For your convenience, we have added direct links to pages where you can purchase individual titles.

HOT PLANTS
Nature’s Proven Sex Boosters for Men and Women
Author: Chris Kilham
Publisher: St Martin’s Press 2004
Available: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com

From the ancient rainforests of Malaysia, to remote mountains in Siberia, the Amazon rainforest and the high plains of Peru, Medicine Hunter Chris Kilham has scoured the globe in search of effective, sex-enhancing plants. HOT PLANTS contains a lively account of those adventurous travels, with valuable information that you can use to boost your sex life. In Hot Plants you'll travel along with Chris Kilham as he meets and learns from shamans, medicine men and women, and the many unusual and talented characters found on the medicine trail.

In the wake of Viagra's enormous popularity, the international market has been inundated by a blizzard of purported natural sex enhancers. Some of these products are nothing but hype, yet others contain proven agents that enhance libido, improve sexual function, and increase pleasure. These bona fide sex-boosters can be found in Hot Plants. These natural agents of desire include Tongkat Ali, maca, yohimbe, catuaba, ashwagandha, horny goat weed, zallouh root, Rhodiola rosea, Red ginseng, Siberian ginseng and chocolate. Medicine Hunter Chris Kilham draws upon history, legend and keen research, as he weaves tales of remarkable people, exotic locations, and his extensive investigations into the science and uses of the hot plants. Learn which plants increase libido in both men and women, improve erectile function in men, put more fire into your sex life, and significantly boost your pleasure.

“Chris Kilham… plucky adventurer and author—known to fans of his herbal guides and travelogues as the Medicine Hunter—has become a leading promoter of alternative healing.” -- Outside Magazine

"In our journey together in the world of hot plants, I will take you to the Amazon, Africa, China, India, Malaysia, Siberia, the Middle East, and other lands. As we travel, I will introduce you to the most effective sex enhancing plants. If you believe that nature offers no true aphrodisiac, and that only pharmaceutical drugs can enhance your sex life, the guide you hold in your hand will convince you otherwise." -- Chris Kilham, Hot Plants

The Five Tibetans
Five Dynamic Exercises for Health, Energy and Personal Power
Author: Chris Kilham
Publisher: Healing Arts Press 1994
Available: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Inner Traditions

A best selling yoga book, The Five Tibetans has been translated in over twenty languages. The Five Tibetans is a yogic system of highly energizing postures and exercises that originated in the Himalayas. Liberating and enhancing the innate energetic power of the human body and mind, these five exercises take a minimum of daily time and effort but offer remarkable results in the way of increased physical strength and suppleness as well as mental acuity. In addition, these exercises can be a vehicle for enlivening the senses and generating and harnessing energy for the purpose of self-transformation. Regular practice of these postures relieves muscular tension and nervous stress, improves respiration and digestion, benefits the cardiovascular system, leads to deep relaxation and well-being, and tunes and energizes the chakras. The Five Tibetans are explained within the context of traditional yoga, providing a foundation for understanding. Black-and-white photographs and illustrations complement the text and clearly indicate the proper execution of each exercise.

"This book is packed full of expert information . . . clear, concise and easy to understand . . . a wealth of information and advice from many years of teaching and personal experiences. . . a wonderful way to start or end your day." -- TCM Reviews

"Kilham brings to the Five Tibetans beautifully written chapters about kundalini, the chakras and an especially insightful instruction on the role of breathing while doing each rite. Excellent and recommended." - Hinduism Today

Psyche Delicacies
Coffee, Chocolate, Chiles, Kava and Cannabis, and Why They’re Good for You
Author: Chris Kilham
Publisher: Rodale Press 2001
Available: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Alibris

In Psyche Delicacies, globetrotting medicine hunter Chris Kilham presents passionate portraits of five widely used psychoactive plants that, he argues, have affected the course of human history. From the lush coffee orchards of Hawaii's Kona Coast to the cannabis-covered hills of the Indian Himalaya, Kilham takes readers along on a world tour to meet the people and places that make coffee, chocolate, chiles, kava, and cannabis what they are to us today. Employing evocative and sometimes provocative prose to weave history, folklore, and science into a dazzling whole, Kilham presents a mind-expanding case for the enthusiastic, guilt-free use of these much-loved plants and their various preparations.

Few adults haven't partaken of at least one of the featured psyche delicacies, and that's the author's point. Maintaining that we all can benefit from the reverie induced by consuming these mood-altering plants, Kilham presents clinical and academic evidence to handily dispatch the notion that these agents of nature, taken in moderation, are some-how bad for us. Instead, he asserts that they refresh both body and mind, helping us to achieve the very highest order of healthfulness. Whether you are an avid coffee drinker, a hot-chile devotee, a casual cannabis user, or just curious, you'll be surprised and delighted by all you experience when you read Psyche Delicacies.

"Chris Kilham offers to jog the mind with good psychoactive plants – a sound prescription. A bit of coffee here, a bit of cannabis there…Agree or disagree with him, Psyche Delicacies will tickle your neurons. A good blend of humor and argonautic escapades." – Ken Kesey, Author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

“HOW TO MAKE POT MORE POTENT. LINCOLN, Mass. (Wireless Flash) – Put this in your pipe and smoke it: A health researcher claims its possible to make marijuana even more potent. Researcher Chris Kilham claims cooking marijuana at 200 degrees for 90 minutes can increase the THC content by as much as 20 percent. Kilham recommends putting the pot in an oven-safe container before you stick it in the oven but says you can get the same effect by baking the wacky weed in cinnamon oatmeal cookies. He says the U.S. government officials have long known about the pot-increasing trick, but have been keeping it a secret. Kilham discusses the healthy aspects of wacky weed in his new book, “Psyche Delicacies: Coffee, Chocolate, Chiles, Kava And Cannabis And Why They’re Good For You” (Rodale Press).” David Moye, Senior Associate Editor, Wireless Flash News Inc

“In each case, these plants have been praised and excoriated, promoted and banned, embraced and spurned. Across history and time, pleasure seekers and pleasure haters have fought acrimonious battles over friendly, healthful plants that impart benefits to both body and mind, with little risk to health. These benefits explain why these five plants are among the most widely consumed and traded plants in the world. In every case, the plants featured once existed in relative obscurity. But as quickly as they were discovered, they spread like wildfire, from one nation to another, and leaping across oceans. Each plant has undergone a long and extraordinary journey on the backs of millions of human beings and continues to do so at this time. Each is the object of substantial trade, each is the subject of scientific and medical scrutiny, and each produces its own precious reverie.” – Chris Kilham, on the book, Psyche Delicacies

Tales from the Medicine Trail
Trail Tracking Down the Health Secrets of Shamans, Herbalists, Mystics, Yogis, and Other Healers
Author: Chris Kilham
Publisher: Rodale Press 2000
Available: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Alibris

Tales from the Medicine Trail offers readers an adventure into the healing practices of ancient and modern cultures. This is blended with actionable health remedies, such as teas for tension, meditations for migraines, and poultices for pain. 32 color photos.

In Tales from the Medicine Trail, you are invited to join author Chris Kilham on a quest for the best natural healing remedies, both new and ancient, from the forgotten corners of the globe. A gifted storyteller and herbal expert, Kilham skillfully combines adventure, history, and anthropology with the latest discoveries in natural medicine. Along the way, he teaches you how to put these discoveries to use—right now—in your personal health program. Kilhams’ ability to communicate with, earn the trust of, and interpret the healing practices of indigenous people has earned him honor and respect throughout the world. Now, with the Medicine Hunter as your guide through the world’s most remote areas, you can harvest today’s most potent healing information.

Imagine traveling to the remote corners of the world, seeking out legendary healers and ancient medicinal wonders. With Tales of the Medicine Trail, Medicine Hunter Chris Kilham shares the experience and excitement of discovering natural healing substances and forgotten ancient wisdom. From the comfort of home, you can join Kilham on his adventures hunting for kava in the Pacific Islands, researching a sex-enhancing root in the Peruvian Andes, learning Ayurvedic remedies in India, and collecting healing plants in the wilds of the Amazon rain forest, just to name a few. And not only will you share in the spirit of adventure but also you’ll learn exactly how to integrate these healing secrets of shamans, herbalists, mystics, and yogis into your personal health plan. Intertwined with the stories, you’ll discover safe and effective herbal recipes and remedies, including information on which form of the herb works best. With Tales of the Medicine Trail, you can sit back and relax while you are whisked off to faraway places on the hunt for the Earth’s greatest healers and the most potent healing elements available today.

"Chris Kilham is a trustworthy guide on the medicine trail, full of enthusiasm, wonder, and respect for the wisdom of traditional cultures. I respect his mission to make these plants and their uses better known in our culture." - Andrew Weil, M.D. for Tales from the Medicine Trail

“Tales from the Medicine Trail is a fascinating look at the relationship between indigenous peoples and their medicinal plants, through the eyes of a well known botanical explorer and raconteur. His style enables the reader to join with him in his many interesting journeys.” – Michael Balick, Ph. D., Director of Economic Botany, The New York Botanical Garden.

“Engaging, yet relaxing and pleasant reading; makes me homesick for the rain forest, a treasure house of undiscovered medicine and great peoples experienced in these treasures.” – James A. Duke, Ph. D., Author of The Green Pharmacy, and Dr. Duke’s Essential Herbs

OPC, The Miracle Antioxidant
How It Acts to Prevent Disease, Restore Health and Upgrade Quality of Life
Author: Chris Kilham
Publisher: Keats Publishing 1997
Available: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com

Many of us are living longer but enjoying it less, as degenerative conditions induced by free radicals -- atherosclerosis, cancer, cataracts, diabetes, hepatitis, kidney failure, arthritis, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, to name a few -- blight the later years. A powerful new antioxidant, OPC, is an astoundingly effective free radical antagonist, and can be the key to a "healthspan" that matches our extending lifespan. Foreword by Professor.Jack Masquelier.

We must have oxygen to live ...but oxygen, in the form of free radical particles, can also endanger our health and threaten our lives, “rusting” body tissues. Nutrients called antioxidants are the best defense against free radicals—and a plant-derived substance called OPC is one of the most powerful antioxidants ever discovered. This Good Health Guide explores both the fascinating story of OPC discovery—with the first clues dating back more than 450 years—and the many ways it promotes health, from guarding against heart attacks, degenerative diseases and the effects of aging to relieving inflammations and the discomforts of PMS.

“One of the most important health discoveries of the modern age. The health benefits of OPC are broad and diverse. This is truly a miraculous agent.”-- Chris Kilham

The Whole Food Bible
How to Select & Prepare Safe, Healthful Foods (Revised Edition)
Author: Chris Kilham
Publisher: Healing Arts Press 1994
Available: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Inner Traditions, Alibris.com

For people concerned with the quality and integrity of the food they eat and who want to take the guesswork out of shopping, The Whole Food Bible provides a ready source of up-to-date information on all varieties of foods. The author details the latest findings on such topics as food irradiation, pesticides, and chemical food additives, enabling consumers to minimize their exposure to the hazards existing in many foods today. The author also provides extensive information on diet and nutrition and the benefits of eating foods that are organically grown and minimally refined. New edition of the best-seller. More than 35,000 copies sold.

The latest findings on food additives, processing, and preservation methods are presented to enable people to select and prepare the healthiest food possible. The Whole Food Bible is a handy guide for both the experienced and beginning cook with more than 100 simple, healthy, and delicious recipes. The Whole Food Bible was recently utilized by New York Times bestselling author Dr. Nicholas Perricone. In his latest book, The Perricone Promise, Perricone explains the benefits of his diet, highlighting ten super foods. He presents menus for 28 days followed by recipes adapted from The Whole Food Bible.

In a world of bovine growth hormones, bioengineered tomatoes, and chlorine-dipped fish, is it safe to eat what’s on our grocery shelves? For people concerned with this question, The Whole Food Bible provides a comprehensive guide to shopping for and preparing healthy food. The Whole Food Bible contains the latest findings on such topics as food irradiation, pesticides, fertilizers, chemical food additives, and antibiotics, enabling you to minimize your exposure to the alarming health risks hidden in many of the foods we eat. It contains simple explanations of the role of oils, sugars, grains, meats, fruits, vegetables, and dairy foods in a healthy diet that will help you save money on food while improving your overall nutrition. There are charts and boxes that tell you at a quick glance everything from how much fat is in your cheese to how much meat is required by law in a can of chicken soup, and over 100 simple and fast recipes that make it easy for you to plan delicious, nutritious, and safe meals. It is possible to find food that’s good for you. By changing the way you approach every item in a grocery store, The Whole Food Bible will show you how.

Chris Kilham was vice chairman of the Organic Food Alliance and president of marketing for Bread & Circus Whole Foods Supermarkets when this book was published.

“The Whole Foods Bible tells readers much more than how to select a ripe pineapple. Armed with this answer book, anyone can be more confident in the war against the food industry’s empty calories and empty promises.” –- Katherine Wolff, Natural Health

“This guide is indispensable to anyone who wants to take the guesswork out of choosing healthy foods.” – Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) former chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

“An important book for anyone interested in the quality and safety of food.” -- Jim Turner, the author of The Chemical Feast, The Nader Report on the Food and Drug Administration

Kava: Medicine Hunting in Paradise
The Pursuit of a Natural Alternative to Anti-Anxiety Drugs and Sleeping Pills
Author: Chris Kilham
Publisher: Park Street Press 1996
Available: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Inner Traditions

Kava, Piper Methysticum, is the most effective relaxing and stress-relieving plant in all of nature. This book is the tale of plant researcher Chris Kilham's investigations into this plant and his far-ranging explorations deep in the South Pacific in search of a source of kava. Kilham takes the reader on an adventurous journey through the mystical native legends, outlandish history, and exciting science surrounding this potent plant. A story replete with pulpit-pounding missionaries, kava-drinking natives, sorcerers, a mysterious Tahitian prince, and the author's own humorous outlook amidst difficult and perilous circumstances, Kava is a must-read for those who love tales of travel and adventure and those interested in plant medicine.

Join botanical researcher Chris Kilham in the South Seas as he searches for kava, the most effective relaxant and stress-reliever in all of nature. A soothing, safe alternative to tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and antidepressants, kava naturally eases muscular tension and insures deep, refreshing sleep. Kava-based remedies are used by Europe’s largest pharmaceutical companies to treat everything from urinary tract infections to arthritis, aswell as nervous disorders of all kinds, but no source of pure, high-quality kava has been available to consumers.

An exploration of the magical relationship between a people, a place, and a plant, Kava: Medicine Hunting in Paradise takes you on a journey through the mystical legends, outlandish history, and exciting science surrounding kava. Kilham ventures deep into unexplored islands of Vanuatu to set up a kava trade with the natives. Along the way he befriends a Tahitian prince, survives deadly seas in a questionable boat, and discovers powerful varieties of kava completely unknown to the West. A must-read for those interested in adventure, plant medicines, or the cultures of Oceania.

"Truly exotic locales can be visited in Kava: Medicine Hunting in Paradise, Chris Kilhams' odyssey of a medical research mission on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu." -- Publishers Weekly

“No matter where of how far you wander, the light is only a split second, a half breath away. It is never too late to recognize the clear light.” – Tibetan Book of the Dead (Quote on the opening page of Kava: Medicine Hunting in Paradise.)

Cowboy Marketing
How to Shoot from the Hip and Win on the Wild Frontier of Natural Foods Retailing
Author: Chris Kilham
Publisher: New Hope Communications 1993
Available: Amazon.com

In the legend and lore of our great nation, the cowboy plays a pivotal role. He is a multi-talented individual and a trailblazer. He can ride, rope, herd cattle, shoe a horse, mend fences, hunt supper and head the bad guys off at the pass. Even if cowboys as diverse as this description are more apocryphal than actual, the legend of the cowboy still stands. Marketing requires being a lot like the legendary cowboys of yesteryear. Smart marketing requires multiple talents, the ability to think quickly and act decisively and an attitude flexible enough to deal with the ever-shifting landscape of business. Thus Cowboy Marketing. The Natural Products Industry is growing, and growing up, quickly. Businesses in all sectors of our industry are increasingly aware of the value of smart marketing. That’s where this book comes in. (Excerpt from the Introduction to Cowboy Marketing)

"Chris Kilham has shown a rare combination of visionary skills and pragmatic results-oriented thinking." – Rick A. Thorne, Tree of Life (currently CEO of Royal Wessanen)

Inner Power
Secrets from Tibet and the Orient
Author: Christopher S. Kilham
Publisher: Japan Publications 1988
Available: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Inner Traditions, Alibris.com

The perfect path to personal power: a practical synthesis of the most dynamic self-development methods practiced in the East. Containing specific, practical, step-by-step information for cultivating keen senses, a strong body, a clear mind and a powerful attitude, Boston author and radio talk-show host Christopher Kilham brings together the hidden teachings of Tibetan monasteries, ancient ninjutsu practices, Kundalini Yoga techniques, and Chinese Kung Fu. The result of years of research, many of these methods have never been available to the public before, such as the exercises known as “The Five Tibetans” and the ancient Hindu “Innovation of the Shadow.”

"Powerful people come from all walks of life and leave their mark upon the world in a variety of ways. But one thing is common to them all. They move through the world with pure vitality. It is as though all their switches have been turned on." – Chris Kilham, Inner Power

In Search Of the New Age
A Humorous Look at an Immerging Culture
Author: Chris Kilham
Publisher: Japan Publications 1988
Available: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Inner Traditions

Can the New Age laugh at itself? You'll find out as Felix Bliss and his editorial team guide us through the lighter side of the New Age, taking an irreverent look at its personalities, its products and services, its culture, and its trips. Whether you're interested in filing for soul mate divorce or obtaining your favorite Akashic records on CD, In Search of the New Age is your key to the best--and most entertaining--New Age Resources. Discover reincarnation life insurance, do-it-yourself firewalking, astral projection tours, and more. At the time this book was published, Chris Kilham was vice president for Bread & Circus Wholefood Supermarkets.

"Enlightenment is not possible without a sense of humor." – Gautama Buddha

Take Charge of Your Health
Healing with Yogatherapy and Nutrition
Author: Chris Kilham
Publisher: Japan Publications 1985
Available: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Inner Traditions

Health consultant Chris Kilham offers a complete guide to personal fitness that involves the whole person, mind as well as body. Kilham combines yoga postures and dietary changes, vitamins and meditation, fasting and herbal knowledge into a unique all-around health care system that leads to mental well-being and physical fitness. This book will appeal to anyone who wants to take command of his or her own health and find a more fulfilling, satisfied life. Readers interested in diet and natural foods, in exercise, and in meditation will find common ground in Kilham’s carefully developed, integrated approach. Step-by-step, readers will learn dozens of ways of adjusting their diets, based on natural food systems and modern nutrition science. These are combined with specific yoga techniques for lasting changes in one’s personal health practices and outlook. A valuable how-to book for ordinary individuals, Take Charge of Your Health is also an important reference for natural health trainers, nutritionists, and anyone in the healing arts. It offers a comprehensive wealth of information with broad applications to various health programs.

"Yogis have long understood that the mind and body are thoroughly interwoven, each affecting the other. The mind and body are not in fact separate and distinct but are interdependent components of the whole person. Throughout the ages the Yogis have taught methods for creating balance. They have long understood that what we think affects the way we feel, and that what we eat, drink and do tour bodies affects the way we think. There can be no separation of function, except for the enlightened adept who has transcended the limitations of the body/mind by assiduous practice of meditation." – Chris Kilham, Take Charge of Your Health: The Mind/Body Relationship

Stalking the Wild Orgasm
Author: Chris Kilham
Publisher: ACS Publications 1984
Available: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Inner Traditions

Ideas For your delight: a complete guide to the achievement of long-lasting, intense sexual fulfillment is offered. Yogic traditions, special positions, nutritional information, aphrodisiacs and other inspiring ideas are shared here to help people enhance the quality and duration of their sexual experience. Beautifully illustrated, this volume leads the reader into the quest of “riding the wave of sexual bliss” for hours. The author reveals certain little known secrets of Egyptian Sex Magic, Tantric Yoga and the Tao of Sex which can promote incredibly satisfying lovemaking. Stimulating ideas and exercises are presented and enhanced by the artist’s work.

"When yin and yang unite, there is harmony and balance. Each one needs the other. According to the Tantrics and Taoists, when there is a properly balanced union of yin and yang, the health and longevity are the inevitable results. Their understanding is that if yin energy (woman) and yang energy (man) intermingle for prolonged periods, they nourish each other and Chi pours for abundantly. With this purpose in mind, the core practices of Taoist and Tantric sex promote prolonged intercourse, sustaining joyful sexual union for greatly extended periods of time." – Chris Kilham, Stalking the Wild Orgasm

The Complete Shopper's Guide to Natural Foods
Vitamins, Supplements, Cosmetics, Kitchenware, and Bodycare Tools
Author: Chris Kilham
Publisher: Autumn Press 1980
Available: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Random House

Chris Kilham’s first published book, The Complete Shopper’s Guide to Natural Foods was also the first pocket guide to shopping for wholesome natural foods. It remains a handy classic.

"As my first book, The Complete Guide to Natural Foods got me started on the path of writing books. It turned out to be a wonderful experience, and it happily led to many more." – Chris Kilham

Audio Recordings by Chris Kilham

Along the way, Chris has recorded a number of radio shows, keynotes, and workshops. They range from stories about medicine hunting to practical advice on Yoga practice and sexual health. Most of the titles listed here are available. For information on where Chris will be presenting next, visit our Upcoming Events.

The Only Yoga There Is
Published by: MidWest Yoga 2007 Keynote with Chris Kilham
Product Type: Recording/CD
Where to Buy: Center for Yoga
Avaiable: MidWest Yoga 2007

The Only Yoga There Is (Keynote by Chris Kilham Audio Recording)

Keynote with Chris Kilham - The Only Yoga There is. Chris Kilham began yoga practice in 1970 and has taught in universities, hospitals, jails, and various dance and yoga centers. He is best known for his international best-selling yoga book, The Five Tibetans. After five years in an ashram, Chris learned an eclectic mix of yoga methods from numerous teachers. He currently travels the world researching medicinal plants and traditional cultures. Chris offers an amazing fusion of dynamic yoga methods from many styles and traditions, and approaches yoga with warmth, devotion and humor. Descriptions of the classes come directly from the MYC catalog and have not been altered in any way.

"Yoga means Union, an integration of oneself, and at-oneness with Nature, all of creation, and with the Absolute. The very word Yoga defines the goal of life as understood by the great Yogic sages of India. The practice of the various systems of Yoga is the means by which the realization of Union can be obtained. This is an important point: the goal is not the achieve Union. Union, or oneness with the creation and the Creator, is our prior, fundamental condition. The aim of Yoga is to bring to fruition the realization of that Union. We are already at one with the Universe; we just don’t know it.” – Chris Kilham, from Take Charge of Your Health: Yoga Philosophy

Awakening Kundalini for Health, Energy, and Consciousness
Published by: Inner Traditions
Product Type: Recording/CD
Where to Buy: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Inner Traditions, Alibris.com

Yoga, Sex, and the Big Bang
Published by: Keynote with Chris Kilham
Product Type: Recording
Where to Buy: Center for Yoga (centerforyoga.com)

Sex ecstasy and spiritual illumination are companion aspects of the same sublime bliss, which is sustainable through yoga practice. Physical yoga is an extremely erotic pursuit. Combine that with the fact that many sexual positions are also yoga asanas, and you find a lot of sexual crossover into yoga. Dive deeply into your energy, your skin, and your ecstatic self. We are all gods and animals. Find the place where orgasm and enlightenment meet. All levels welcome.

"It is all the same juice. Get the juice going, get your attention going. Be open, be fully present and that energy will be useful whether it is shoveling the driveway, making dinner, making love. You just have more juice for it.” Chris Kilham, Yoga, Sex, and the Big Bang