Title Highlight: Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants

Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
1 volume: Illustrations, Glossary, Additional Reading & Bibliography, Index, Index of herbs by ailment

This encyclopedia deals with a growing topic of interest in medicine, medicinal plants. Prior to the development of synthetic chemical pharmaceuticals, plants were used to treat ailments ranging from cuts and bruises to heart disease. This well-illustrated book covers both the history and current use of plants in treating disease. There are sections on the development of herbal medicine, the history of their use in various parts of the world and descriptions of key medicinal plants and their uses along with a How-To section on herbal remedies which discusses the growing and harvesting of medicinal plants. The How-To section also contains recipes for preparing home remedies. However, before trying any of this at home, it would be well to read the cautions sections under each plant as many medicinal plants can be poisonous if misused.