For herbalists at all levels, this book presents recent insights into the hormonal basis of gynaecological problems in order to enable practitioners to devise effective treatment plans and explain them clearly to their patients. Female hormones are comprehensively explained - from the metabolism and role of oestrogen in health and disease to the role of progesterone and herbal influences on its production. General principles of herbal treatment are based on the interaction of the digestive, circulatory, endocrine, and nervous systems to support health and recovery from disease. These principles are applied to treatment and case management of gynaecological problems, with detailed examinations of PMS and menopause. Specific herbs used in gynaecological treatment are categorised by their constituents and actions.

Volume III of this manual provides an overview of the analytical investigation of 23 additional Chinese Herbal Drugs, which are most commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Together with Volumes I and II this current volume represents the most comprehensive overview to analytical studies of those herbal drugs. The quality proof of the investigation meets the standard of the European Drug Regulatory Authority. The authors refer to the bioactive constituents, pharmacological and biological activities of all single herbal drugs, as well as their therapeutic applications. Analytical methods applied are described in detail.

This book presents a series of perspectives on the therapeutic potential of the ritual and clinical use of the Amazonian hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca in the treatment and management of various diseases and ailments, especially its role in psychological well-being and substance dependence. Biomedical and anthropological data on the use of ayahuasca for treating depression, PTSD, and substance dependence in different settings, such as indigenous contexts, neo-shamanic rituals, contemporary therapeutic circles, and in ayahuasca religions, in both South and North America, are presented and critiqued. Though multiple anecdotal reports on the therapeutic use of ayahuasca exist, there has been no systematic and dense reflection on the topic thus far. The book brings the therapeutic use of ayahuasca to a new level of public examination and academic debate. The texts in this volume stimulate discussion on methodological, ethical, and political aspects of research and will enhance the development of this emergent field of studies.

A truly integrated collection of research, Connecting Indian Wisdom and Western Science: Plant Usage for Nutrition and Health compares Ayurvedic and Western conceptions of wellness, healthy lifestyle, and diet. Examining the phyto-pharmacological, phytochemical, clinical, ethnobotanical, sociocultural, and biomedical approaches to plant- and herb-based healthy diets and wellness, it includes approximately 40 selected monographs on fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts, and seeds, complete with Ayurvedic and traditional uses as nutritional ingredients. The book focuses on how plants can be employed as both aliments and adjuvants, able to improve health and the quality of life. It does so by comparing the Indian Ayurvedic tradition with the Mediterranean diet. Chapters written largely by Indian authors trace the early history of Ayurveda and the basic principles and dietetics of the Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems of medicine. Chapters written by western scientists and nutritionists discuss the global focus on nutrients, nutraceuticals, and, importantly, the Mediterranean diet. Building on this foundation, the book opens what will, no doubt, be a long and continuing journey of mutual exchange and dialogue. The authors create an integrative perspective for understanding India's health traditions through the lens of modern science. They then look at how India's millennia of experience can enrich the West's notions of optimal nutrition, prevention, and personalized healthcare. A core of this exchange is a frontier of exploration into deep insights of human biology, individual differences and seasonal influences on metabolism, and a conceptual approach to nutrition that you can apply across foods and cultures.

The first of its kind, this guidebook provides an overview of clinical holistic interventions for mental-health practitioners. Submissions from 21 contributors examine the validity of different methods and provide information on credentialed training and licensure requirements necessary for legal and ethical practice. Chapters covering a range of healing modalities describe the populations and disorders for which the intervention is most effective, as well as the risks involved, and present research on the effectiveness of treatment, with step-by-step sample clinical sessions.

Medicinal flora plays an important role in health care systems across the world. Out of the half million flowering plants, around 50.000 species are valued for their therapeutic properties. During the last few decades, 20% of the world's population used plants and/or their derived products as a source of medicine. WHO stated that 80% population around the globe, specifically the rural communities, depend on medicinal plants for their basic healthcare needs. To this end, plant-based phytochemicals are known to have hepato-protective, anti-carcinogenic, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant actions. This book is a guide to ~280 plant species of medicinal flora that demonstrates global relevance. Our goal is to share local knowledge about phytomedicines to a worldwide audience. It is an illustrated reference that documents and preserves the existing knowledge on these plant taxa, with a social and cultural (ethnobotanical) emphasis. This book also provides comprehensive and useful information about traditional uses of medicinal plants by the local communities for the treatment of various prevalent diseases. It contains comprehensive descriptions of each species including family, synonyms, English name, distribution, altitude, habitat, morphological description, life form, part used, mode of utilization, diseases category, recipes, other medicinal uses, phytochemical activity and toxicity.

A Western-Based Approach to Analyzing TCMs In recent years, many pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations have been focusing on the development of traditional Chinese (herbal) medicines (TCMs) as alternatives to treating critical or life-threatening diseases and as pathways to personalized medicine. Quantitative Methods for Traditional Chinese Medicine Development is the first book entirely devoted to the design and analysis of TCM development from a Western perspective, i.e., evidence-based clinical research and development. The book provides not only a comprehensive summary of innovative quantitative methods for developing TCMs but also a useful desk reference for principal investigators involved in personalized medicine. Written by one of the world's most prominent biostatistics researchers, the book connects the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, and academia. It presents a state-of-the-art examination of the subject for: Scientists and researchers who are engaged in pharmaceutical/clinical research and development of TCMs Those in regulatory agencies who make decisions in the review and approval process of TCM regulatory submissions Biostatisticians who provide statistical support to assess clinical safety and effectiveness of TCMs and related issues regarding quality control and assurance as well as to test for consistency in the manufacturing processes for TCMs This book covers all of the statistical issues encountered at various stages of pharmaceutical/clinical development of a TCM. It explains regulatory requirements; product specifications and standards; and various statistical techniques for evaluation of TCMs, validation of diagnostic procedures, and testing consistency. It also contains an entire chapter of case studies and addresses critical issues in TCM development and FAQs from a

This contributed volume explores how data mining, machine learning, and similar statistical techniques can analyze the types of problems arising from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) research. The book focuses on the study of clinical data and the analysis of herbal data. Challenges addressed include diagnosis, prescription analysis, ingredient discoveries, network based mechanism deciphering, pattern-activity relationships, and medical informatics. Each author demonstrates how they made use of machine learning, data mining, statistics and other analytic techniques to resolve their research challenges, how successful if these techniques were applied, any insight noted and how these insights define the most appropriate future work to be carried out. Readers are given an opportunity to understand the complexity of diagnosis and treatment decision, the difficulty of modeling of efficacy in terms of herbs, the identification of constituent compounds in an herb, the relationship between these compounds and biological outcome so that evidence-based predictions can be made. Drawing on a wide range of experienced contributors, Data Analytics for Traditional Chinese Medicine Research is a valuable reference for professionals and researchers working in health informatics and data mining. The techniques are also useful for biostatisticians and health practitioners interested in traditional medicine and data analytics.

This new volume provides a plethora of new information about potential medicinal herbs and their usefulness in treating diabetes and neurological diseases. Most large multinational companies are interested and engaged in the commercialization of herb-based formulations, and consumers continue to seek natural-based therapies. Herbs for Diabetes and Neurological Disease Management provides insight into plant-based novel molecules targeted for diabetes and neurological disorders. It looks at a selection of herbs that have proven effective in the management of diabetes and neurological disorders, including migraine, epilepsy, memory disorders, depression, and more. Divided into ten chapters focusing on diabetes and its macro- and microvascular complications (migraine, epilepsy, memory disorders, depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders), this book is structured to provide a source of reliable information and enrich the knowledge of readers. Each chapter briefly explains the epidemiology and pathophysiology of the disease state and the possible role of herbal drugs in the prevention of the particular disease. The reported pharmacological activities and possible mechanism of action of herbal drugs are also discussed in detail, which makes this book informative and unique. This new volume will be a reliable reference complementing the substantial information on the use of herbal drugs in diabetes and neurological disorders that serve as the pillars of drug discovery and development.

This book attempts to bridge the considerable gaps that exist between spiritual philosophies and evidence-based medicine and between the psychotherapeutic models of the East and the West. Based on the insights of both the ancient wisdom and modern medicine, this book presents Yogic science not just as a set of physical exercises or religious rituals but as theories about the mind that have bio-psycho-social implications in relation to health and illness. Drawing on his years of monastic training and his extensive experiential, clinical and research knowledge on the utility of Yoga meditation in standardized and evidence-based medicine protocols, the author describes symptom-specific clinical applications of Yogic/meditative techniques using standardized protocols for the various psychiatric and psychosomatic conditions. In addition, he explains the value of these techniques in reducing stress and improving quality of life in healthy populations. Dr. Pradhan names the proposed integrative model of psychotherapy Yoga and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (Y-MBCT). Unlike other models, Y-MBCT uses Yoga in its entirety (all eight limbs, including meditation) rather than piecemeal. The standardized and evidence-based format of Yoga meditation described in this book will help all aspiring Yoga practitioners and will hopefully also provide the impetus for multicenter research studies on the value of this ancient wisdom.

In 1775, the physician and botanist William Withering (1741-99) was informed of a folk cure for dropsy that had as its active ingredient the plant foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). Ten years later, after thorough trials on more than 150 patients, Withering published this monograph on the medicinal applications of the plant, not least to keep less experienced doctors from administering it to patients without the proper caution, given the plant's toxicity. Withering was the first doctor to employ foxglove as a remedy for congestive heart failure, which is now the primary disease treated by foxglove-derived pharmaceuticals, and the results from his trials broadly reflect those produced by modern physicians. Withering's first major publication, A Botanical Arrangement of All the Vegetables Naturally Growing in Great Britain (1776), which includes observations on the medicinal applications of British plants, is also reissued in this series.

This beautifully illustrated, elegantly written textbook pairs the best research on the biochemical properties and physiological effects of medicinal plants with a fascinating history of their use throughout human civilization, revealing the influence of nature's pharmacopeia on art, war, conquest, and law. By chronicling the ways in which humans have cultivated plant species, extracted their active chemical ingredients, and investigated their effects on the body over time, Nature's Pharmacopeia also builds an unparalleled portrait of these special herbs as they transitioned from wild flora and botanical curiosities to commodities and potent drugs. The book opens with an overview of the use of medicinal plants in the traditional practices and indigenous belief systems of people in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and ancient Europe. It then connects medicinal plants to the growth of scientific medicine in the West. Subsequent chapters cover the regulation of drugs; the use of powerful plant chemicals-such as cocaine, nicotine, and caffeine-in various medical settings; and the application of biomedicine's intellectual frameworks to the manufacture of novel drugs from ancient treatments. Geared toward nonspecialists, this text fosters a deep appreciation of the complex chemistry and cultural resonance of herbal medicine, while suggesting how we may further tap the vast repositories of the world's herbal knowledge to create new pharmaceuticals.

Biotherapy is defined as the use of living organisms in the treatment and diagnosis of human and animal diseases. This volume is an evocative exploration of the history, scientific basis and practical use of the major biotherapy modalities. The authors provide researchers and practitioners interested in this field, with cutting-edge material on the latest key advances in the following fields of biotherapy: Maggot Therapy, Hirudotherapy, Bee Venom Therapy, Apitherapy, Ichthyotherapy, Helminth Therapy, Phage Therapy, Animal Assisted Therapy, Canine Olfactory Detection. In addition, the authors provide with their chapters an extensive bibliography that represents a state-of-the-art survey of the literature. Comprehensive and current, this fresh volume of reviews is an essential resource for professionals who need to stay ahead of the game in the exciting field of biotherapy.

Famed for their exotic beauty and richness in variety, orchids may be found in all continents of the world except Antarctica. Although the plants are widely cultivated both in homes and farms, few people realize that many species of orchids have legendary healing qualities that have been used for centuries by Chinese, Ayurvedic and other traditional medicines for such conditions as skin eczema, depression, indigestion, heart disease and high blood pressure.This little highly-readable volume with beautiful illustrations helps you discover fascinating plants that are pleasing to behold yet may also help you attain good health. Read about the Dendrobium as a yin tonic that improves complexion and boosts the immune system, the enticing aroma of Vanilla found in ice cream but also reputed to heal sexual dysfunction, Bletilla that helps in cancer cure, Gastrodia for post-stroke rehabilitation, as well as other genera and species of healing orchids.Written by two Chinese physicians with training in biomedical science, the book also offers a unique perspective of biomedical explanations for healing orchids.

TheEssentials of Chinese Medicineisa textbookintendedforinternationalstudents who wish to gain a basic understandingof Chinese Medicine (CM) at the university level. The idea of writing such a text was originated from the Sino-American C- sortiumfor the Advancementof Chinese Medicine (SACACM), whichwas founded in February 2000. In 1995, the British Hong Kong Administration set up a Prepa- tory Committee for the Development of Chinese Medicine to look into ways of bringing Chinese medical practice and herbal trade under proper control and r- ulation. After the reuni?cation of Hong Kong with mainland China in 1997, the Governmentof the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region continued the efforts to uplift the practice of CM to a fully professional level through legislation. To help bring up a new generation of professional CM practitioners, the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) obtained approvalfrom the Government'suniv- sity funding authority to develop a School of Chinese Medicine to prepare students who will meet the future professional requirements through public examinations.

Do you want to feel happier, healthier, and younger? From impaired brain function to poor skin, weakened immunity to premature aging, your gut health affects more than just your digestive system. In fact, keeping it in balance can revolutionize your health and wellbeing. In this ground-breaking book, esteemed gastroenterologist Dr Roshini Raj outlines tried-and-tested methods to improve your gut health, and offers life-changing results. Sharing practical tips, developed over years of practice, Dr Raj covers everything from the food that we should be eating, to the probiotics, vitamins, and medicines that we should be taking. With Gut Renovation you can optimise your gut, renovate your body, and transform your health, for good.

This book's first edition (1997) was the first of its kind in addressing herbal interactions with drugs. This 4th edition keeps current with research findings and scrupulously distinguishes between what is known through (1) empirical clinical observations such as case reports, (2) data obtained from modern clinical human studies, (3) different types of laboratory research on animals and with tissues and cells. Over 2700 medical and scientific sources are cited to document these findings. In addition, the type of preparation studied is described to emphasize differences between preparations from the same herb, along with dosage size and duration. Conflicting results are utilized to put these issues in context. This fourth edition further highlights those combinations of herbal preparations with drugs shown to beneficially enhance therapeutic activity or reduce adverse effects, identified for 98 of the 321 herbs listed in the main text. In addition, extensive appendices organize information on these 321 and additional herbal remedies into categories addressing specific cautions, interactions with particular types of drugs, precautions for mothers, infants and children, drug interactions with vitamins and minerals, and advantageous combinations with medicines used for inflammations, infections, cancer, and for addressing substance abuse. The appendix sections addressing herbal influences on drug absorption and metabolism involving transport proteins, cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, and conjugating enzymes are the most extensive compilations available anywhere.

NATURE / HERBAL HEALING"This is a profound work. Written with a clarity and depth of understanding that only someone deeply attuned to their subject could master. Pam Montgomery weaves indigenous wisdom, modern research, science, and quantum physics into a vibrant testament of the sacred and powerful nature inherent in plant medicine. The message transmitted through every page in this amazing book is bound to change our perception of herbal healing--and of medicine in general." --Rosemary Gladstar, herbalist and founder of United Plant Savers and author of Rosemary Gladstar's Family Herbal"A blessing of a book. Pam Montgomery's writing shines with what Hildegard of Bingen called viriditas--the healing power of the Green. It is filled with the wisdom of a real herbalist."--David Hoffmann, FNIMH, AHG, author of Medical Herbalism and Herbal Prescriptions after 50Indigenous healers and shamans have known since antiquity that plants possess a spirit essence that can communicate through light, sound, and vibration. Now scientific studies are verifying this understanding. Plant Spirit Healing reveals the power of plant spirits to join with human intelligence to bring about profound healing. These spirits take us beyond mere symptomatic treatment to aligning us with the vast web of nature. Plants are more than their chemical constituents. They are intelligent beings that have the capacity to raise consciousness to a level where true healing can take place. In this book, herbalist Pam Montgomery offers an understanding of the origins of disease and the therapeutic use of plant spirits to bring balance and healing. She offers a process engaging heart, soul, and spirit that she calls the triplespiral path. In our modern life, we are increasingly challenged with broken hearts, souls in exile, and malnourished spirits. By working through the heart, we connect with the soul and gain access to spirit. She explains that the evolution of plants has always preceded their animal counterparts and that plant spirits offer a guide to our spiritual evolution--a stage of growth imperative not only for the healing of humans but also for the healing of the earth.PAM MONTGOMERY has been investigating plants and their intelligent spiritual nature since 1986. She is a founding member of the Northeast Herbal Association and is on the advisory board of United Plant Savers. The author of Partner Earth: A Spiritual Ecology and contributing author in Planting the Future, she is a practicing herbalist and plant spirit healer who offers trainings and treatments from her home in Danby, Vermont.

This book is the first thorough introduction into the scientific basis of anthroposophy and anthroposophical medicine in the context of academic science. On a sound epistemological basis and in the context of current debates it analyses basic concepts of physics, chemistry, genetics, morphogenesis, biology, neurobiology, psychology, and philosophy of mind, with an emphasis on the problems of life, mind-body interactions, and free will. The result is a non-reductionistic anthropology acknowledging the emergent properties of body, life, soul, and spirit as equally real entities. This concurs with the basic concepts of anthroposophy and anthroposophical medicine, the justification of which is discussed in relation to the history and methodology of science as well as evidence based medicine.

Cancer is one of the leading killers in the world and the incidence is increasing, but most cancer patients and cancer survivors suffer much from the disease and its conventional treatments' side effects. In the past, clinical data showed that some complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) possessed anticancer abilities, but some clinicians and scientists have queried about the scientific validity of CAM due to the lack of scientific evidence. There is great demand in the knowledge gap to explore the scientific and evidence-based knowledge of CAM in the anticancer field. With this aim, a book series is needed to structurally deliver the knowledge to readers. There have been a number of publications on materia medica for various cancers in recent years, the scientific and medical community are thrust for up-to-date information that are supported by concrete laboratory evidences or clinical trials. This volume is a specialised book presenting the experimental and clinical evidences of anticancer materia medica for various cancers. This book consists of sixteen chapters, providing concise reviews and expert opinions on the recent progress of materia medica research in fourteen particular cancers from bench to bedside application. In addition, the book also includes a chapter with an overview of evidence-based materia medica for cancer chemoprevention, as well as a chapter discussing on the pharmacokinetics of anticancer materia medica. Gathering international opinion leaders' views, this volume will contribute great to the cancer, academic, and clinical community by providing evidence-based information on the anticancer effects of materia medica for various cancers. Readership Oncologists, cancer researchers, pharmacologists, pharmaceutical specialists, Chinese medicine practitioners, medical educators, postgraduates and advanced undergraduates in biomedical disciplines, cancer caregivers, cancer patients.

The Essentials of Chinese Medicine is a text book intended for international students who wish to gain a basic understanding of Chinese Medicine (CM) at the university level. The idea of writing such a text was originated from the Sino-American C- sortium for the Advancement of Chinese Medicine (SACACM), which was founded in February 2000. In 1995, the British Hong Kong Administration set up a Prepa- tory Committee for the Development of Chinese Medicine to look into ways of bringing Chinese medical practice and herbal trade under proper control and r- ulation. After the reuni?cation of Hong Kong with mainland China in 1997, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region continued the efforts to uplift the practice of CM to a fully professional level through legislation. To help bring up a new generation of professional CM practitioners, the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) obtained approval from the Government's univ- sity funding authority to develop a School of Chinese Medicine to prepare students who will meet the future professional requirements through public examinations. In order to establish itself quickly as a rigorous provider of university level CM education, HKBU sought alliance with eight major CM universities in the Chinese Mainland, and one US university which was interested in developing CM education within its medical college. As a result, the Consortium known as SACACM was formed, with ten founding institutions from Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Shandong, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Heilongjiang, Hong Kong, and the United States.