Medical Botany Plants Affecting Humam Health

Lewis (ethnobotany, Washington University) and Elvin-Lewis (biomedicine, Washington University) offer an understanding of the world's traditional pharmacopoeias and show how research is yielding ways to authenticate their value for use in complementary and alternative medicine and as the basis for the development of new therapies and pharmaceutical agents. Combining information on human physiology, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, and ethnobotany with historical and contemporary anecdotes, each chapter focuses on a body system and discusses how pharmaceuticals, botanicals, and dietary supplements affect its function in normal and disease states. B&w photos and illustrations are included. This second edition is revised to take into account research conducted since the first edition was published in the 1970's. The book can be used as a text for students of pharmacology, botany, medicine, and biology, and as a reference for professionals and general readers.