Nature's pharmacopeia : a world of medicinal plants /

This work commences with a brief introduction to ethnomedicine, i.e., the study of traditional, largely plant-based healing practices used by various ethnic groups or cultures; here, the specific cultures are Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The large work focuses primarily on historical and pharmacological profiles for nine common medicinal plants, including poppy, coffee, cacao, and 16 herbs, such as milk thistle, turmeric, and ginger. This work serves as a great introduction to the field, as readers with little subject knowledge are the intended audience. Those with more advanced interests and/or who seek broader coverage might consult Ivan A. Ross's Medicinal Plants of the World: Chemical Constituents, Traditional and Modern Medicinal Uses (CH, Mar'99, 36-3905) and (CH, Sep'01, 39-0305), or other texts focusing on specific regions or parts of regions--e.g., works relating to traditional ethnomedicinal practices of East Asia can make up entire libraries. Choffnes (biology and Asian studies, Carthage College) has spent considerable field time studying medical botany in Asia and Central and South America. The work includes colorful illustrations, extensive notes, and a 24-page bibliography. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; general readers. --Jane D. Saxton, Bastyr University