Medicinal plants and plant-derived medicine are widely used in traditional cultures all over the world and they are becoming increasingly popular in modern society as natural alternatives to synthetic chemicals. As more and more natural remedies are being commercialised, there is a need for a user-friendly reference guide to the plants and their products. The book gives the reader a bird's eye view of more than 350 of the bestknown medicinal plants of the world and their uses, in a compact, colourful and scientifically accurate reference text. It provides quick answers to the most obvious questions: Where does this plant originate? What does it look like? In which culture is it traditionally used? What is it used for? Which chemical compounds does it contain? How safe is it? What is known about its pharmacological activity? What evidence is there that it is effective? The authors also provide short overviews of the various health conditions for which medicinal plants are used and the active compounds (secondary metabolites) found in the plants and their modes of actions.

The food products of bees have long been attributed with many health benefits. They can lead to greater stamina, increased resistance to disease, and, counter-intuitively, often help reduce pollen allergies. Scientific studies have revealed that bee propolis, royal jelly, honey and bee pollen are rich sources of antioxidant phytochemicals - vitamin-like substances similar to those found in common vegetables. In this User's Guide, Dr. Broadhurst explains the scientific rationale behind bee foods and describes how they can improve health.

he therapies outlined in this book provide safe and effective option for diabetics. Numerous vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other nutrients can help prevent or control diabetes. This book examines clinically proven dietary strategies, supplements, and lifestyle changes.

Nicholas Culpeper's The English Physitian: or an Astrologo-physical Discourse of the Vulgar Herbs of This Nation is more commonly known as Culpeper's Complete Herbal. It was first printed in September 1653 (Culpeper died in January 1654) and immediately became a classic reference that is as fascinating today as it was over 350 years ago. Breverton's Complete Herbal is a reworking of Culpeper's classic text for a modern day audience. Arranged alphabetically, this book describes over 250 herbs and spices as well as feature entries on scented herb/medicinal gardens, the great herbalists and New World Herbs not included in Culpepper's original text. Each entry provides a description of the herb: its appearance and botanical features, a brief history of its uses in medicine, dyeing and cuisine to bizarre remedies and concoctions designed to get rid of all manner of real and imaginary ailements. As informative as it is entertaining, this incredibly diverse compendium contains just about everything you'll ever need to know about the properties and provenance of herbs and spices of the world. From amara dulcis to yarrow, all-heal to viper's bugloss, Breverton's Complete Herbal is a modern day treasury of over 250 herbs and their uses.

Learn how to smoke cannabis in a way that reduces the health risks of smoking. As an herbal remedy, cannabis can lift your mood and can treat a long list of ailments. But the way that most of us take a hit of pot needlessly takes a hit on our health. It is high time for health-conscious cannabis consumers to learn a new way of smoking that reduces its risks. In Mindful Marijuana Smoking, Mark Mathew Braunstein offers sound advice on every phase of the cannabis smoking experience, presenting health tips based on solid science. Whether with rolling papers, hand pipes, waterpipes, or herbal vaporizers, each method of cannabinoid delivery has both risks and rewards. Chapters are devoted to each method so that you can learn how to maximize their benefits and reduce their hazards, as well as how to protect your health even before you take a puff. And once you've inhaled the smoke, this book assures you that you don't need to hold your breath to reap all the benefits of cannabis. Additionally, this book teaches readers how to assure an herb's purity, as both black market and corporate cannabis keep dirty secrets about how they were grown, and readers will learn about the potential impurities in rolling papers and vaping oils. The stronger the dose, the less you need to toke, so you'll find instructions on how to properly store cannabis to retain its potency. Finally, after you've smoked, you'll find guidance on why and how to relieve your parched mouth and to replenish nutrients that are depleted by smoking. Potheads and patients, tenderfoot tokers and seasoned stoners, dabbling dilettantes and cannabis connoisseurs, all need to read this book. By following its many health tips, when you light up, you can lighten up.

Based on fieldwork conducted between 2001-2008 in urban East Africa, this book explores who the patients, practitioners and paraprofessionals doing Chinese medicine were in this early period of renewed China-Africa relations. Rather than taking recourse to the 'placebo effect', the author explains through the spatialities and materialities of the medical procedures provided why - apart from purchasing the Chinese antimalarial called Artemisinin - locals would try out their 'alternatively modern' formulas for treating a wide range of post-colonial disorders and seek their sexual enhancement medicines.

The Gaelic pharmacy was rich, the sources of which lay almost entirely in nature and were subject to the minimum of preparation. Much of the rich store of material comes from the great legacy of medieval Gaelic manuscripts. In more recent times, papers of medical societies have shown how traditional methods and cures are still of value to modern medicine. In addition to a general historical background, which traces the story of Highland folk tradition from earliest times, Mary Beith describes a whole variety of traditional remedies, cures and practices, from the healing properties of stone and metal, animals and insects, to rituals, charms and incantations. Her book also includes a list of the most commonly used herbs. Clearly written with extensive source notes, Healing Threads is a unique introduction to a subject that has fascinated generation after generation.

'As a child, I just knew which plant to pick up and hold to my head for a headache to go away. Once I heard about the concept of a 'doctrine of signatures', I would just stand silently, in awe of nature talking to me, talking and talking in her silent, direct speech. The book of nature seemed so obviously spelled out, and in oddest contrast to what I learned in medical school. My professors seemed never to have heard of nature being vibrant and alive and brimming with patterns of energy that are right there for us to understand and use... This direct and primordial experience of being part of nature's omnipresent, cyclic course taught me more in the realm of no-words than any university ever could have.' -- Julia Graves During the Middle Ages, communicating with nature was called the 'doctrine of signatures', and it was an important part of the work of traditional healers and herbalists. The Language of Plants covers all aspects of the doctrine of signatures in an easily accessible format, so that everyone, whether nature lovers or healers, can learn to read the language of plants in connection with healing.

Culpeper was a famous astrologer/physician of the 17th century. Simmonite was famous for his herbal remedies in the early 1900s. This volume embodies the cream of the knowledge imparted by both these herbal doctors and provides a valuable reference book for anyone interested in alternative medicine. Contents Include: The Medicinal Property of Herbs and Directions for Compounding the Prescriptions of the Curative Medicines.- Selected Herbs and their Description and Medicinal Properties - Ailments and Diseases in General, Their Symptoms and Cure - Useful Prescriptions which can be made up at Home. etc. Illustrated. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This accessibly written book examines the most commonly taken dietary supplements, exploring what they are and what they're purported to do, and summarizing key research findings regarding their potential health benefits and risks. Today, more than 50 percent of Americans take at least one type of dietary supplement regularly. But do these products actually work? How are they regulated? Are there any potential health risks? Dietary Supplements: Fact versus Fiction examines the most commonly used non-nutrient supplements (those that are neither vitamins nor minerals and not essential for human health). Using a standardized structure, each entry discusses a particular supplement's origins, purported benefits, potential risks, and common dosage. Summaries of key research studies are included to help readers make informed decisions about supplements' usefulness. Introductory materials give readers a foundational understanding of how supplements are regulated and labeled and offer practical information about how to read a Supplement Facts panel. For those interested in supplements for a particular health complaint (such as fatigue or pain), a topic finder has also been included. Provides unbiased, evidence-based information to help readers make their own decisions about supplementation Summarizes and contextualizes key research findings in easy-to-understand language Uses a standardized structure and topic finder to make it easy for readers to find the exact information they're looking for Offers practical information on how to read and understand the Supplement Facts panel found on all dietary supplements

What Are Terpenes? Terpenes (pronounced tur-peens), or terpenoids, are aromatic metabolites found in the oils of all plants. Terpenes are chemical oils produced by plants that create the unique flavor, scent and effect of herbs, fruit and flowers. When smelling a flower or herb, your nose actually registers the unique terpene profile of the plant. More than 30,000 unique terpenes have been identified in plants, animals, microbes, and fungi, which create aromas and flavors. Terpenes help carry out biological functions, can serve as vitamins, pheromones, and hormones as well as influence the immune system. When combined, terpenes produce complex profiles. For example, the herb lavender smells pleasant, tastes slightly sweet and floral, and has a relaxing effect. Terpenes are secreted along with cannabinoids in the flower's sticky resin glands. They are responsible for cannabis' smell, flavor and contribute to its overall sensory effect. Terpenes give the Blueberry cannabis strain its berry smell, Sour Diesel its skunky smell, and Lavender its floral aroma. Over 100 different terpenes have been identified in the cannabis plant, and every strain tends toward a unique terpene type and composition. Terpenes play a key role in differentiating the effects of various cannabis strains. Terpenoid production evolved over time in plants, including cannabis, to attract pollinators and to act as defense compounds. Female cannabis plants produce glandular trichomes, which are glands that look like small hairs or growths that protrude from the flowers and leaves. Trichomes house crucial compounds, including cannabinoids (such as THC and CBD), flavonoids, and terpenes. Terpenes and cannabinoids interact synergistically to promote relaxation and stress-relief, while others promote focus and acuity. The effect profile of a given terpene can change when combined with other terpenes and cannabinoids in a phenomenon known as the entourage effect. Research suggests that terpenes offer medicinal value as they mediate our body's interaction with therapeutic cannabinoids. Technology has developed a method of distilling terpenes into highly concentrated forms that can be used individually or in conjunction with other terpenes. Terpene isolates are commonly used in cosmetic products, incense, food flavorings, perfumes, natural medicines and a wide variety of everyday products. Pure, isolated terpenes are highly concentrated and may pose health risks if consumed or applied to the skin with out proper dilution. Working with terpenes is shaman-like, calling on an understanding the terpene to safely unlocking their amazing potential. For instance, certain varietals are more potent than others, meaning that one dilution method cannot be applied to every type of terpene. Achieving balance can be tricky but well worth the personal learning needed. -- Beverly Potter

A revised and refreshed edition of Culpeper's classic book on herbal remedies. "[An] updated and beautifully designed guide . . . " --Booklist For more than 360 years, Nicholas Culpeper's historic guide to herbal remedies has been THE definitive book on the subject. Culpeper, an English herbalist, is the author of the bestselling herbal guide of all time. He offered valuable and sometimes unusual advice on using, gathering, and preparing herbs. Now, this beautifully illustrated new edition, edited and with commentary by acclaimed US herbalist and bestselling author Steven Foster, combines the charm and information of Culpeper's original seventeenth-century text with up-to-date, modern, practical usage. It includes details about where to find each herb, astrology, and medicinal benefits.

Featured here is a modern translation of a medieval herbal, with a study showing how this technical treatise on herbs was turned into a literary curiosity in the nineteenth century. The contours of this second edition replicate the first; however, it has been revised and updated throughout to reflect new scholarship and new findings. New information is presented on Oswald Cockayne, the nineteenth-century philologist who first translated the Old English medical texts for the modern world. Here the medieval text is read as an example of technical writing (i.e., intended to convey instructions/information), not as literature. The audience it was originally aimed at would know how to diagnose and treat medical conditions and knew or was learning how to follow its instructions. For that reason, while working on the translation, specialists in relevant fields were asked to shed light on its terse wording, for example, herbalists and physicians. Unlike many current studies, this work discusses the Herbarium and other medical texts in Old English as part of a tradition developed throughout early-medieval Europe associated with monasteries and their libraries. The book is intended for scholars in cross-cultural fields; that is, with roots in one field and branches in several, such as nineteenth-century or medieval studies, for historians of herbalism, medicine, pharmacy, botany, and of the Western Middle Ages, broadly and inclusively defined, and for readers interested in the history of herbalism and medicine.

This book examines the use of herbal medicine in the treatment of intractable diseases as well as common health problems. Given the stringent quality control of herbal medicine such as Kampo and reproducibility of preclinical findings, together with overall fewer adverse events, its attractiveness continues to rise, and multi-component herbal medicine capable of targeting multiple sites can be useful for future drug discovery. Written for the Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology series, this collection features practical advice for hands-on work in this exciting and expansive field. Authoritative and easily applicable, Herbal Medicines: New Horizons summarizes the current state and translational aspect of herbal medicine in modern society in order to help establish a rational therapy for patients.

Medicinal plants are accumulating impurities from increasing environmental pollution. Pollutants have altered growth features, gas exchange parameters, biochemical attributes, bioactive substances, antioxidant activity, and gene expression. This book brings to light these conditions and a need to alter them. Plants are the natural source of medicines mainly due to the presence of secondary metabolites and have been used as medicine in crude extract form. They have been used to isolate the bioactive compounds in modern medicine as well as in herbal medicine systems and are used worldwide as a valuable source for new drug formulations. This book focuses on secondary metabolites, phytochemicals, and bioactive compounds associated with medicinal plants growing in contamination conditions. There is no existing book on this topic.

Herbal Treatment of Anxiety: Clinical Studies in Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic Traditions explains the nature and types of anxiety, its neurobiology, the pathophysiology that exacerbates and perpetuates it, and the psychopharmacology of the chemical agents that relieve its manifestations. Throughout the text are discussions of Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbal treatments that have been clinically shown to be effective in relieving anxiety. The book also features a scientific discussion of the use of herbs and essential oils in aromatherapy and the mechanisms by which they may work. The book concludes by providing bases upon which herbs can be chosen to treat the anxiety of patients according to their individual needs. Additional features include: Examines the increasingly popular subject of the use of herbs as a natural alternative treatment and provides a much-needed scientific basis for treatments often considered as merely "folk medicine." Discusses the psychoactive phytochemicals contained in herbs. Includes a chapter discussing the nature and mechanisms of action of adaptogens. Adds to the armamentarium of anxiolytics for providers who have become reluctant to prescribe benzodiazepines as treatment of anxiety, particularly in the context of the opiate crisis. Gives an introduction to herbal treatments of traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Offers practical advice on initiating and managing herbal treatments. Herbal Treatment of Anxiety is a valuable reference for psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, primary care providers, naturopathic doctors and therapists interested in the most current scientific information on the effects of herbal treatments of anxiety disorders.

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy might be the best aromatherapy book available anywhere. And, it just got better!

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Revised and Expanded is a necessary resource for anyone interested in alternative approaches to healing and lifestyle. This new edition contains more than 800 easy-to-follow recipes for essential oil treatments from Valerie Ann Worwood, a consultant and expert on the clinical uses of essential oils internationally.

In her clear and positive voice, Worwood provides tools to address a variety of health issues, including specific advice for children, women, men, and seniors. This aromatheraphy book also covers self-defense against microbes and contaminants, emotional challenges, care for the home and workplace, and applications for athletes, dancers, travelers, cooks, gardeners, and animal lovers. Worwood also offers us her expertise in the use of essential oils in beauty and spa treatments, plus profiles of 125 essential oils, 37 carrier oils, and more.

Since the publication of the first edition of this book 25 years ago, the positive impact of essential oil use has become increasingly recognized, as scientific researchers throughout the world have explored essential oils and their constituents for their unique properties and uses.

Discover 100 common medicinal plants and how to use them for healing and self-care with this sumptuously illustrated guide. Thanks to exceptional photographic plates showing detailed views of all parts of the fresh plant, you will quickly learn to recognise them when out foraging. For any plant lover or green witch, the beautiful photographs make this book an absolute treasure. Discover the fascinating history of these plants, their active components and therapeutic properties, and learn how to prepare safe herbal remedies including infusions, tinctures, oils and lotions. This journey into plant-based wellbeing is guided by a respected ethnobotanist and doctor of phytotherapy, meaning you can grow your knowledge of this natural science with complete confidence. The plants are ordered alphabetically, and each species has its own dedicated page packed with information. The guide covers a huge range of common plants, including almond, blackcurrant, borage, caraway, chard, chicory, dandelion, fig, hazel, ivy, juniper, nettle, poppy, cornflower, cowslip, oak, walnut, eucalyptus, fennel, flax, nasturtium, heather, horse-chestnut, jasmine, lavender, leek, mint, oregano, pomegranate, raspberry, rosemary, St. John's-wort, watercress, thyme and yarrow. At the end of the book, you'll find a small practical guide for budding herbalists, featuring useful tips for picking and preserving plants while being an environmentally responsible picker, ensuring you always show respect to nature and its 'magical' healing powers. The healing properties referenced for each plant are fully explained and there's a glossary of botanical terms to ensure that everything is clear for complete beginners. Use the two handy indexes at the end of the book to search for plants by health benefit or by name, making it quick and easy to find the perfect remedy for any ailment, condition or illness. You'll find suggested treatments for nausea, coughs, colds and flu, acne, burns, bites and sprains, as well as ideas for pain relief, skincare and aids for digestion, stress, sleep and more. This magnificent book will satisfy all your curiosities about healing plants and become your essential companion to herbal medicines and natural beauty products.

Due to their educational framework, physicians are conditioned to understand the effects of pharmaceutical medications, drugs, and have little or no training in working with herbal preparations. This limits their understanding of how cannabis operates in the body, especially regarding risks and benefits. This books explains this information to healthcare practitioners. The era of cannabis use by consumers worldwide is ever increasing. To date almost fifty countries worldwide have approved some form of cannabis as a medical therapy, and legalization for all adults is now approved in 10 states in the US, and Canada. That's close to 200 million people worldwide, with up to 100 million in the US. 50 million US citizens are using cannabis currently. Knowing how to use it safely is a much-needed form of health promotion. Opioid use declines in states which have approved "medical marijuana." Use of cannabis to reduce opiate consumption is a current harm reduction method. Serves as a resource text for the newly emerging college level courses on medical cannabis.